Rent Affordability Calculator
How much rent can you afford? Uses the 30% income rule with Australian city median comparisons. See what's left in your budget after rent each month.
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See your maximum affordable weekly and monthly rent using the 30% income rule, check if you can afford median rents in each Australian city, and see what's left in your budget.
The 30% rule explained
The 30% rule originated in US federal housing policy in the 1980s and was adopted internationally as a rule of thumb for housing affordability. In Australia, the National Housing Supply Council and AIHW use 30% of gross income as the threshold above which households are considered housing cost stressed.
The limitation: 30% of gross income at $50,000 ($288/week) leaves very little after tax in many Australian cities. 30% of gross income at $200,000 ($1,154/week) leaves far more than needed. The rule works better as a ceiling than a target.
A more practical approach: calculate 30% of your after-tax income using our income tax calculator, then subtract other essential expenses.
2025 median weekly rents by city
| City | House | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $750/wk | $580/wk |
| Melbourne | $580/wk | $460/wk |
| Brisbane | $620/wk | $500/wk |
| Perth | $650/wk | $520/wk |
| Adelaide | $520/wk | $400/wk |
| Canberra | $650/wk | $520/wk |
| Hobart | $490/wk | $390/wk |
| Darwin | $550/wk | $430/wk |
Source: CoreLogic / Domain estimates, March 2025.