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    Can We Afford It?

    How much rent can I afford?

    Enter your income to see the maximum rent you can afford and every Australian suburb in budget.

    Your annual income (before tax)

    $/yr

    Max weekly rent

    $462

    per week

    Max monthly rent

    $2,002

    per month

    Based on the 30% rule, keeping rent at or below 30% of gross income.[source]

    See 6,677 suburbs you can afford

    Every figure is sourced from official Australian data

    ABSAustralian Bureau of StatisticsRBAReserve Bank of AustraliaATOAustralian Taxation OfficeASICASIC MoneySmartAIHWInstitute of Health & WelfareHAHousing Australia

    Maximum affordable rent for $80,000/yr

    Different shares of your income give different weekly budgets. The 30% line is the standard affordability benchmark.[source]

    25% of income

    $385/wk

    Conservative: leaves the most room for savings

    30% of income

    $462/wk

    Standard guide: the widely-used affordability benchmark

    35% of income

    $538/wk

    Stretch: common in capital cities; tighter budget

    Suburbs within your rent budget

    A sample of suburbs where the modelled median rent fits a $462/wk budget. Explore all 6,677 on the map.

    Traralgon

    VIC · $460/wk

    Thornbury

    VIC · $460/wk

    Inverell

    NSW · $460/wk

    Sunshine

    VIC · $460/wk

    East MacKay

    QLD · $460/wk

    Gilgai

    NSW · $460/wk

    Woodstock

    NSW · $460/wk

    Elsmore

    NSW · $460/wk

    Woodstock

    NSW · $460/wk

    Gum Flat

    NSW · $460/wk

    Oakwood

    NSW · $460/wk

    Nullamanna

    NSW · $460/wk

    Open the full affordability map
    Table of the most affordable suburbs in Australia in 2025 by median house price, for suburbs with over 4,000 residents
    Most affordable Australian suburbs by median house price, 2025. Source: canweaffordit.com.au

    The maximum affordable rent calculator, explained

    This rent affordability calculator for Australia uses the 30% rule: housing is generally considered affordable at no more than 30% of gross (before-tax) income. Australian housing bodies use the same threshold to define "housing stress" for lower-income households.[source]

    To work out how much rent you can afford, multiply your annual income by 0.30 and divide by 52. The calculator compares that weekly budget with modelled median rents for more than 15,000 suburbs and lists those within it.[source]

    The result is a guide, not a hard limit. Your budget also depends on debts, dependants, transport and lifestyle. For personalised help, talk to a licensed financial adviser or mortgage broker.[source]

    Table showing how much rent you can afford by income in Australia using the 30% rule, from $50,000 to $200,000
    Maximum affordable rent by income (the 30% rule). Source: canweaffordit.com.au

    Rent affordability, frequently asked questions

    Related calculators

    Affordability CalculatorEvery suburb ranked for your incomeRent vs Buy CalculatorTotal cost of renting versus buyingBorrowing CapacityWhat a lender would let you borrow

    Sources

    Median rents are modelled estimates.

    General Advice Warning

    The information on this site is general in nature and does not consider your personal circumstances, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your own situation and seek professional advice from a licensed financial adviser, mortgage broker, accountant, or solicitor.