Poverty and living standards in Brisbane, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the City of Brisbane was $408 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 8th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the City of Brisbane local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the average mortgage repayment in Brisbane?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the City of Brisbane was $2,019 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 8th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane have no income?
8.5% of residents of the City of Brisbane had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, joint 7th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Brisbane are in rental stress?
29.1% of renting households in the City of Brisbane paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 6th lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Brisbane are in mortgage stress?
11.3% of households with a mortgage in the City of Brisbane paid more than 30% of their income in repayments at the 2021 Census (mortgage stress), below the national figure (14.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Brisbane are on a low income?
19.9% of residents of the City of Brisbane had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 11.6% of households had an equivalised income of $1 to $499 a week, below the national figure (15.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Brisbane?
An estimated 4,490 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the City of Brisbane, which is 36 per 10,000 residents (joint 5th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Brisbane are overcrowded?
2.9% of occupied homes in the City of Brisbane needed at least one more bedroom for the people living there at the 2021 Census (Australia 3.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs Brisbane a disadvantaged area?
On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (2021), the City of Brisbane is in decile 9 of Australia, where decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of areas and decile 10 the least.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Brisbane are disadvantaged?
18.8% of households in the City of Brisbane were in the most disadvantaged quarter of Australian households on the ABS Index of Household Advantage and Disadvantage (2021 Census).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Brisbane compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Brisbane ranks 8 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | $450 |
| 6 | Canberra | $450 |
| 7 | Sunshine Coast | $440 |
| 8 | Brisbane | $408 |
| 9 | Central Coast | $400 |
| 10 | Greater Wollongong | $400 |
| 11 | Newcastle | $400 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Brisbane ranks 21 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Bendigo | 30.8% |
| 19 | Toowoomba | 30.2% |
| 20 | Greater Perth | 29.9% |
| 21 | Brisbane | 29.1% |
| 22 | Perth | 28.7% |
| 23 | Townsville | 25.4% |
| 24 | Canberra | 23.0% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Brisbane ranks 7 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Greater Melbourne | 10.2% |
| 5 | Greater Perth | 9.3% |
| 6 | Perth | 9.2% |
| 7 | Brisbane | 8.5% |
| 8 | Greater Brisbane | 8.5% |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 8.0% |
| 10 | Hobart | 8.0% |
More on Brisbane: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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