Poverty and living standards in Canberra, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) was $450 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 3rd highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the whole Australian Capital Territory (Canberra has no city council, so the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area is the territory).
What is the average mortgage repayment in Canberra?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) was $2,080 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 6th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Canberra have no income?
7.0% of residents of the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 8th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Canberra are in rental stress?
23.0% of renting households in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 3rd lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Canberra are in mortgage stress?
9.4% of households with a mortgage in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) 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 Canberra are on a low income?
15.7% of residents of the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 8.0% 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 Canberra?
An estimated 1,780 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra), which is 39 per 10,000 residents (joint 7th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Canberra are overcrowded?
3.2% of occupied homes in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) needed at least one more bedroom for the people living there at the 2021 Census (Australia 3.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Canberra compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Canberra ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | $450 |
| 4 | Gold Coast | $450 |
| 5 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | $450 |
| 6 | Canberra | $450 |
| 7 | Sunshine Coast | $440 |
| 8 | Brisbane | $408 |
| 9 | Central Coast | $400 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Canberra ranks 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Greater Perth | 29.9% |
| 21 | Brisbane | 29.1% |
| 22 | Perth | 28.7% |
| 23 | Townsville | 25.4% |
| 24 | Canberra | 23.0% |
| 25 | Greater Darwin | 19.5% |
| 26 | Darwin | 18.4% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Canberra ranks 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Greater Darwin | 7.3% |
| 22 | Townsville | 7.1% |
| 23 | Geelong | 7.1% |
| 24 | Canberra | 7.0% |
| 25 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | 7.0% |
| 26 | Ballarat | 6.9% |
| 27 | Newcastle-Maitland | 6.8% |
More on Canberra: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
- 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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