Economy, jobs and prices in Gold Coast, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the City of Gold Coast who had income was $53,824 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 4th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Gold Coast?
The median employee income in the City of Gold Coast was $55,809 for the year 2022-23, 4th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Gold Coast?
The median equivalised household income in the City of Gold Coast was $1,034 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 11th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Gold Coast?
The unemployment rate in the City of Gold Coast was 5.4% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), 10th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Gold Coast?
62.6% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 15th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Gold Coast?
Of the 305,103 employed residents of the City of Gold Coast at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (15.0%; 14.5% nationally), construction (11.4%) and retail trade (10.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Gold Coast?
83,266 businesses were registered in the City of Gold Coast at 30 June 2025, which is 120 for every 1,000 residents (6th highest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 63% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Gold Coast in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the City of Gold Coast in 2024-25 covered 4,119 new dwellings (6.0 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $5,183 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Gold Coast?
The median price of an established house sold in the City of Gold Coast in 2023-24 was $1,135,000, 7th highest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $747,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Gold Coast?
21.7% of occupied homes in the City of Gold Coast were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 33.8% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Gold Coast do not own a car?
4.9% of households in the City of Gold Coast had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 2nd lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Gold Coast in 2024?
7,852 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the City of Gold Coast in 2024, 11.6 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Gold Coast compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Gold Coast ranks 10 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 | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sydney | 5.6% |
| 8 | Greater Brisbane | 5.5% |
| 9 | Greater Adelaide | 5.5% |
| 10 | Gold Coast | 5.4% |
| 11 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 5.3% |
| 12 | Greater Melbourne | 5.3% |
| 13 | Greater Perth | 5.3% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Gold Coast ranks 23 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 | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Cairns | $55,547 |
| 21 | Central Coast | $55,035 |
| 22 | Bendigo | $55,007 |
| 23 | Gold Coast | $53,824 |
| 24 | Sunshine Coast | $52,638 |
| 25 | Melbourne | $48,184 |
| 26 | Adelaide | $47,492 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Gold Coast ranks 6 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 | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sydney | 352 |
| 4 | Melbourne | 241 |
| 5 | Hobart | 124 |
| 6 | Gold Coast | 120 |
| 7 | Greater Sydney | 115 |
| 8 | Greater Melbourne | 110 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 106 |
More on Gold Coast: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · 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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