Poverty and living standards in Greater Brisbane, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Brisbane was $380 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 12th lowest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Brisbane, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the average mortgage repayment in Greater Brisbane?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in Greater Brisbane was $1,863 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 12th lowest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Brisbane have no income?
8.5% of residents of Greater 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 Greater Brisbane are in rental stress?
31.5% of renting households in Greater Brisbane paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), joint 11th lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Brisbane are in mortgage stress?
11.5% of households with a mortgage in Greater 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 Greater Brisbane are on a low income?
22.3% of residents of Greater Brisbane had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 14.0% 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 Greater Brisbane?
An estimated 8,999 people were homeless on census night 2021 in Greater 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 Greater Brisbane are overcrowded?
2.9% of occupied homes in Greater 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 copyHow Greater Brisbane compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Brisbane ranks 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Greater Melbourne | $390 |
| 17 | Hobart | $390 |
| 18 | Greater Darwin | $385 |
| 19 | Greater Brisbane | $380 |
| 20 | Darwin | $380 |
| 21 | Newcastle-Maitland | $375 |
| 22 | Greater Hobart | $350 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Brisbane ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Sydney | 33.0% |
| 13 | Geelong | 32.2% |
| 14 | Ballarat | 31.6% |
| 15 | Greater Brisbane | 31.5% |
| 16 | Greater Adelaide | 31.5% |
| 17 | Greater Melbourne | 30.9% |
| 18 | Bendigo | 30.8% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater 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 | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 11 | Greater Adelaide | 8.0% |
More on Greater Brisbane: 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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