Poverty and living standards in Greater Melbourne, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in Greater Melbourne was $390 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 15th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the average mortgage repayment in Greater Melbourne?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in Greater Melbourne was $2,000 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), joint 9th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Melbourne have no income?
10.2% of residents of Greater Melbourne had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 4th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Greater Melbourne are in rental stress?
30.9% of renting households in Greater Melbourne paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 10th lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Melbourne are in mortgage stress?
16.8% of households with a mortgage in Greater Melbourne paid more than 30% of their income in repayments at the 2021 Census (mortgage stress), above the national figure (14.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Greater Melbourne are on a low income?
21.9% of residents of Greater Melbourne had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 14.2% 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 Melbourne?
An estimated 24,051 people were homeless on census night 2021 in Greater Melbourne, which is 49 per 10,000 residents (13th highest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Melbourne are overcrowded?
3.5% of occupied homes in Greater Melbourne 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 Melbourne compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Melbourne ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Adelaide | $400 |
| 14 | Melbourne | $396 |
| 15 | Wollongong | $390 |
| 16 | Greater Melbourne | $390 |
| 17 | Hobart | $390 |
| 18 | Greater Darwin | $385 |
| 19 | Greater Brisbane | $380 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Melbourne ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Ballarat | 31.6% |
| 15 | Greater Brisbane | 31.5% |
| 16 | Greater Adelaide | 31.5% |
| 17 | Greater Melbourne | 30.9% |
| 18 | Bendigo | 30.8% |
| 19 | Toowoomba | 30.2% |
| 20 | Greater Perth | 29.9% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Greater Melbourne ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 13.1% |
| 2 | Melbourne | 10.6% |
| 3 | Greater Sydney | 10.4% |
| 4 | Greater Melbourne | 10.2% |
| 5 | Greater Perth | 9.3% |
| 6 | Perth | 9.2% |
| 7 | Brisbane | 8.5% |
More on Greater Melbourne: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.