Poverty and living standards in Melbourne, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the City of Melbourne was $396 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), 14th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the City of Melbourne local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the average mortgage repayment in Melbourne?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the City of Melbourne was $1,963 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 13th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Melbourne have no income?
10.6% of residents of the City of Melbourne had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 2nd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Melbourne are in rental stress?
36.0% of renting households in the City of Melbourne paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 6th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Melbourne are in mortgage stress?
19.8% of households with a mortgage in the City of 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 Melbourne are on a low income?
16.7% of residents of the City of Melbourne had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 11.7% 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 Melbourne?
An estimated 1,166 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the City of Melbourne, which is 76 per 10,000 residents (7th highest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Melbourne are overcrowded?
5.6% of occupied homes in the City of 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 copyIs Melbourne a disadvantaged area?
On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (2021), the City of Melbourne is in decile 8 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 Melbourne are disadvantaged?
28.6% of households in the City of Melbourne 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 Melbourne compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Melbourne ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Newcastle | $400 |
| 12 | Perth | $400 |
| 13 | Adelaide | $400 |
| 14 | Melbourne | $396 |
| 15 | Wollongong | $390 |
| 16 | Greater Melbourne | $390 |
| 17 | Hobart | $390 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Melbourne 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 | Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Central Coast | 42.0% |
| 4 | Sunshine Coast | 39.1% |
| 5 | Wollongong | 37.1% |
| 6 | Melbourne | 36.0% |
| 7 | Greater Hobart | 35.4% |
| 8 | Greater Sydney | 35.3% |
| 9 | Newcastle | 33.7% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Melbourne ranks 2 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 Melbourne: 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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