Poverty and living standards in Perth, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the City of Perth was $400 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 9th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the City of Perth local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the average mortgage repayment in Perth?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the City of Perth was $1,924 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), 16th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Perth have no income?
9.2% of residents of the City of Perth had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 6th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Perth are in rental stress?
28.7% of renting households in the City of Perth paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 5th lowest of 26 areas, below the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Perth are in mortgage stress?
17.1% of households with a mortgage in the City of Perth 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 Perth are on a low income?
17.0% of residents of the City of Perth had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 10.4% 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 Perth?
An estimated 633 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the City of Perth, which is 196 per 10,000 residents (the highest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Perth are overcrowded?
4.6% of occupied homes in the City of Perth 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 Perth a disadvantaged area?
On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (2021), the City of Perth is in decile 9 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 Perth are disadvantaged?
21.8% of households in the City of Perth 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 Perth compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Perth ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Central Coast | $400 |
| 10 | Greater Wollongong | $400 |
| 11 | Newcastle | $400 |
| 12 | Perth | $400 |
| 13 | Adelaide | $400 |
| 14 | Melbourne | $396 |
| 15 | Wollongong | $390 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Perth ranks 22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Toowoomba | 30.2% |
| 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% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Perth 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 | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Greater Sydney | 10.4% |
| 4 | Greater Melbourne | 10.2% |
| 5 | Greater Perth | 9.3% |
| 6 | Perth | 9.2% |
| 7 | Brisbane | 8.5% |
| 8 | Greater Brisbane | 8.5% |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 8.0% |
More on Perth: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.