Poverty and living standards in Sydney, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the City of Sydney was $550 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), the highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the City of Sydney local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the average mortgage repayment in Sydney?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the City of Sydney was $2,700 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), the highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have no income?
7.4% of residents of the City of Sydney had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 16th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Sydney are in rental stress?
33.0% of renting households in the City of Sydney paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 12th highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Sydney are in mortgage stress?
20.8% of households with a mortgage in the City of Sydney 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 Sydney are on a low income?
13.3% of residents of the City of Sydney had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (23.3%); 10.1% 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 Sydney?
An estimated 3,589 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the City of Sydney, which is 167 per 10,000 residents (3rd highest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Sydney are overcrowded?
7.0% of occupied homes in the City of Sydney 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 Sydney a disadvantaged area?
On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (2021), the City of Sydney 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 Sydney are disadvantaged?
25.4% of households in the City of Sydney 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 Sydney compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | $550 |
| 2 | Greater Sydney | $470 |
| 3 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | $450 |
| 4 | Gold Coast | $450 |
| 5 | Canberra-Queanbeyan | $450 |
| 6 | Canberra | $450 |
| 7 | Sunshine Coast | $440 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Newcastle | 33.7% |
| 10 | Hobart | 33.5% |
| 11 | Cairns | 33.1% |
| 12 | Sydney | 33.0% |
| 13 | Geelong | 32.2% |
| 14 | Ballarat | 31.6% |
| 15 | Greater Brisbane | 31.5% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney 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 | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Wollongong | 7.9% |
| 14 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 7.8% |
| 15 | Central Coast | 7.6% |
| 16 | Sydney | 7.4% |
| 17 | Cairns | 7.4% |
| 18 | Darwin | 7.4% |
| 19 | Greater Hobart | 7.4% |
More on Sydney: 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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