Australian renters now need an annual income of $130,000 to afford an average rental, with even six-figure earners facing housing costs exceeding 30 percent of their income in capital cities and many regional areas.

The 2025 Priced Out report by national housing campaign Everybody’s Home shows a single person needs to earn at least $130,000 per year to comfortably afford the national weekly asking rent for a typical unit. An even higher income is required to afford the average unit rent across capital cities.

On the North Coast, the percentage of a single-income earner spent on rent is:

• $40,000 = 79%
• $50,000 = 65%
• $60,000 = 56%
• $70,000 = 50%
• $80,000 = 44%
• $90,000 = 40%
• $100,000 = 37%
• $110,000 = 34%
• $120,000 = 31%
• $130,000 = 29%

The report, which analyses rental affordability for Australians earning between $40,000 and $130,000 per year, found rental stress has extended well beyond low-income earners.

Middle-to-high income Australians are increasingly struggling to find affordable homes. People earning $70,000 per year would have to spend more than half of their income on the national median unit rent.

Even renters earning $100,000 per year - well above the median income of $72,592 - are struggling in locations across Australia. 

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said: “This report exposes the stark reality facing Australian renters every day. Rental stress is no longer confined to those on lower incomes - it’s affecting professionals, essential workers, and middle-income families who simply can’t keep up with soaring rents.

“These findings underscore an alarming shift in Australia’s housing market. This crisis is stopping people from being able to live and work in their communities, leading people to delay major life choices, and threatening social cohesion. A $100,000 salary used to be considered a secure income, but our research shows people on this wage are struggling in both cities and regional areas because rents are so staggeringly high.

“The situation is even more dire for those on lower incomes, with people earning $40,000 per year facing extreme rental stress nationwide. They are facing rents that are up to 119 percent of their income, putting a stable home out of their reach.

“With an election coming up, the next government needs to urgently boost social housing. These are low-cost rentals for people in the most severe housing stress - people who are being smashed by the private rental market.

“We are also calling on parties and candidates to scrap investor tax handouts, like negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. It is unfair to spend billions of dollars propping up investors and pushing up costs while people on low and middle incomes are left behind.

“Ahead of the election, the Federal Government must treat housing as its top priority. Without action more Australians will continue to be priced out of living in safe, decent, affordable homes.”