Rent takes 12% of household income in Hawthorn, the lowest of any large Adelaide suburb, against 21% in the median suburb. Ranked from 224 suburbs, ABS Census 2021.
By BestSuburbs research · Updated 11 October 2026
Measured as rent against local household income, the most affordable large Adelaide suburbs are Hawthorn (12%), St Peters (14%), Toorak Gardens (14%), Westbourne Park (14%), Malvern (14%). In each, median rent takes that share of median household income (ABS Census 2021).
223 of 224 suburbs with at least 2,000 residents have a median rent at or under 30% of median household income, the usual affordability rule of thumb. The median suburb is at 21%.
Rent takes the biggest share of income in Glynde (31%), Adelaide (29%), Christie Downs (28%). Full list below.
No. A suburb can have a high income and high rent and still rank well here. This page compares rent with local income, not with other suburbs. For plain rent levels see the cost of living page.
| # | Suburb | Rent as % of income | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawthorn | 12% | $295 | $2,370 |
| 2 | St Peters | 14% | $310 | $2,266 |
| 3 | Toorak Gardens | 14% | $320 | $2,286 |
| 4 | Westbourne Park | 14% | $305 | $2,164 |
| 5 | Malvern | 14% | $380 | $2,655 |
| 6 | Nailsworth | 15% | $300 | $2,059 |
| 7 | Millswood | 15% | $420 | $2,836 |
| 8 | Crafers | 15% | $380 | $2,530 |
| 9 | Torrens Park | 15% | $330 | $2,165 |
| 10 | Angle Vale | 16% | $350 | $2,248 |
| 11 | Clarence Gardens | 16% | $350 | $2,200 |
| 12 | Greenwith | 16% | $320 | $2,002 |
| 13 | Colonel Light Gardens | 16% | $400 | $2,491 |
| 14 | Henley Beach South | 16% | $340 | $2,096 |
| 15 | Belair | 17% | $376 | $2,265 |
| 16 | Burnside | 17% | $375 | $2,257 |
| 17 | Largs Bay | 17% | $315 | $1,886 |
| 18 | Glen Osmond | 17% | $430 | $2,544 |
| 19 | Lower Mitcham | 17% | $346 | $2,045 |
| 20 | Kensington Park | 17% | $350 | $2,058 |
| 21 | Virginia | 17% | $300 | $1,762 |
| 22 | Glandore | 17% | $290 | $1,698 |
| 23 | Clarence Park | 17% | $310 | $1,799 |
| 24 | Beaumont | 17% | $450 | $2,577 |
| 25 | Prospect | 17% | $350 | $2,001 |
| # | Suburb | Rent as % of income | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glynde | 31% | $358 | $1,163 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 29% | $400 | $1,365 |
| 3 | Christie Downs | 28% | $250 | $889 |
| 4 | Christies Beach | 27% | $325 | $1,194 |
| 5 | Davoren Park | 27% | $250 | $931 |
| 6 | Brahma Lodge | 27% | $290 | $1,081 |
| 7 | Seaford | 26% | $330 | $1,254 |
| 8 | Seacombe Gardens | 26% | $370 | $1,420 |
| 9 | Marion | 26% | $355 | $1,366 |
| 10 | Elizabeth Downs | 26% | $250 | $970 |
| 11 | Hackham | 26% | $297 | $1,158 |
| 12 | Elizabeth Park | 25% | $255 | $1,003 |
| 13 | Salisbury | 25% | $260 | $1,029 |
| 14 | Hope Valley | 25% | $320 | $1,270 |
| 15 | Salisbury East | 25% | $290 | $1,163 |
Rent and income are ABS Census 2021 whole-suburb medians (census night, August 2021), so today's market rents are higher. Suburbs under 2,000 residents and rents under $250/wk are left out. Guidance only; this is not a BestSuburbs score and no one can pay for placement. How we rank suburbs.