Rent takes 12% of household income in Plenty, the lowest of any large Melbourne suburb, against 21% in the median suburb. Ranked from 208 suburbs, ABS Census 2021.
By BestSuburbs research · Updated 11 October 2026
Measured as rent against local household income, the most affordable large Melbourne suburbs are Plenty (12%), Yallambie (15%), Ivanhoe East (15%), Eaglemont (16%), Kingsville (16%). In each, median rent takes that share of median household income (ABS Census 2021).
205 of 208 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 Ravenhall (155%), Coolaroo (33%), Box Hill (30%). 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 | Plenty | 12% | $392 | $3,190 |
| 2 | Yallambie | 15% | $340 | $2,320 |
| 3 | Ivanhoe East | 15% | $451 | $2,977 |
| 4 | Eaglemont | 16% | $453 | $2,866 |
| 5 | Kingsville | 16% | $355 | $2,195 |
| 6 | Attwood | 16% | $358 | $2,209 |
| 7 | Williams Landing | 16% | $420 | $2,582 |
| 8 | Ashburton | 17% | $455 | $2,743 |
| 9 | Point Cook | 17% | $400 | $2,392 |
| 10 | South Kingsville | 17% | $381 | $2,261 |
| 11 | Ascot Vale | 17% | $370 | $2,192 |
| 12 | Aberfeldie | 17% | $440 | $2,571 |
| 13 | Diamond Creek | 17% | $430 | $2,508 |
| 14 | Malvern | 17% | $450 | $2,606 |
| 15 | Derrimut | 18% | $400 | $2,272 |
| 16 | West Footscray | 18% | $351 | $1,989 |
| 17 | Malvern East | 18% | $421 | $2,383 |
| 18 | Seabrook | 18% | $361 | $2,042 |
| 19 | Taylors Hill | 18% | $420 | $2,374 |
| 20 | Newport | 18% | $471 | $2,657 |
| 21 | Essendon | 18% | $380 | $2,132 |
| 22 | Canterbury | 18% | $515 | $2,877 |
| 23 | Strathmore | 18% | $450 | $2,506 |
| 24 | Glen Iris | 18% | $450 | $2,491 |
| 25 | Oak Park | 18% | $401 | $2,201 |
| # | Suburb | Rent as % of income | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravenhall | 155% | $1,500 | $966 |
| 2 | Coolaroo | 33% | $335 | $1,025 |
| 3 | Box Hill | 30% | $381 | $1,267 |
| 4 | Dallas | 30% | $323 | $1,088 |
| 5 | Campbellfield | 29% | $320 | $1,110 |
| 6 | Broadmeadows | 29% | $331 | $1,151 |
| 7 | Thomastown | 29% | $350 | $1,225 |
| 8 | Doncaster | 28% | $450 | $1,592 |
| 9 | Carlton | 28% | $365 | $1,292 |
| 10 | Burwood East | 27% | $439 | $1,610 |
| 11 | Meadow Heights | 27% | $346 | $1,274 |
| 12 | St Albans | 27% | $325 | $1,205 |
| 13 | Clayton | 27% | $400 | $1,494 |
| 14 | Keilor Park | 27% | $392 | $1,468 |
| 15 | Fawkner | 26% | $376 | $1,428 |
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.