The median Melbourne suburb rents for $410 a week, and rent takes about 20% of local household income. Medians over 215 suburbs from the ABS Census 2021, with sale prices where open data exists.
By Formada3D research · Updated 10 October 2026
| Measure (Melbourne, median suburb) | Value |
|---|---|
| Median weekly rent | $410 |
| Cheapest tenth of suburbs (rent at or below) | $350/wk |
| Dearest tenth of suburbs (rent at or above) | $481/wk |
| Median weekly household income (2021 census) | $2,042 |
| Rent as a share of household income | 20% |
| Household income for rent at 30% of income | $1,367/wk |
| Median house price | $1,295,500 |
| Suburbs counted | 215 |
The median Melbourne suburb has a median weekly rent of $410 (about $21,320 a year), from ABS Census 2021 (whole-suburb medians). The cheapest tenth of suburbs rent at or below $350/wk and the dearest tenth at or above $481/wk. Census 2021 is the latest suburb-level rent we can use under an open licence, so current advertised rents will be higher.
To keep rent at or under 30% of household income (a common affordability rule of thumb) in the median Melbourne suburb, a household would need about $1,367/wk ($71,067/yr) before tax. The median household in those suburbs earned $2,042/wk in the 2021 census, so rent took about 20% of it.
Among suburbs with at least 2,000 residents and a real rental market (rent of $250/wk or more), the lowest median rents are Flemington ($300), Albion ($301), Heidelberg West ($306), Braybrook ($312), Campbellfield ($320). Full table below.
The median house price in the median Melbourne suburb is $1,295,500 and the median unit price $674,000 (Victorian Property Sales Report, Oct–Dec 2025). That is about 12.2 times the median household income in those suburbs ($106,184/yr, 2021 census). Treat it as indicative: the price and income periods differ.
Rent takes the smallest share of local household income in Plenty (12%), Yallambie (15%), Ivanhoe East (15%), Eaglemont (16%), Kingsville (16%). It takes the biggest bite in the dearest suburbs, led by Ravenhall, Middle Park, Brighton East.
| Suburb | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk | Rent as % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flemington | $300 | $1,525 | 20% |
| Albion | $301 | $1,310 | 23% |
| Heidelberg West | $306 | $1,257 | 24% |
| Braybrook | $312 | $1,451 | 22% |
| Campbellfield | $320 | $1,110 | 29% |
| Kings Park | $321 | $1,224 | 26% |
| Dallas | $323 | $1,088 | 30% |
| St Albans | $325 | $1,205 | 27% |
| Albanvale | $325 | $1,279 | 25% |
| Laverton | $330 | $1,512 | 22% |
| Suburb | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk | Rent as % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravenhall | $1,500 | $966 | 155% |
| Middle Park | $602 | $2,836 | 21% |
| Brighton East | $600 | $2,544 | 24% |
| Brighton | $600 | $2,710 | 22% |
| Albert Park | $590 | $2,533 | 23% |
| Balwyn North | $554 | $2,346 | 24% |
| Carlton North | $552 | $2,400 | 23% |
| Clifton Hill | $550 | $2,755 | 20% |
| Cremorne | $550 | $2,959 | 19% |
| Port Melbourne | $540 | $2,372 | 23% |
Rent and income are ABS Census 2021 medians for the whole suburb (census night, August 2021), so today's market rents are higher. Suburbs under 2,000 residents and rents under $250/wk (near-zero rental markets) are left out of the lists. Sale prices: Victorian Property Sales Report. Guidance only. No city, agent or developer can pay for placement here. How we rank suburbs.