The median Sydney suburb rents for $522 a week, and rent takes about 23% of local household income. Medians over 416 suburbs from the ABS Census 2021, with sale prices where open data exists.
By Formada3D research · Updated 10 October 2026
| Measure (Sydney, median suburb) | Value |
|---|---|
| Median weekly rent | $522 |
| Cheapest tenth of suburbs (rent at or below) | $400/wk |
| Dearest tenth of suburbs (rent at or above) | $705/wk |
| Median weekly household income (2021 census) | $2,293 |
| Rent as a share of household income | 23% |
| Household income for rent at 30% of income | $1,742/wk |
| Median house price | $1,808,000 |
| Suburbs counted | 416 |
The median Sydney suburb has a median weekly rent of $522 (about $27,170 a year), from ABS Census 2021 (whole-suburb medians). The cheapest tenth of suburbs rent at or below $400/wk and the dearest tenth at or above $705/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 Sydney suburb, a household would need about $1,742/wk ($90,567/yr) before tax. The median household in those suburbs earned $2,293/wk in the 2021 census, so rent took about 23% 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 Sadleir ($250), South Granville ($263), Ashcroft ($295), Heckenberg ($300), Carramar ($300). Full table below.
The median house price in the median Sydney suburb is $1,808,000 and the median unit price $905,000 (NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report, Jan–Mar 2026). That is about 15.2 times the median household income in those suburbs ($119,236/yr, 2021 census). Treat it as indicative: the price and income periods differ.
Rent takes the smallest share of local household income in Bungarribee (15%), Hunters Hill (16%), Chifley (17%), Lilyfield (18%), Curl Curl (18%). It takes the biggest bite in the dearest suburbs, led by Balgowlah Heights, Longueville, Castlecrag.
| Suburb | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk | Rent as % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadleir | $250 | $946 | 26% |
| South Granville | $263 | $1,104 | 24% |
| Ashcroft | $295 | $1,089 | 27% |
| Heckenberg | $300 | $1,159 | 26% |
| Carramar | $300 | $1,073 | 28% |
| Fairfield East | $300 | $1,212 | 25% |
| Riverwood | $300 | $1,210 | 25% |
| Warwick Farm | $327 | $1,132 | 29% |
| Busby | $330 | $1,163 | 28% |
| Canley Vale | $330 | $1,330 | 25% |
| Suburb | Median rent / wk | Median household income / wk | Rent as % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balgowlah Heights | $1,320 | $4,687 | 28% |
| Longueville | $1,100 | $4,894 | 22% |
| Castlecrag | $1,010 | $4,675 | 22% |
| Davidson | $1,000 | $3,254 | 31% |
| East Killara | $1,000 | $3,005 | 33% |
| Riverview | $1,000 | $4,731 | 21% |
| Castle Cove | $1,000 | $3,439 | 29% |
| East Lindfield | $990 | $3,457 | 29% |
| North Wahroonga | $950 | $3,189 | 30% |
| St Ives Chase | $950 | $3,306 | 29% |
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: NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report. Guidance only. No city, agent or developer can pay for placement here. How we rank suburbs.