% of income - Source frequency: quarterly · Methodology · Corrections
Australia's rental burden index (rbi) was 34.7% as of August 2026. Percentage of average gross weekly earnings required to pay the national median weekly rent. A transparent proxy for rental affordability. Rental affordability directly affects younger Australians and those who cannot access home ownership. A rising burden indicates worsening rental conditions. Data is sourced from Derived: ABS Cat. 4130.0 (median rent) + ABS AWE (earnings) and updated quarterly.
Median weekly rent as a percentage of average weekly earnings.
Both rent and earnings are national averages. Weekly values are used directly (the 4.333 monthly conversion cancels out in the ratio).
Source frequency: Mixed (quarterly output from inputs at various frequencies, carried forward to monthly display)
Percentage of average gross weekly earnings required to pay the national median weekly rent. A transparent proxy for rental affordability.
Rental affordability directly affects younger Australians and those who cannot access home ownership. A rising burden indicates worsening rental conditions.
