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Australian rental stress expands to middle-income earners
The Priced Out 2026 report by Everybody’s Home reveals a growing rental crisis in Australia, showing that rental stress is expanding beyond low-income earners to include professionals and those on six-figure salaries.
In the Gold Coast, the rent burden is the second highest in the country, trailing only Northern Western Australia. In this region, median rent exceeds 30% of income across all tested salary levels. Similarly, in Wollongong, renters earning $40,000 spend 94% of their income on rent, while those earning $70,000 spend 59%.
The report highlights that middle-income earners in most areas are losing more than a third of their income to housing costs. This trend is impacting essential workers and trainees, reducing available funds for necessities such as groceries, healthcare, and childcare.
Entities
Australia · Everybody’s Home · Gold Coast · Maiy Azize · Wollongong
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Wollongong ranks sixth for rental stress, following Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Perth, Darwin, and the Central Coast. regionillawarra.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Gold Coast has the second-highest rent burden in Australia, surpassed only by Northern WA. www.thegcminute.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Wollongong, rent consumes 94% of income for those earning $40,000 and 59% for those earning $70,000. regionillawarra.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Median rent exceeded 30% of income for every salary level tested on the Gold Coast. www.thegcminute.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Middle-income earners in most areas are spending more than one-third of their income on rent. www.thegcminute.com.au · toowoombaminute.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Priced Out 2026 report analyzed rental affordability for Australians earning between $40,000 and $130,000 per year. www.thegcminute.com.au · toowoombaminute.com.au · regionillawarra.com.au