Money · AU rental crisis
Australian Rental Crisis Gauge
Is your rent-to-income ratio in the crisis zone? Enter your city, household income, and rent to get the affordability ratio and realistic options.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
This tool calculates the rent-to-income ratio against the 30% affordability threshold and returns the gap above it with realistic options.
Formula used
Rent-to-income ratio = (annual rent / gross household income) × 100. Crisis zone = above 30%.
Worked example
A household earning A$80,000 paying A$2,400/month rent: annual rent A$28,800, ratio 36% — 6 points above the crisis threshold.
Common questions
Why is 30% the crisis threshold?
Housing stress is typically defined as spending more than 30% of gross income on rent or mortgage payments. Above this threshold, most households struggle to cover other necessities.
What options exist when rent exceeds 30%?
Realistic options include switching to shared accommodation, relocating to a lower-cost suburb, appealing for rent negotiation, or applying for rental assistance. The tool names the options relevant to your ratio.
Plain-English summary
Enter your details to find out whether your rent is in the housing stress zone and what options exist at your ratio.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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