Rent affordability · Melbourne
Can I afford A$1,500/month rent in Melbourne?
A$1,500/month puts you in the top 88% of renters in Melbourne by rent amount — A$800 below the city median (A$2,300).
Salary you need to afford this
Comfortable (25% rule)A$72,000/yr
Manageable (30% rule)A$60,000/yr
Stretch (35%)A$51,429/yr
Risky (45%+)A$40,000/yr
Based on gross annual salary. The 30% rule (manageable threshold) is the most widely used benchmark — it means A$1,500/month consumes exactly 30% of your monthly income.
How this compares in Melbourne
A$1,500
Budget rent
P10
A$2,300
Typical rent
median
A$3,800
High-end rent
P90
People in Melbourne typically spend 23–44% of their gross income on rent. The median renter spends 32%.
Data confidence: medium · Consumer Affairs Victoria rental data + ABS Housing Expenditure Survey 2022–23 · 2023
Other rent amounts in Melbourne