index ratio - Source frequency: quarterly · Methodology · Corrections
Australia's rental burden index (rbi) was 99.4 index ratio as of October 2026. Rents relative to wages: the ABS CPI rents index divided by the ABS Wage Price Index, rebased to 100 at their first common quarter. A rising ratio means rents are outpacing wages — worsening 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 CPI Rents index ÷ ABS Wage Price Index 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)
Rents relative to wages: the ABS CPI rents index divided by the ABS Wage Price Index, rebased to 100 at their first common quarter. A rising ratio means rents are outpacing wages — worsening rental affordability.
Rental affordability directly affects younger Australians and those who cannot access home ownership. A rising burden indicates worsening rental conditions.
