Six-figure salary, still struggling? Gold Coast renters hit hard
Even six-figure earners are struggling with rent! Gold Coast renters on $100K+ salaries are spending 54% of their income on rent.
What’s Happening?
The Gold Coast’s rental market is one of the most unaffordable in Australia, with even six-figure earners struggling to keep up with soaring costs.
In Everybody's Home's 2025 Priced Out report, a $100,000 salary is no longer sufficient to afford a rental comfortably on the Gold Coast, as renters are using 54% of their earnings on housing.
Nationally, Australian renters now require an income of at least $130,000 a year to not be rental stressed when they rent a standard unit. The report discovered that middle-to-high-income workers, such as professionals, frontline workers, and young families, are being priced out of their own neighbourhoods.
For individuals at $70,000 annually, things are only worse—they'd have to shell out more than half their incomes for rent merely to get themselves a median-priced apartment. Working-class individuals are experiencing a right crisis, as some would be required to allocate over 100% of their incomes on renting in most localities.
Why It Matters?
The Gold Coast has long been a desirable place to live, attracting professionals, hospitality workers, and young families. However, the rental market’s rapid inflation is forcing many locals to reconsider their future on the Coast.
Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize says this crisis is no longer just about low-income earners:
“This report exposes the stark reality facing Australian renters every day. Rental stress is no longer confined to those on lower incomes—it’s affecting professionals, essential workers, and middle-income families who simply can’t keep up with soaring rents.”
Renters are being pushed to the financial brink, forced to delay major life decisions such as homeownership, starting a family, or even staying in the city where they work. The Gold Coast’s growing rental unaffordability also threatens local businesses, making it harder for employers to attract and retain workers.
Gold Coast: A Rental Crisis Hotspot
The Gold Coast is the state's second-highest rental suburb in terms of cost, just behind Brisbane, and one of the worst in the country. The report is revealing in noting that individuals making $100,000 a year—are deemed far in excess of median income—remain unable to rent a secure dwelling sustainably.
"This crisis is preventing individuals from living and working within their own community, causing individuals to put significant life decisions off, and disrupting social cohesion," according to Azize.
The problem is especially acute for important workers, such as healthcare, education, and hospitality workers, who are unable to afford to reside in the city in which they work.
By the Numbers: Gold Coast Rental Affordability Crisis
54% – The proportion of a $100,000 salary spent on rent on the Gold Coast, making it one of the most unaffordable regions in the country.
$130,000+ – The minimum annual income needed to afford a typical unit rental nationwide without falling into rental stress.
119% – The percentage of a $40,000 salary required for rent in some areas, making it completely unaffordable for lower-income Australians.
Where Renters on $100,000 Per Year Are Struggling the Most:
Northern WA – 55% of income spent on rent
Gold Coast, QLD – 54%
Sydney, NSW – 48%
Sunshine Coast, QLD – 46%
Perth, WA – 43%
Brisbane, QLD – 40%
The Gold Coast is now as expensive as Sydney for some renters, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Zoom In: The Worst-Affected Renters on the Gold Coast
The crisis is even worse for those earning below six figures, with renters on $70,000 per year forced to spend more than half their income on housing.
For those on lower incomes (around $40,000 per year), renting in the Gold Coast is nearly impossible. Many locals are being forced to move inland or leave the region entirely, while those staying are cutting back on essentials just to afford rent.
Zoom Out: The Gold Coast’s Housing Market at a Breaking Point
The affordability crisis on the Gold Coast is not just about rent—it’s reshaping the city’s workforce and economy. The lack of affordable housing is pushing professionals, essential workers, and hospitality staff out of the city, creating a staffing crisis in many industries.
Everybody’s Home is calling for urgent government action before the situation worsens. Their demands include:
A major boost to social housing – Increasing the supply of low-cost rental homes for people in severe housing stress.
Ending investor tax breaks – Scrapping policies like negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, which inflate property prices and rental costs.
Azize insists that housing affordability must be a top priority for the next government:
“A $100,000 salary used to be considered a secure income, but our research shows people on this wage are struggling in both cities and regional areas because rents are so staggeringly high.”
What to Look for Next?
With a federal election approaching, housing affordability is set to dominate the political agenda. The question remains: Will the government intervene to lower rents and increase housing supply, or will renters continue to be priced out of safe, stable housing?
The rental affordability crisis is no longer just a problem for low-income earners—it’s a Gold Coast-wide issue affecting professionals, families, and key workers alike. If rents keep rising, how many more people will be forced out of their own city?