Affordability Snapshot

Sunshine Coast rent affordability — Q1 2026

Data period: January – March 2026 · Source: Queensland residential bond data + ABS Census · 65 suburbs tracked

Median 1BR rent
$500/wk
1-bedroom weekly
Median 2BR rent
$675/wk
2-bedroom weekly
Median 3BR rent
$760/wk
3-bedroom weekly
Salary for 1BR
$86,667/yr
At 30% income rule
Salary for 2BR
$117,000/yr
At 30% income rule
Rental stress suburbs
61 / 65
94% of all suburbs

Top movers

Quarter-on-quarter change

Quarter-on-quarter rent series data is not yet available for Sunshine Coast. This section will show top movers once the data pipeline publishes quarterly bond figures for QLD. Annual change data for individual suburbs is available on each suburb's page.

Most affordable suburbs

By lowest 1-bedroom weekly rent

1
Golden Beach
$395/wk
3
Maroochydore
$495/wk
4
Caloundra
$500/wk
5
Mooloolaba
$500/wk
6
Buderim
$500/wk
7
Birtinya
$520/wk

Least affordable suburbs

By highest 1-bedroom weekly rent

1
Birtinya
$520/wk
2
Caloundra
$500/wk
3
Mooloolaba
$500/wk
4
Buderim
$500/wk
5
Maroochydore
$495/wk
7
Golden Beach
$395/wk

Affordability geography

Where affordability patterns cluster

Sunshine Coast's 1-bedroom market is compact and relatively uniform, ranging from Golden Beach ($395/wk) to Birtinya ($520/wk). Hinterland options such as Gympie ($420/wk) offer modest savings. The Coast's limited price diversity reflects a tight rental market with few budget escape valves outside the outer hinterland.

The 30% rule in context

What income do these rents require?

1-Bedroom
$500/wk
Requires $86,667/yr at 30% rule
2-Bedroom
$675/wk
Requires $117,000/yr at 30% rule
3-Bedroom
$760/wk
Requires $131,733/yr at 30% rule

The 30% rule is a common benchmark: spending more than 30% of gross income on rent is considered rental stress. Figures above use the median rent per bedroom type across all 65 tracked suburbs in Sunshine Coast.

Methodology

Rent figures are derived from residential rental bond lodgement data published by state tenancy authorities and cross-referenced with ABS Census household income data. Medians are calculated across all bonds active within the quarter, grouped by bedroom count.

Read the full methodology →

Update schedule

This snapshot covers January – March 2026 bond data. It is a permanent archive — this page remains live as Q2 and later snapshots publish.

Next snapshot expected when Q2 2026 bond data publishes (~August 2026).

View all snapshots →