Sunshine Coast · QLD · 4556

You'll need $86,667/yr to live in Buderim.

The 30%-rule benchmark for a single person, based on quarterly government bond data.

1BR median rent
$500/wk
Annual rent change
+11.1%
Rental stress (median income)
Yes
Bonds lodged

Location

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Rent trend

Quarterly median rent

Can you afford it on your salary?

Pick your bracket to see weekly leftover, budget breakdown and cheaper alternatives in Buderim

Closest to the $86,667/yr the 30% rule needs is highlighted.

Rent details

1 BR
$500/wk
2 BR
$580/wk
3 BR
$700/wk
4+ BR
$1,050/wk
Annual change
+11.1%
Quarterly change
+7.1%

Suburb affordability ledger

ABS Census 2021 (income WPI-indexed to 2026) · rent vs household income

Household income (est. 2026)
$2,040/wk
Median age
46
Avg household size
2.5
Rent-to-income
37%

Household income is the 2021 Census median indexed forward to 2026 by ABS wage growth; rent-to-income and stress compare current rent to that estimate.

About renting in Buderim

Buderim's 1-bedroom median rent is $500 a week, a little under the middle of the 65 Sunshine Coast suburbs NestLedger tracks, with 32 tracked suburbs coming in cheaper. It is not a bargain pocket, but renters get in below the local median.

Rents here have climbed hard, up 11.1% over the past year, well ahead of typical wage growth. Bond-lodgement medians go from $650 in 2024-Q2 to $750 in 2026-Q1. Renters signing a new lease should budget for the current figure, not last year's.

Using the 30% affordability benchmark, a single renter needs about $86,667 a year to take on Buderim's 1-bedroom median rent without overextending (based on the $500/wk 1BR median, single household). On the local median household income, Buderim sits in rental stress: the median rent takes more than 30% of gross income.

If Buderim stretches the budget, the nearest cheaper options NestLedger tracks are Alexandra Headland ($480/wk), Maroochydore ($495/wk), Sippy Downs ($280/wk), close enough to keep the same commute patterns while cutting the weekly rent.

Is Buderim expensive to rent in?

Buderim's 1-bedroom median rent is $500/wk, below the middle of the 65 Sunshine Coast suburbs NestLedger tracks (32 tracked suburbs are cheaper).

What salary do I need to rent in Buderim?

About $86,667 a year for a single renter under the 30% rule: annual income = (weekly rent × 52) ÷ 0.3, using based on the $500/wk 1BR median, single household.

Is rent in Buderim going up?

Over the past year the 1-bedroom median rent moved +11.1%, from $650 in 2024-Q2 to $750 in 2026-Q1.

What are cheaper suburbs near Buderim?

Alexandra Headland at $480/wk, Maroochydore at $495/wk, Sippy Downs at $280/wk, the closest tracked suburbs with a lower single-basis rent.

How is the salary needed calculated?

The salary needed uses the 30% rule: annual income required = (weekly rent x 52) / 0.3. This is a widely used affordability benchmark: spending more than 30% of gross income on rent is considered "rental stress".

Where does the rent data come from?

Rent data comes from government bond lodgement records: NSW DCJ, QLD RTA, VIC DFFH, SA Consumer and Business Services via SA Housing Authority, and Tasmania Department of Justice rental bond data. This covers actual bonds lodged, making it one of the most reliable rent data sources in Australia.