Affordability check · Wollongong · NSW

Can I afford to live in Cataract on $90,000/yr?

Yes, comfortably
Weekly take-home
$1,354/wk
1BR median rent
$380/wk
Leftover after rent + tax + costs
$550/wk
Rent share of gross
22%

The verdict

Cataract on $90,000/yr

On $90,000/yr, Cataract is comfortably affordable — about $550/wk left after rent, tax and typical living costs.

Salary needed (30% rule)
$65,867
/yr gross
Above 30% rule by
$24,133
/yr
Take-home (after tax)
$70,412
/yr
Annual rent
$19,760
median
Household:

Where your salary goes

$90,000/yr gross · $1,731/wk · single household

Tax + Medicare
$377/wk
22%
1BR rent
$380/wk
22%
Essentials
$424/wk
24%
Discretionary
$550/wk
32%

Essentials use indicative averages (groceries, transport, utilities, insurance, other). Adjust them in the budget tool below.

On $90,000/yr — weekly budget

$804/week total

Rent
$380/wk
Groceries
$180/wk
Transport
$55/wk
Utilities
$55/wk
Insurance
$45/wk
Other
$89/wk

Cheaper suburbs you can afford on this salary

Within reach of Cataract, under the 30% rule on $90,000/yr

Pheasants Nest
Wollongong, NSW · 17.2km from Cataract
$545/wk
Save $45/wk

Rent trajectory

Cataract quarterly median vs your salary's 30%-rule ceiling

$550$563$575$588$600Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Q1 '25 → Q1 '26: +7.3%
Dashed segments are estimated from the suburb's annual rent change. They will be replaced with actual bond data as new quarters are published.
30% ceiling on $90,000/yr
$519/wk
Current median (all beds)
$590/wk
Gap above ceiling
+14%

Cataract rents rose 7.27% over the past year. At that pace, the gap to your salary ceiling is widening.

Same suburb, adjacent salary brackets

How affordability shifts in Cataract with a pay change

Want the full Cataract guide?
Schools, transport, crime, rent trend and demographics
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This suburb affordability view is one layer of your NestLedger — rent, salary and household cost context for Australian money decisions.

Estimates only. Not financial advice. See methodology. Read more