You'll need $97,067/yr to live in CBD.
The 30%-rule benchmark for a single person, based on quarterly government bond data.
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 CBD
Closest to the $97,067/yr the 30% rule needs is highlighted.
Rent details
Nearby suburbs
About renting in CBD
CBD's 1-bedroom median rent is $560 a week, placing it in the most expensive quarter of the 168 Melbourne suburbs NestLedger tracks. This is premium territory for the area, and budget-focused renters usually look at least one suburb further out.
Rents have been broadly steady over the past year (+1.5%). Bond-lodgement medians go from $620 in 2023-Q4 to $660 in 2025-Q3. Stability makes budgeting easier, though it says nothing about how the suburb compares on price.
Using the 30% affordability benchmark, a single renter needs about $97,067 a year to take on CBD's 1-bedroom median rent without overextending (based on the $560/wk 1BR median, single household).
If CBD stretches the budget, the nearest cheaper options NestLedger tracks are Abbotsford ($520/wk), Ashburton ($450/wk), Bulleen ($480/wk), close enough to keep the same commute patterns while cutting the weekly rent.
Is CBD expensive to rent in?
CBD's 1-bedroom median rent is $560/wk, above the middle of the 168 Melbourne suburbs NestLedger tracks (131 tracked suburbs are cheaper).
What salary do I need to rent in CBD?
About $97,067 a year for a single renter under the 30% rule: annual income = (weekly rent × 52) ÷ 0.3, using based on the $560/wk 1BR median, single household.
Is rent in CBD going up?
Over the past year the 1-bedroom median rent moved +1.5%, from $620 in 2023-Q4 to $660 in 2025-Q3.
What are cheaper suburbs near CBD?
Abbotsford at $520/wk, Ashburton at $450/wk, Bulleen at $480/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.