Affordability check · Sydney · NSW

Can I afford to live in Kensington on $75,000/yr?

No, not on this salary
Weekly take-home
$1,158/wk
1BR median rent
$829/wk
Leftover after rent + tax + costs
-$95/wk
Rent share of gross
57%

The verdict

Kensington on $75,000/yr

On $75,000/yr, Kensington doesn't add up: typical costs would leave you $95/wk short. You need about $143,693/yr at the 30% rule.

Salary needed (30% rule)
$143,693
/yr gross
Short of 30% rule by
$68,693
/yr
Take-home (after tax)
$60,212
/yr
Annual rent
$43,108
median
Household:

Where your salary goes

$75,000/yr gross · $1,442/wk · single household

Tax + Medicare
$284/wk
18%
1BR rent
$829/wk
54%
Essentials
$424/wk
28%
Discretionary
-$95/wk

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

On $75,000/yr: weekly budget

$1,253/week total

Rent
$829/wk
Groceries
$180/wk
Transport
$55/wk
Utilities
$55/wk
Insurance
$45/wk
Other
$89/wk

Closest cheaper alternatives

Still over the 30% rule on $75,000/yr, but cheaper than Kensington

Nothing nearby is comfortably affordable on this salary. These are the closest cheaper options. You'd still be over the rental-stress threshold, but less so.

Haymarket
Sydney, NSW · 3.8km from Kensington
$600/wk
42% rent
Ultimo
Sydney, NSW · 4.2km from Kensington
$600/wk
42% rent
Rushcutters Bay
Sydney, NSW · 4.1km from Kensington
$750/wk
52% rent
Woolloomooloo
Sydney, NSW · 4.4km from Kensington
$750/wk
52% rent
Elizabeth Bay
Sydney, NSW · 4.4km from Kensington
$750/wk
52% rent

Want options under the 30% rule? Try a higher salary bracket or browse the cheapest suburbs nationally.

Same suburb, adjacent salary brackets

How affordability shifts in Kensington with a pay change

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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