You'll need $104,000/yr to live in North Mackay.
The 30%-rule benchmark for a single person, based on quarterly government bond data.
Location
Mackay, 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 North Mackay
Closest to the $104,000/yr the 30% rule needs is highlighted.
Rent details
Suburb affordability ledger
ABS Census 2021 (income WPI-indexed to 2026) · rent vs household income
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.
Nearby suburbs
About renting in North Mackay
North Mackay's median weekly rent is $600 a week, a little under the middle of the 18 Mackay suburbs NestLedger tracks, with 6 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 20.0% over the past year, well ahead of typical wage growth. Bond-lodgement medians go from $450 in 2024-Q2 to $600 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 $104,000 a year to take on North Mackay's median weekly rent without overextending (based on the $600/wk all-dwellings median, single household). On the local median household income, North Mackay sits in rental stress: the median rent takes more than 30% of gross income.
If North Mackay stretches the budget, the nearest cheaper options NestLedger tracks are Mackay ($260/wk), Andergrove ($485/wk), East Mackay ($550/wk), close enough to keep the same commute patterns while cutting the weekly rent.
Is North Mackay expensive to rent in?
North Mackay's median weekly rent is $600/wk, below the middle of the 18 Mackay suburbs NestLedger tracks (6 tracked suburbs are cheaper).
What salary do I need to rent in North Mackay?
About $104,000 a year for a single renter under the 30% rule: annual income = (weekly rent × 52) ÷ 0.3, using based on the $600/wk all-dwellings median, single household.
Is rent in North Mackay going up?
Over the past year the median weekly rent moved +20.0%, from $450 in 2024-Q2 to $600 in 2026-Q1.
What are cheaper suburbs near North Mackay?
Mackay at $260/wk, Andergrove at $485/wk, East Mackay at $550/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.