Affordability check · Sydney · NSW

Can I afford to live in Northwood on $60,000/yr?

No — not on this salary
Weekly take-home
$962/wk
1BR median rent
$740/wk
Leftover after rent + tax + costs
-$202/wk
Rent share of gross
64%

The verdict

Northwood on $60,000/yr

On $60,000/yr, Northwood doesn't add up — typical costs would leave you $202/wk short. You need about $128,267/yr at the 30% rule.

Salary needed (30% rule)
$128,267
/yr gross
Short of 30% rule by
$68,267
/yr
Take-home (after tax)
$50,012
/yr
Annual rent
$38,480
median
Household:

Where your salary goes

$60,000/yr gross · $1,154/wk · single household

Tax + Medicare
$192/wk
14%
1BR rent
$740/wk
55%
Essentials
$424/wk
31%
Discretionary
-$202/wk

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

On $60,000/yr — weekly budget

$1,164/week total

Rent
$740/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 $60,000/yr, but cheaper than Northwood

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.

Gladesville
Sydney, NSW · 4.9km from Northwood
$720/wk
62% rent
Longueville
Sydney, NSW · 1km from Northwood
$760/wk
66% rent
Lane Cove
Sydney, NSW · 1.8km from Northwood
$760/wk
66% rent
Riverview
Sydney, NSW · 1.8km from Northwood
$760/wk
66% rent
Lane Cove North
Sydney, NSW · 3km from Northwood
$760/wk
66% rent

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

Rent trajectory

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

$850$863$875$888$900Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Q1 '25 → Q1 '26: +5.3%
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 $60,000/yr
$346/wk
Current median (all beds)
$895/wk
Gap above ceiling
+159%

Northwood rents rose 5.29% over the past year. At that pace, the gap to your salary ceiling is widening.

Same suburb, adjacent salary brackets

How affordability shifts in Northwood with a pay change

↑ Higher
$75,000/yr
Northwood
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Schools, transport, crime, rent trend and demographics
Northwood full guide →

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