Townsville · QLD · 4812

You'll need $75,400/yr to live in Rosslea.

The 30%-rule benchmark for a single person, based on quarterly government bond data.

Median rent
$435/wk
Annual rent change
+3.6%
Rental stress (median income)
No
Bonds lodged

Location

Townsville, 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 Rosslea

Closest to the $75,400/yr the 30% rule needs is highlighted.

Rent details

2 BR
$430/wk
Annual change
+3.6%
Quarterly change
+6.1%

Suburb affordability ledger

ABS Census 2021 (income WPI-indexed to 2026) · rent vs household income

Household income (est. 2026)
$1,572/wk
Median age
35
Avg household size
1.9
Rent-to-income
28%

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.

About renting in Rosslea

Rosslea's median weekly rent is $435 a week, which puts it in the cheapest quarter of the 33 Townsville suburbs NestLedger tracks. Only 1 tracked suburb asks less, so for renters working to a tight budget it is one of the area's genuine value options.

Rents have climbed a moderate 3.6% over the past year. Bond-lodgement medians go from $360 in 2024-Q2 to $435 in 2026-Q1. That is a steady drift upward rather than a spike, but it still compounds against a flat salary.

Using the 30% affordability benchmark, a single renter needs about $75,400 a year to take on Rosslea's median weekly rent without overextending (based on the $435/wk all-dwellings median, single household). On the local median household income, Rosslea stays under the 30% line: the typical household here is not in rental stress.

If Rosslea stretches the budget, the nearest cheaper options NestLedger tracks are Hyde Park ($420/wk), close enough to keep the same commute patterns while cutting the weekly rent.

Is Rosslea expensive to rent in?

Rosslea's median weekly rent is $435/wk, below the middle of the 33 Townsville suburbs NestLedger tracks (1 tracked suburbs are cheaper).

What salary do I need to rent in Rosslea?

About $75,400 a year for a single renter under the 30% rule: annual income = (weekly rent × 52) ÷ 0.3, using based on the $435/wk all-dwellings median, single household.

Is rent in Rosslea going up?

Over the past year the median weekly rent moved +3.6%, from $360 in 2024-Q2 to $435 in 2026-Q1.

What are cheaper suburbs near Rosslea?

Hyde Park at $420/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.