You'll need $94,987/yr to live in South Melbourne.
The 30%-rule benchmark for a single person, based on quarterly government bond data.
Location
Melbourne, VIC
Rent trend
Quarterly median rent
Schools
9 primary, 7 secondary within 3km
Public transport
Transit score 55/100
Can you afford it on your salary?
Pick your bracket — see weekly leftover, budget breakdown and cheaper alternatives in South Melbourne
Closest to the $94,987/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 South Melbourne
South Melbourne is located in Melbourne, VIC. The 1BR median weekly rent is $548, meaning a single person needs to earn at least $94,987 per year to keep rent below 30% of income (based on the $548/wk 1BR median, single household).
This suburb affordability view is one layer of your NestLedger — rent, salary and household cost context for Australian money decisions.
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, and VIC DFFH. This covers actual bonds lodged, making it one of the most reliable rent data sources in Australia.