$470 —
Higher than 99% of capital city areas.
- 2016: $440
- 2021: $470
Median weekly rent paid by households renting their home.
Greater Sydney · Capital City
Housing & Dwellings in Greater Sydney
Where and how people live — the homes, how they are held, and what they cost.
Typical monthly mortgage payments in Greater Sydney have risen by $260 since 2016, reflecting a region with some of the highest housing costs in the country. The area is marked by a significant shift toward renting and a high proportion of apartments compared to the rest of the nation.
$470
—
- $150–$163: 1 area
- $163–$175: 0 areas
- $175–$188: 0 areas
- $188–$200: 0 areas
- $200–$213: 1 area
- $213–$225: 1 area
- $225–$238: 0 areas
- $238–$250: 0 areas
- $250–$263: 1 area
- $263–$275: 1 area
- $275–$288: 1 area
- $288–$300: 0 areas
- $300–$313: 0 areas
- $313–$325: 1 area
- $325–$338: 1 area
- $338–$350: 1 area
- $350–$363: 2 areas
- $363–$375: 0 areas
- $375–$388: 2 areas
- $388–$400: 1 area
- $400–$413: 0 areas
- $413–$425: 0 areas
- $425–$438: 0 areas
- $438–$450: 0 areas
- $450–$463: 1 area
- $463–$475: 1 area
- $475–$488: 0 areas
- $488–$500: 0 areas
All capital city areas, 2021. The marker is Greater Sydney — higher than 99% of areas.
| Greater Sydney | $470 |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $420 |
| Australia | $375 |
Housing costs
Rents, mortgages and crowding.
Typical weekly rent is $470, which is well above the national figure and among the highest for similar areas. Home loans are also costly, with the usual monthly payment of $2,427 sitting well above the Australian average.
$2,427 —
Higher than 99% of capital city areas.
- 2016: $2,167
- 2021: $2,427
Median monthly mortgage repayment for households with a mortgage.
Weekly rent distribution
View on map →In Greater Sydney, the largest group is $350–$549 at 44%, followed by $550–$749 (23%) and $200–$349 (13%).
Monthly mortgage distribution
View on map →Greater Sydney splits fairly evenly between $3,000 or more (36%) and $1,800–$2,999 (35%), with $1,000–$1,799 at 18%.
Owning & renting
How homes are owned or rented.
Renting is much more common here than in most areas, with 35.9% of households renting. This is well above the national figure, while the share of homes owned outright is well below the state and national averages.
35.9% —
Higher than 77% of capital city areas.
- 2016: 34.1%
- 2021: 35.9%
Share of occupied private dwellings that are rented.
27.8% —
Lower than 73% of capital city areas.
- 2016: 29.1%
- 2021: 27.8%
Share of occupied private dwellings owned outright (no mortgage).
How homes are owned or rented
View on map →Greater Sydney splits fairly evenly between Rented (36%) and Owned with a mortgage (33%), with Owned outright at 28%.
Types of homes
Houses, townhouses, apartments and bedrooms.
Separate houses are far less common here than across Australia, making up only 55.8% of homes. This trend toward smaller or denser living is reflected in the fact that homes with three or more bedrooms are well below the national average.
0.90 —
Higher than 86% of capital city areas.
- 2016: 1.00
- 2021: 0.90
Average number of usual residents per bedroom — a crowding measure.
55.8% —
Lower than 99% of capital city areas.
- 2016: 56.9%
- 2021: 55.8%
Share of occupied private dwellings that are separate houses.
64.0% —
Lower than 98% of capital city areas.
- 2016: 64.7%
- 2021: 64.0%
Share of occupied private dwellings with three or more bedrooms.
Types of homes
View on map →In Greater Sydney, Separate house is the majority at 56%; Flat or apartment is next at 31%.
Bedrooms per home
View on map →In Greater Sydney, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 31%, followed by 2 bedrooms (26%) and 4 bedrooms (24%).
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Greater Sydney
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Housing & Dwellings in Greater Sydney [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney/topic/housing-dwellings