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City of Sydney

Housing loan repayments

In the City of Sydney, 50.8% of households with a mortgage were making high loan repayments of $2,600 or more per month in 2021.

Mortgage repayments are directly related to house prices in the City of Sydney, length of occupancy and the level of equity of home owners. When viewed with Household Income data it may also indicate the level of housing stress households in the community are under. In mortgage belt areas it is expected that households will be paying a higher proportion of their income on their housing compared to well-established areas. First home buyer areas are also likely to have larger mortgages than upgrader areas where households move in with equity from elsewhere.

Mortgage payment levels are not directly comparable over time because of inflation. For comparison of mortgage payments over time, go to Housing Loan Quartiles.

Please note, interest rates at the 2021 Census were at a record low in Australia. The first interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank began an upward cycle from May 2022. Please use mortgage payment data with caution as data from the 2021 Census pre-dates all official rate rises in the current cycle.

Further reading: How can Councils influence affordable housing.

Derived from the Census questions:

'How much does your household pay for this dwelling?' and 'Is this dwelling (owned outright, owned with a mortgage etc.)'

Households with a mortgage

Monthly housing loan repayments
City of Sydney - Households (Enumerated)2021
Monthly repayment amountNumber%Greater Sydney %
$299 or less9995.34.7
$300 - $5993071.62.1
$600 - $9996123.34.0
$1,000 - $1,1995322.83.2
$1,200 - $1,3996193.33.9
$1,400 - $1,5996263.34.2
$1,600-$1,7996863.65.1
$1,800 - $1,9996233.34.3
$2,000 - $2,1991,5448.29.3
$2,200 - $2,3997403.94.8
$2,400-$2,5999385.04.8
$2,600-$2,9991,6358.79.3
$3,000-$3,9993,48818.516.1
$4,000-$4,9991,90910.18.0
$5000 and over2,52113.49.6
Not stated1,0445.56.6

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Monthly housing loan repayments, 2021
Monthly housing loan repayments, 2021 $5000 and over, Greater Sydney: 9.6% $4,000-$4,999, Greater Sydney: 8.0% $3,000-$3,999, Greater Sydney: 16.1% $2,600-$2,999, Greater Sydney: 9.3% $2,400-$2,599, Greater Sydney: 4.8% $2,200 - $2,399, Greater Sydney: 4.8% $2,000 - $2,199, Greater Sydney: 9.3% $1,800 - $1,999, Greater Sydney: 4.3% $1,600-$1,799, Greater Sydney: 5.1% $1,400 - $1,599, Greater Sydney: 4.2% $1,200 - $1,399, Greater Sydney: 3.9% $1,000 - $1,199, Greater Sydney: 3.2% $600 - $999, Greater Sydney: 4.0% $300 - $599, Greater Sydney: 2.1% $299 or less, Greater Sydney: 4.7% $5000 and over, City of Sydney: 13.4% $4,000-$4,999, City of Sydney: 10.1% $3,000-$3,999, City of Sydney: 18.5% $2,600-$2,999, City of Sydney: 8.7% $2,400-$2,599, City of Sydney: 5.0% $2,200 - $2,399, City of Sydney: 3.9% $2,000 - $2,199, City of Sydney: 8.2% $1,800 - $1,999, City of Sydney: 3.3% $1,600-$1,799, City of Sydney: 3.6% $1,400 - $1,599, City of Sydney: 3.3% $1,200 - $1,399, City of Sydney: 3.3% $1,000 - $1,199, City of Sydney: 2.8% $600 - $999, City of Sydney: 3.3% $300 - $599, City of Sydney: 1.6% $299 or less, City of Sydney: 5.3%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2021 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

Analysis of the monthly housing loan repayments of households in the City of Sydney compared to Greater Sydney shows that there was a larger proportion of households paying high mortgage repayments ($2,600 per month or more), and a smaller proportion of households with low mortgage repayments (less than $1,200 per month).

Overall, 50.8% of households were paying high mortgage repayments, and 13.0% were paying low repayments, compared with 42.9% and 14.1% respectively in Greater Sydney.

The major differences between the household loan repayments of the City of Sydney and Greater Sydney were:

  • A larger percentage of $5000 and over (13.4% compared to 9.6%)
  • A larger percentage of $3,000-$3,999 (18.5% compared to 16.1%)
  • A larger percentage of $4,000-$4,999 (10.1% compared to 8.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of $1,600-$1,799 (3.6% compared to 5.1%)
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