Housing costs are a major component of Australian household living expenses.

Mean weekly housing costs are collected in the biennial Survey of Income and Housing (SIH), conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The household survey collects detailed information about income, wealth and household characteristics of persons aged 15 years and over in private dwellings throughout Australia (excluding very remote areas). The survey has been conducted every two years since 2003–04, with surveys before then conducted continuously from 1994–95 to 1997–98, and then in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2002–03. Equivalised household income adjusts the results to take into consideration variations in household size and composition.

Data from the Housing Occupancy and Costs publication are also used in the following dashboard menu options: Household tenure, Household estimates, Housing costs as a proportion of household income (ABS) and Low income rental households in rental stress.

See ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs (https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-occupancy-and-costs/latest-release) for further information, including in-depth commentary and analysis, in particular, the source data Quality Declaration. Source reference Data downloads, tables 1.1, 12.1, 12.4, 12.7, 12.10, 12.13, 12.16, 12.19, 12.22.