Brisbane City vs South Brisbane

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Brisbane City is the city centre itself; South Brisbane is 3.1 km out.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Brisbane City has more parks and reserves (22 vs 13)
  • South Brisbane has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Brisbane City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($740,000 vs $925,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Brisbane City

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (0 min vs 9 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (0 km vs 3.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Brisbane City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (18 vs 7)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Brisbane City returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.8%)
  • South Brisbane is growing faster (98.6% vs 33.1%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Brisbane City and South Brisbane drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Walkability 99 / 97
Brisbane City — Walkability: 99/100 South Brisbane — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 2 / 9
Brisbane City — Safety: 2/100 South Brisbane — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Brisbane City — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Brisbane — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Brisbane City skews older (31 vs 29).

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Population 12,587 14,292
+14% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +33.1% +98.6%
Median age 31 29
Median household income $93,704/yr $94,536/yr
Median weekly rent $460/wk $470/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
0-4 2.1% / 2.5%
Brisbane City — 0-4: 2.1% South Brisbane — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 2.7% / 5.6%
Brisbane City — 5-14: 2.7% South Brisbane — 5-14: 5.6%
15-19 6.2% / 7.9%
Brisbane City — 15-19: 6.2% South Brisbane — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 16.8% / 17.8%
Brisbane City — 20-24: 16.8% South Brisbane — 20-24: 17.8%
25-34 30.2% / 29.6%
Brisbane City — 25-34: 30.2% South Brisbane — 25-34: 29.6%
35-44 14.9% / 14.6%
Brisbane City — 35-44: 14.9% South Brisbane — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 9.9% / 9.8%
Brisbane City — 45-54: 9.9% South Brisbane — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 8.9% / 5.8%
Brisbane City — 55-64: 8.9% South Brisbane — 55-64: 5.8%
65-74 5.5% / 3.9%
Brisbane City — 65-74: 5.5% South Brisbane — 65-74: 3.9%
75-84 2.3% / 1.8%
Brisbane City — 75-84: 2.3% South Brisbane — 75-84: 1.8%
85+ 0.4% / 0.6%
Brisbane City — 85+: 0.4% South Brisbane — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 60.8% lone person
Brisbane City — Lone Person: 60.8% Brisbane City — Group Household: 18.5% Brisbane City — Couple Families: 11.9% Brisbane City — One Parent Families: 6.4% Brisbane City — Other Families: 2.4%
South Brisbane 55.0% lone person
South Brisbane — Lone Person: 55.0% South Brisbane — Group Household: 16.4% South Brisbane — Couple Families: 16.9% South Brisbane — One Parent Families: 9.4% South Brisbane — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 68.4% renting
Brisbane City — Owned Outright: 15.8% Brisbane City — Mortgage: 15.8% Brisbane City — Renting: 68.4%
South Brisbane 72.0% renting
South Brisbane — Owned Outright: 13.2% South Brisbane — Mortgage: 14.8% South Brisbane — Renting: 72.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Bachelor Degree 27.7% / 26.9%
Brisbane City — Bachelor Degree: 27.7% South Brisbane — Bachelor Degree: 26.9%
Postgraduate Degree 13.3% / 12.1%
Brisbane City — Postgraduate Degree: 13.3% South Brisbane — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.0%
Brisbane City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% South Brisbane — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 7.2% / 6.2%
Brisbane City — Certificate III & IV: 7.2% South Brisbane — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.5%
Brisbane City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% South Brisbane — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
China 8.3% / 11.9%
Brisbane City — China: 8.3% South Brisbane — China: 11.9%
England 3.4% / 3.5%
Brisbane City — England: 3.4% South Brisbane — England: 3.5%
India 3.5% / 2.8%
Brisbane City — India: 3.5% South Brisbane — India: 2.8%
New Zealand 2.9% / 2.7%
Brisbane City — New Zealand: 2.9% South Brisbane — New Zealand: 2.7%
Taiwan 2.1% / 1.9%
Brisbane City — Taiwan: 2.1% South Brisbane — Taiwan: 1.9%
Philippines 2.3% / 1.5%
Brisbane City — Philippines: 2.3% South Brisbane — Philippines: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brisbane City 99.8% flats / apartments
Brisbane City — Flats / Apartments: 99.8% Brisbane City — Houses: 0.1% Brisbane City — Townhouses: 0.1%
South Brisbane 94.4% flats / apartments
South Brisbane — Flats / Apartments: 94.4% South Brisbane — Houses: 4.2% South Brisbane — Townhouses: 1.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Median house price $740,000 $925,000
Median unit price $740,000 $787,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 106 days
from 3 sales
 28 days
from 13 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
1 bed $558K / $639K
Brisbane City — 1 bed: $558K (302 sales) South Brisbane — 1 bed: $639K (210 sales)

302 vs 210 sales

2 bed $850K / $905K
Brisbane City — 2 bed: $850K (303 sales) South Brisbane — 2 bed: $905K (241 sales)

303 vs 241 sales

3 bed $1.69M / $1.93M
Brisbane City — 3 bed: $1.69M (71 sales) South Brisbane — 3 bed: $1.93M (50 sales)

71 vs 50 sales

Development activity

Brisbane City South Brisbane
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.4%
$800/wk on $765K
 4.8%
$810/wk on $872K

Ranking within QLD

Brisbane City South Brisbane
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 90% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 100% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 67% of QLD

Liveability

South Brisbane scores higher overall (76 vs 68).

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Grade A
same for both
Score 68/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
91/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Brisbane C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Brisbane City, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.4%
same for both

Schools in Brisbane City

  • Indie School, Logan - Brisbane City Campus Independent · Secondary
  • The BUSY School - Brisbane Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in South Brisbane

  • Brisbane State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Somerville House Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Laurence's College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St George College Independent · Primary
  • Queensland Children's Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Supermarkets 10 7
Cafes & restaurants 198 140
Parks & reserves 22 13
Childcare 7
same for both
GPs 18 7
Pharmacies 11 5
Hospitals 0 4
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 28 3
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 2

Mobility

South Brisbane sits further from the CBD (3.1 km vs 0 km).

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Walkability score 99/100 97/100
Distance to Brisbane 0 km 3.1 km
(not reported on the other side)
Drive time (normal traffic) 0 min 9 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2112.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 854.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.2%
postcode 4000
 3.2%
postcode 4101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 4000
 10
postcode 4101

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Walked Only 35.5% / 21.2%
Brisbane City — Walked Only: 35.5% South Brisbane — Walked Only: 21.2%
Car (driver) 20.2% / 32.3%
Brisbane City — Car (driver): 20.2% South Brisbane — Car (driver): 32.3%
Worked from Home 25.5% / 24.3%
Brisbane City — Worked from Home: 25.5% South Brisbane — Worked from Home: 24.3%
Bus 9.9% / 12.6%
Brisbane City — Bus: 9.9% South Brisbane — Bus: 12.6%
Train 4.0% / 4.0%
Brisbane City — Train: 4.0% South Brisbane — Train: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (35.5%).

Setting

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.4 km 11.3 km

NBN connectivity

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Connectivity score 70/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
19,326 premises
 100%
4,916 premises

Climate

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Brisbane City South Brisbane
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Division Brisbane Griffith
Member Madonna Jarrett Renee Coffey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Brisbane City South Brisbane
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Brisbane City

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

South Brisbane

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Students Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brisbane City

Brisbane City vs Fortitude Valley Brisbane City vs Kangaroo Point Brisbane City vs Kelvin Grove Brisbane City vs Spring Hill Brisbane City vs Milton Brisbane City vs Petrie Terrace

Other comparisons with South Brisbane

South Brisbane vs West End South Brisbane vs Kangaroo Point South Brisbane vs Woolloongabba South Brisbane vs Highgate Hill South Brisbane vs Milton South Brisbane vs Dutton Park
Full data on Brisbane City Full data on South Brisbane
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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