Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
Australian business owner says $100,000 is not enough for a family
An unnamed Australian real estate owner says $100,000 is a new poverty line for families, arguing that living costs have risen sharply.
He told business adviser Lawrence Petruzzelli that after tax, a family would have about $80,000, while rent in a decent area could cost at least $800 a week.
He said food, petrol, insurance and other bills leave too little for a family with two children.
Petruzzelli agreed and said a family needs at least $300,000 for a good standard of living.
Australia has no official poverty line, though research estimates about $63,752 a year for a couple with two children.
People are divided over whether $100,000 can be called poverty, with some pointing to housing costs and others saying the term overlooks people earning less.
The owner and Petruzzelli said costs have risen faster than wages, but no specific next steps were described.
An unnamed Australian real estate agency owner says $100,000 a year is not enough for a family with two children.
He argues that after tax, rent and other costs leave too little for a family to live on.
Business and tax advisor Lawrence Petruzzelli agreed, saying a family with children needs at least $300,000 for a good standard of living.
Some commenters said housing and living costs make $100,000 difficult to manage, while others rejected calling that income poverty.
Australia has no official poverty line, according to the article.
- Who
- An unnamed real estate agency owner made the claim. Business and tax advisor Lawrence Petruzzelli agreed.
- What
- The owner said $100,000 a year is not enough to raise a family with two children.
- When
- The owner made the claim during an interview on Monday. The article was published on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Australia. The interview was with Brisbane-based advisor Lawrence Petruzzelli.
- Why
- The owner cited housing and household costs, including rent, food, petrol, registration and insurance.
People who say $100,000 is insufficient
People who say $100,000 is not poverty
Income and living costs
People who say $100,000 is insufficient
The owner said a family with two children cannot get by on $100,000 after tax, rent and other costs.
People who say $100,000 is not poverty
Some commenters said $100,000 is not poverty and that people should live within their means.
Housing costs
People who say $100,000 is insufficient
A commenter agreed that housing costs had risen sharply since 2006.
People who say $100,000 is not poverty
Critics said calling a six-figure income poverty was an insult to people earning less.
The real estate agency owner made the claim in an interview with Lawrence Petruzzelli.
The Daily Mail published its article about the claim and reactions to it.
- Claimed income threshold
- $100,000 a year
- Family described
- Two children
- Estimated take-home pay
- Around $80,000 after tax
- Rent cited
- At least $800 per week
- Advisor's suggested income
- At least $300,000 for a family with children to enjoy a good standard of living
- Australia poverty line
- No official poverty line, according to the article
What people are saying
$100,000 a year now in Australia is literally the poverty line
a family with children now needs to earn at least $300,000 to enjoy a good standard of living
He's not wrong. The problem is the cost of housing. Between 2006 and now the price of apartments and houses has gone through the roof.
If you can't live on that, you're not living within your means. Ridiculous. I'm on $83,000 before tax and pay my way myself. It's very tough, but I'm not in poverty,