Research article: Housing affordability, and living affordability

Often lower-cost housing carries much higher living costs, which accrue substantially over time, including transport and energy costs, as well as health, lifestyle and time costs (including relating to travel time).

For example, in 2006 dollars, the weekly household cost of commuting by Public Transport (includign the time cost) for households in outer Melbourne was $515, more than double the cost for Inner Melbourne of $247. Therefore lower up-front housing costs may be exceeded by ongoing, higher living costs, reflecting a pronounced inequality in the city.