UNSW College lecturer Jose Pineda has been living in the eastern suburbs of Sydney since March. But after a rent hike, he’s being forced to pack his bags and will this weekend move further away from the CBD to make ends meet.

Mr Pineda, who holds three master’s degrees, is moving away from a shared apartment in Kingsford where his rent will rise to $1200 a fortnight. That sum amounts to more than 60 per cent of his salary during quieter teaching periods when his hours are reduced.