Best Places To Live In Melbourne
Table of Contents
Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, is an ideal student destination as it’s named best student city ranking #4 in the world. The city has a diverse student population, welcoming culture, hospitable people and an excellent environment for students to thrive and explore career opportunities.
Why is Melbourne an excellent place to study?
Melbourne is a vibrant city that has earned its name domestically and internationally as the best place to study. It attracts 1,82,000 students from over 120 countries. And here’s the reason why Melbourne is a study destination:
- Home to Australia’s top university
- Multicultural city
- Safe and sound city
- Easy to navigate with the best transportation system
- Job opportunities
- Diverse student population
- Strong educational system
- Variety of courses
The top universities in Melbourne are:
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- RMIT University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- La Trobe University
Is Melbourne expensive for students?
The cost of living in Melbourne is A$1,700 per month excluding tuition fees. On average, the monthly cost of housing in Melbourne is around A$1,000 food will be around A$300 and transportation will cost A$250.
Please bear in mind the cost of living in Melbourne will depend upon your lifestyle.
For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.
What are the Best Places To Live In Melbourne?
As a newbie, you should look into finding the best places to live in Melbourne to help you narrow down the one that suits your needs. Find a location with easy access to your university, shopping centers, hospitals, bus or train stops. We’ve listed the ten best cities to live in Melbourne. You can look in each city and find student accommodation in Melbourne in one of these areas.
South Yarra
South Yarra is one of the best and most livable areas in Melbourne. It is only 4 kms away from the CBD, offering students easy access to universities, public transport, shopping areas and excellent quality of life. Many students consider South Yarra an ideal location due to transit options, sustainable lifestyle and being home to reputed universities.
Cost of living in South Yarra: A$1,800 per month
Distance to City Centre: 4 km (2 miles)
Local Landmarks: Chapel Street, The Jam Factory, The Como Centre, Prahran Market, Toorak Road
Transportation: South Yarra has two railway stations and tram stops served by the 58, 72 and 78 trams
St Kilda
St Kilda is only 6 km from the CBD, making it an ideal area for students to live. It has a significant population of young communities with a hip, lively and thriving culture. For students who love art, music, and cultural activities, there’s no better place to live and explore as a student.
St Kilda is home to some of the top-notch universities attracting students from all over the world.
These include Victorian College of the Arts, SAE Institute, Torrens University, Monash University and Melbourne City College University of Melbourne.
Cost of living in St Kilda: A$2,000 per month
Distance to City Centre: 6 km (4 miles)
Local Landmarks: Luna Park, St Kilda Pier, St Kilda Beach, Acland Street
Transportation: Served by tram routes 3a (on weekends), tram 12 from Collins Street, tram 16 from Swanston Street, and tram 96 from Bourke Street
Carlton
Carlton is named The Most Livable City in the world, offering easy access to restaurants, attractions, entertainment, lively and multicultural atmosphere. This peaceful suburb also provides the best quality of life for residents.
Carlton has easy access to CBD- with only 11 mins of distance by train! This means the top universities in Melbourne are only a short walk away, where you can save money and time to attend classes.
Cost of living in Carlton: AU$2,000 per month
Distance to City Centre: 3 km (2 miles)
Local Landmarks: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum, La Mama Theatre, Readings Bookstore
Transportation: Served by many of Melbourne’s tram routes.
Fitzroy
Fitzroy is a suburb in Melbourne known as a cultural hub, particularly for its bohemian and artsy culture. It is a small and compact place with only 10,773 total population.
Fitzroy is a perfect area for students to live as it’s only 3 km northeast of CBD, so you can quickly get to universities by train or bus. This area has many student accommodations, close to many universities in Melbourne. With such efficient public transportation, getting to the center and other places is easy.
Students love the youthful atmosphere present in this area; whether it’s its affordability, street art lanes, lively music scenes, or nightlife, it is the perfect choice for students.
Gertrude Street, which is in Fitzroy, is named one of the world’s coolest streets.
Cost of living in Fitzroy: A$2,500 per month
Distance to City Centre: 3 km (2 miles)
Local Landmarks: Brunswick Street Gallery, Gertrude Street, Smith Street, Brunswick Street
Transportation: 3 tram lines pass through Fitzroy.
Richmond
Richmond, known as the sports capital of Australia, attracts students who love sports and entertainment. It is only 3 km east of CBD and benefits students studying at the University of Melbourne.
Time Out magazine ranked Richmond as #10 on the list of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. It is a student city- with easy access to the town and social amenities- food, shopping, events, etc.
It is full of fun and beautiful things to present itself as the best student city to live in. You will find beautiful student accommodation with a mix of old and new housing types.
There are excellent public parks, too, and there’s a multitude of them to indulge yourself in fresh air.
Cost of living in Richmond: A$3,300 per month
Distance to City Centre: 3 km (1.9 miles)
Local Landmarks: Richmond Town Hall, Burnley Park, Swan Street
Transportation: Served by tram routes 12 and 109, on Victoria Street, 78 on Church Street, 48 and 75 on Bridge Road and 70 on Swan Street.
Brighton
Brighton is an expensive area and one of the most popular beach destinations in the country. Students are not only attracted to this place for its beaches but also for its cultural living, restaurants, and historic sites. It is half an hour from the CBD, but with easy transportation systems, you can quickly get to any of the universities in Melbourne.
One of the most popular sites of Brighton is the colored bath boxes, which tourists come to visit and stay from all over the world.
Being voted one of the best places to live in Melbourne, it is no wonder students flock there. It suits those who love beaches, outdoor activities, and green spaces.
Cost of living in Brighton: A$2,500 per month
Distance to City Centre: 11 km (7 miles)
Local Landmarks: Dendy Street Beach, Brighton Beach, St Andrew’s Anglican Church
Transportation: Serviced by the Gardenvale, North Brighton, Middle Brighton, and Brighton Beach railway stations on the Sandringham line.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is an inner suburb in Melbourne and home to the world’s giant cherry tree. So you can imagine the beauty of this place! It is only 6 km away from CBD with easy public transportation connectivity. It is undoubtedly one of the best places to live in the city. It has a mix of urbanity and Victorian housing style with leafy streets.
Many students choose to stay in this area because it’s convenient to travel to universities with the feeling of living in the suburbs. It is ideal for those who want to avoid a busy life.
It has been ranked #18 as a livable city for its cultural scene, environment, cafes, lively entertainment, and nightlife.
Cost of living in Hawthorn: A$2500 per month
Distance to City Centre: 6 km (3.7 miles)
Local Landmarks: The Auburn Tower, Gardiners Creek
Transportation: Hawthorn has two railway stations and also served by tram routes 16, 48, 70, 72, 75 and 109.
Claufield
Claufield is another area in Melbourne that’s an ideal location for students. It is also considered one of the best places to live in the city. It is quiet and has a relaxing atmosphere. It is about 10 km from the CBD, but with a suitable mode of transportation, it’s easy to go anywhere in and around the city.
It is a multicultural city with a significant influence of the Jewish community in the area. Being a liveable city and a friendly community, it has many international students.
Cost of living in Claufield: A$2,500 per month
Distance to City Centre: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Local Landmarks: Caulfield Park, Monash University Museum of Art
Transportation: Two tram routes (Route 64 and Route 67) serve the suburb.
Brunswick
Brunswick is a well-known destination for its hipster culture. It has a reputation for its great coffee and brunch places. This city has much to offer for international students as it’s close to the town. It is only about 6 km away from the CBD.
Due to this culture, it has rich arts and cultural resources for students to enjoy, such as museums, concert halls, and theaters. The first college established in this place was Bowdoin, established in 1794.
Cost of living in Brunswick: A$2,000 per month
Distance to City Centre: 5 km (3.1 miles)
Local Landmarks: Alex Gillon Oval, Raeburn Reserve, Brunswick Park, Clifton Park and Gilpin Park.
Transportation: Services by 7 Bus Routes 503, 504, 506, 508, 509, 510, Night Bus 951
Other Articles
Update: New Student Immigration Reform 2023
A Step-by-step Chinese Student Guide to UK Universities
