Are you visiting Melbourne this semester? Well, you ought to be. The city of Melbourne is becoming the next hotspot for international students in Australia. It is located around coastal land and is the capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, adding the best living experience for newbie students. Welcoming culture, lively food and sports events, and a great environment allow you to explore a wide array of career opportunities as well. But with the city this massive, how does a fresher narrow down the best places to live in Melbourne? Leave it up to us! We’ve curated a list to help you find your perfect spot! But first, let’s take a look at how it can be as a student in this big Aussie city.
About Melbourne
Suppose you’re planning on studying in Australia. In that case, you’ll definitely want to check out the country’s best student city, Melbourne. Home to over 180,000 international students from over 120 different nationalities, Melbourne is no doubt one of the most sought-after study destinations, making it hard to find student accommodation here. If you’re planning on living in Melbourne, you’ll be glad to learn that the city has good student accommodation options near several top universities, including the University of Melbourne, Victoria University (Footscray campus), Monash University (Clayton campus), and La Trobe University. Living in Melbourne can be quite a pleasant experience for students, with reasonable living costs, well-connected transport system, and several opportunities to discover the city’s culture. If you’re looking for some extra money, Melbourne also has quite a few part-time jobs that you can take up. To get a better idea of what to expect when moving to this wonderful city, check out this video on Melbourne!
10 Best Places to Live in Melbourne 2023
With the city quickly becoming Australia’s next big destination for international students, finding good student homes in this city can be difficult. We’ve eased the process for you with a list of the best places to live in Melbourne as well as a guide to help you find the perfect student housing in Melbourne.
1. Carlton
Carlton is one of the most lively and best suburbs near University of Melbourne, well-known for the Italian cafes and restaurants of Lygon Street Italian. You’ll find several famous cafes and restaurants lined up here and enjoy its traditional cuisine. Carlton is one of the 10 best places to live in Melbourne, as it is also known for its beautiful Victorian buildings, leafy parks and quiet gardens. Living in Carlton would be a great option as this area is in a prime location that is only a few minutes away from universities such as RMIT or the University of Melbourne and is well-connected to public transportation at all times.
Nearby transport: Carlton also ranks highly with public transport, with trams running along Swanston Street through to Carlton North.
Landmarks: The Readings Bookstore, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum, Cinema Nova
Most suited for: Students seeking a peaceful, calm neighbourhood where they can focus on their studies.
2. St. Kilda
Undoubtedly a popular destination for students wishing to live in Melbourne, St. Kilda is best known for its abundance of cafes, live music, cinema, as well as several festivals being held here. Students of Charles Stuart University will be glad to learn that one of the best places to live in Melbourne is located just 13 minutes away from their university. One of the best beachside suburbs in Melbourne, this area is most suited for those who wish to partake in Melbourne’s vibrant nightlife as it is just a short commute away from the city centre. Stick around in February for the St Kilda’s very own music festival!
Nearby transport: Public transport operates through the main arteries of Acland Street and Fitzroy Street.
Landmarks: Luna Park, Palais Theatre, St Kilda Festival
Most suited for: Students who like to party and want to experience Melbourne's nightlife!
3. Richmond
Just a short hop away from Melbourne CBD, Richmond has pretty much everything a student could wish for - food, shopping, sporting events, and even access to the city, making it one of the best places to live in Melbourne. Close to the bayside Yarra river as well as St Kilda’s beaches, Richmond offers students living here the best of both worlds.
Nearby transport: It is among the best places to live in Melbourne due to its more established transport system that comprises tram routes, train stations, and arterial routes. Plus, it also has the Yarra River Trail for bicycle enthusiasts.
Landmarks: Burnley Park, Richmond Oval
Most suited for: Students who are nature lovers and are looking for security without compromising on their student lifestyle.
4. Hawthorn
If you’ve got a green thumb, you’re bound to fall in love with Hawthorn. Recognised for its flora, public transportation connectivity, and vicinity to Melbourne CBD, this is certainly one of the best places to live in Melbourne. A mere 6 kilometres from the city centre, Hawthorn is quite urban despite being located in the inner Eastern suburbs, and has several excellent cafes and galleries, making it one of the best suburbs to live in Melbourne for students. Swinburne University of Technology’s campus in the area is located quite close to our student accommodation in the area.
Nearby transport: Hawthorn is serviced by three railway stations (Hawthorn, Glenferrie, Auburn) and six tram routes (16, 48, 70, 72, 75, 109).
Landmarks: Lido Cinemas, The Auburn Tower, Sir Zelman Cowen Park
Most suited for: Nature-lovers and students who wish to live in a suburb close to Melbourne CBD
5. South Yarra
Located just 4 kilometres from Melbourne CBD is a Victorian suburban village called South Yarra, which creates the perfect student environment making it one of the best places to live in Melbourne. With a lavish working-class lifestyle as well as a thriving shopping area, South Yarra is perfect for students planning on living in Melbourne. Major shopping venues, public transport, parks, schools and a thriving place for businesses are a few reasons South Yarra is among the best places to live in Melbourne.
Nearby transport: South Yarra has its own railway station and several tram stops served by the 78, 72 and 58 trams
Landmarks: Chapel Street, Toorak Road, Prahran Market, the Jam Factory, Village Cinema, Palace Como, and the Royal Botanic Gardens
Most suited for: Students who enjoy shopping and are looking for a locality that offers an excellent quality of life at a reasonable price.
6. Caulfield
Counted among the best places to live in Melbourne, Caulfield has a quiet intrinsic area with a relaxing atmosphere. You won't feel like you're living in the middle of nowhere because it isn't too quiet or isolated from the Melbourne city civilisation. There are lovely parks, sporting facilities, and modest community restaurants all around Caulfield, whether you choose to rent an apartment or live in communal accommodation. It is a posh area in Melbourne that attracts working professionals and families. Caulfield is a convenient location for students of Monash University (Caulfield campus).
Nearby transport: You can take a train from Caulfield Station and the area is connected to the city centre via the Line 46 tram and the Line 605 bus.
Landmarks: Caulfield Park, Caulfield Racecourse, and Monash University Museum of Art
Most suited for: Older students who have outgrown their clubbing era and are seeking a quiet neighbourhood.
7. Brunswick
Beautiful nature is rarely far from your doorstep when living in Melbourne, and if you are living in Brunswick, you would be right on the Merri Creek Trail. Brunswick is effortlessly cool, with a hipster and intercultural vibe that puts it among the best places to live in Melbourne for students list. Between buzzing pubs and music venues are hip vintage shops, art galleries, bookstores, and family-run restaurants. It is a hippy locality full of impressive art, activism, beautiful vintage shops and delicious food, so living in Brunswick as a student, you will never have a dull moment.
Nearby transport: Brunswick is served by the Upfield train line, Line 19 tram, and a host of bus routes, Brunswick is also quite bike-friendly with several bike paths and lanes on its roads.
Landmarks: Black Dot Gallery, CERES, Brunswick Park
Most suited for: People who enjoy spending time in nature and appreciate bohemian culture.
8. Fitzroy
Fitzroy is a rapidly growing area known for its cafe culture and bohemian vibe. It is one of Melbourne's most densely populated areas, with Victorian-era terraced housing and modern apartments. Considering it is among the best places to live in Melbourne, Fitzroy has a lot of personality and charm and also hosts the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Easily accessible by public transport, it's a booming suburb with many possibilities, so living here as a student would come with the utmost comfort.
Nearby transport: Despite the noticeable lack of train stations, Fitzroy is linked to the rest of Melbourne as it is serviced by three tram lines and rates highly in terms of walkability. The area is also quite bike-friendly.
Landmarks: Gertrude Street, Brunswick Street, The Fitzroy Swimming Pool, Brunswick Street Gallery, Sutton Gallery, Smith Reserve
Most suited for: Students who enjoy art studios, art galleries, and street art exhibitions.
9. Clayton
Compared to the other suburbs on this list of best neighbourhoods in Melbourne, Clayton has a lower average cost of rent, which is perfect for students. Those who will be attending Monash University are in luck because living expenses as a student here are not too high. Clayton is home to multicultural communities, so you will always have easy access to affordable but world-class food, which is why it is among the best places to live in Melbourne as a student. And also, a variety of local supermarkets where you can find products and ingredients that you may not see at a typical Australian grocery store would be right within your reach.
Nearby transport: Huntingdale train station is just 10 minutes away from Monash University’s Clayton campus by bus.
Landmarks: World's Fair Pavillion, Historic Hanley House
Most suited for: Students seeking out a multicultural neighbourhood with rent on the lower side of the scale.
10. Seaholme
Located only 13 kilometres from CBD, Seaholme offers students the utmost peace and lavishness. Reputable colleges and universities, such as Victoria University and Greenwich English College, are also in this vicinity; hence living in Seaholme won’t be a hassle and falls under the best places to live in Melbourne list.
Nearby transport: With its very own railway station, Seaholme is well-connected to the rest of Melbourne. It is also served by several bus lines.
Landmarks: The 100 Steps of Federation, Altona Pier, Altona Coastal Park
Most suited for: Students who wish to live a modern lifestyle at the heart of nature.
Due to its large size, Melbourne has a very diverse population and multicultural communities across the city, so you will fit right in as an international student. Living in Melbourne as a student is accessible and comfortable regardless of where you base yourself, ensuring you’ll never be far from the bustle. If you've made your pick from the best places to live in Melbourne, go on ahead and book your new home in Melbourne! Make a move and explore the fun and vivacity Melbourne has to offer.
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