Affordable but safe places to rent in Melbourne that have good transport links to CBD?

Hi MrsB,

I'm sure a bunch of people around here could help you out. First of all however, I have a few questions for you so I (and others) can better understand your situation.

1. How many bedrooms\bathrooms are you after?
2. Are you a beach person?
3. Do you prefer east or west suburbs?

Thanks in advance!

AJ

Hey AJ :)

We're after a minimum of two bedrooms (three would be best - our room, baby room, study/spare room... but could get by with two). Yes, definitely a beach person but happy to live away from the beach too.

As for east or west suburbs - I don't know the difference! Neither of us know Melbourne at all really...

I think around the $400 per week mark you will struggle to find something around the beach with 3 bedrooms. Elwood down to Brighton all would be around $450-$500 for an older house.

Better value properties would be in Bentleigh, Chadstone and Oakleigh. In the Eastern suburbs Doncaster, Box Hill are always popular and you should be ok in that price range.

In the North look at Coburb, Preston and Pascoe Vale.

if you dont mind the west then Point Cook is a good option (22km from city). Safe, affordable, lots of professionals and families. 5min drive to Laverton station to the CBD (zone 1).

Tullamarine/ gladstone park. Close to transport and schools. 280 to 390 a week for a 3bd. 16km on tullamarine fwy to cbd.

Hi MrsB,

How has the search gone so far? Sorry for the late response, but I posted this the other day while trying to help another individual in a similar situation. There are always a few suburbs that I recommend, but this is just my preference

http://www.streetadvisor.com.au/victoria/questions/suggestions-for-finding-a-house-to-rent-in-melbourne

Hope it helps! AJ

My partner and I would like a small I bedroom unit in around the city. We are Queenslanders looking to move to Melbourne :-)

Mrs B, Get on a tram, go North to Brunswick, Coburg and Northcote, Go East to Hawthorn, Camberwell, Go West to Newport, Williamstown, Altona by the beach. Go south. It not rocket science. Rent higher closer to city. HAVE A LOOK! The city is only one construct.

Hi Mrs B,
I am currently renting at Williams Landing. It is a brand new house with 4 bedroom and 2bathroom. The Williams Landing train station and woolworths are in walking distance. The train takes about 32 minutes in an express service at peak hours. Very friendly and quiet suburb. We enjoyed it. You can have a look as well.

Please how many minutes is from point cook to flinder by train.taxi or drive??

Oak park is a great location safe and secure 5min to 10min drive into city in not peak hour times. Has trains, buses and close to airport. You will find a 2 bedroom house/unit for $400 or less.

my sister n i planning to move in Melbourne but dont know to rent or buy a place that is cloce to CBD n school for my niece she is in high school, she wanted to study in Melbourne university

Just arrived in melbourne and have a 5 yr old son...hoping to rent around the $280 mark and am wanting 2 bdrms close to public transport and as close to city as possible, any ideas would be most appreciated as I don't know the areas well which are safe and affordable.

Hi there,

I believe that Ringwood and Mitcham are affordable places to rent in and are only a 45 minutes train ride in peak hours to travel into the city so this makes these locations very accessible. I believe that you can rent a house or unit in Mitcham or Ringwood for between $360 - $420 per week.

Monique Holgye - Property manager - Ray White Ringwood

Hi All!

I'm making the move to Melbs in a little over a month. I've been lucky enough to have a friend offer her place as a launching pad to get a job and my own digs. I'm not worried about having to travel distances to get from A to B so I'm not really fussed where I live (as long as it's relatively safe) What i am after is the elusive, hopefully affordable, single bedroom/bedsit. I realize how slim my chances are but I'm almost 40 and it's not really ideal for me to be sharehousing. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where i could look for these places? Obscure websites or FB pages i could join? Really appreciate all the help i can get. (As a side note, I have no children or pets and I'm very artistically inclined, if that makes a difference.)

Cheers,

Lou

like Louise Gavin I am after a safe and affordable place to rent, but I need it to be as close to public transport as possible. Have no pets and artistically inclined too. No children either (they are out of the nest), but they, as well as my grandchildren http://www.streetadvisor.com.au/victoria/questions/suggestions-for-finding-a-house-to-rent-in-melbournemay benefit from an extra room for playing or sleeping over occasionally. Shared accommodation is out of the question as I am sixty:)

It you want to be North of the city, I think Thornbury offers good value compared with surrounding suburbs like Brunswick and Fitzroy. Still close to the city with great cafes, bars and parks.

If you want to be East side but still close to the city take a look at Glen Iris, as it has lots of cheaper apartments in great proximity to public transport and still close to cafes etc

Good luck wth your search! .

I'd recommend the south east pocket of suburbs like Oakleigh, Carnegie and Murrumbeena. You can get a decent 2-3 bedroom house/unit in the $400-600pw range. The area is great for families, and has good train connections to the CBD (Pakenham/Cranbourne lines, runs express from Caulfield to South Yarra on weekdays).

You'll get a much larger place for your money compared to inner city suburbs, at the cost of proximity to beaches and the CBD itself. If the latter isn't an issue to you and beach is more important, you could look further south into areas like Edithvale, Chelsea and Aspendale.

Good luck!

I rent a modern 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 car garage townhouse in Greensborough only 10 minutes walk or 3 minute drive from the station. One of the benefits of Greensy station is all trains stop there and some even start/terminate there. The train ride is just over 30 minutes and it goes directly to Flinders St (although I get off at Jolimont and walk through the parks to the top end of the city). My rent is increasing to $1733 per calendar month in March which comes to $399.92 per calendar week, just below $400 :D If you're interested in the area then I highly recommend contacting Michelle Allen at Precise Property Management, I've never dealt with such a good property manager!

You could have a look in the Glen Huntly area, theres some reasonably priced apartments popping up and its only a half hour train ride to the city.
Cheltenham is good too! You get a bit more for your money with 2 bedroom houses around the same price as an apartment in Glen Guntly. There's an express train from cheltenham station so the trip to the cbd wouldn't be longer!

If you want to live by the beach and have good access to public transport I'd recommend looking for a house in Cheltenham, Mentone, Parkdale or Mordialloc. These are all safe bayside family friendly areas with great schools, shopping centres (Southland's the big one) and they all have their own train station ranging 30-45mins from the city.

Gotta love the leafy eastern suburbs. Nunawading, Mitcham and Ringwood are all on the Belgrave/Lilydale train line and there are some good rental finds close to the stations (mostly 1 or 2 bedroom units). Weekdays during peak time there are express trains which will get you into the city in 30-45mins. Very safe areas and great for families. For more size and cheaper rent you can go out to Croydon but travel time of course will increase. Mitcham has a lovely pocket of cafes and Coles is right next to the station - handy to pick up groceries after work! Ringwood has Eastland with its new addition of great restaurants like Huxtaburger and Jimmy Grants. If you do have a car, from here you're in a really good position to head down the peninsula for a quick little weekend getaway!

thank you all!!! a very belated thanks - haven't got around logging onto here - but a huge one. I don't have a car and I am not driving - which eliminates quite a few options... anyway, there's ample information still. thanks again.

Hannah you are more than welcome :)

I just came across this thread, and I was hoping to get some advise, please. I will be moving to Melbourne, from Europe, and working in the heart of downtown. I am moving with my 2 children (8 & 9), we have never been to Melbourne. I am looking for a nice surburb, affordable, 250-300 pw. Somewhere safe, with nice schools for the children, and where I can easily commute to work. Any advise is truly appreciated.

Hi Jeno,
Do you plan on having a car/ how long are you willing to commute into the city?

A few family-friendly areas with good schools I'd recommend looking for rentals in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne include:
- Malvern
- Camberwell
- Glen Iris
- Chadstone
- Oakleigh
- Caulfield

All are approximately a 30 min train ride from the city.

Best of luck!

Hi Fitzroygirl,
Thank you so much for the feedback! I will get a car after a month or so, as soon as we get settled.
So walking to schools and train to CBD is very important. The first few weeks will be probably spent figuring out how to get to school, work,shops etc...

I was looking at Gardenvale, as the rental is quite cheap, has schools and train to CBD. Any thoughts?

Hi Jeno,

No worries.

Yes Gardenvale is a nice family-friendly area, there are a number of great parks, private and state schools around Elsternwick, Brighton and Gardenvale. Plus you'll be a short drive to Elwood & Brighton beach, Brighton Village shops and Luna Park theme park in St Kilda. The kids will love it!

Hope that helps.

Hi Fitzroygirl,
Thank you so much!!! That helps lots! I'll concentrate my search around that area (south east of CBD). If you ever need advise on Dublin, Ireland or Europe, I'm you're girl! ;) have a fantastic day!

You're most welcome Jeno. All the best for your move to Aus.

We are moving to Melbourne on April 1st week from darwin . My working location is in convention center, south wharf.I have 1 year old baby. We are planning to admit her in childcare as well. Can anybody suggest safe suburb for kids and nearby to my location.
Thanks a ton in advance.

Hi Irfana1, I'd be happy to help.

It depends on what your budget is (are you looking to rent or buy?) and what you're looking for within a suburb. Will you have a car? Do you want a house or apartment? How long are you willing to commute to work? Do you want to be close to the beach/ cafes/ parks/ shops etc.?

If you could answer a few of these questions that would be a great way to narrow it down. Thanks!

Hi Fitzroy,
Thanks for the prompt response
Right now, i am looking for rented house or apartment in 300-400$ per week. I will be owning a car in 2-3months.intially i will travel in metro.the commute hours should not exceed 1 hour. As I have kid , it would be great if we are near to parks and shops.

Hi Irfana,

I'd recommend checking out rental properties to the north of the city in Brunswick you can get 2 bedroom units with car spaces/garages for under $350 a week. It has great access to trams and trains & is only 20 mins from the CBD. There are lots of parks, cafes and good shopping strips.

If you go slightly further north to Coburg you could probably get a little house with a backyard for under $400 a week.

If you'd like to be close to the beach and parks check out Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc. They are all family-friendly areas with a village feel about 30 to 40 mins commute from the city. You can get decent 2 bedroom units with single car garages for under $390.

Hope that's helpful!

That's awesome information Fitzroy. Thank you so much for letting me know about this sub urbs. Will start searching rite away.. :)

I will be moving to Melbourne in August with my wife and three children ages 5&6 as my wife is coming to study.I am looking for a one bedroom apartment for 150-200 dollars. Any chance as I don't mind the suburb's.

There's been a lot of great information here and I would agree with many of the posts. There are some areas that I personally wouldn't live but I have many friends that do.

It's also worth nothing that I read that the two safest train lines are Glen Waverley and the Sandringham line. If you live along these lines I think you can't go wrong.. I've personally lived on both these lines and have experienced no issues..

For those planning to enrol in childcare please note that there are usually waitlists so once you know where you plan to live, then call and get your name listed on as many as possible right away. 1-2yr wait is not uncommon. If a new centre is opening up then you will be lucky and can easily get in - or just keep following up and begging! Some centres will be pricier than others.

jeno - gardenvale is lovely and you will find there are many professional expats that live bayside - Brighton, Brighton east, Hampton, Gardenvale and neighbouring areas. It must be the beach vibe! These are wealthy areas and I hear the primary school in Gardenvale is well regarded and zoned so make sure you live in the boundary if you plan to send your kids there.

Hi itoroe,

I'd be happy to make some suggestions. Whereabouts will your wife be studying? What kind of amenities do you want to live close to (public transport, beach, parks, childcare etc.)?

can someone suggest some best suburbs for family?
affordable rentals close to transport and public schools in Melbourne.

Plz suggest a good suburb for a student at a reasonable distance from CBD and with employment opportunities as well.

Hi ,
Me and my wife are Planning to move to Victoria and finding an accommodation area which is easy and safe to commute till Flinders (as she will studying there). A one bedroom furnished accommodation is what we are looking for. Can you please suggest any area options under $300.

ben'n'em

Hi, we are a young couple that are trying to find a house to rent in the western suburbs, we are both working, have the money to pay 4 weeks rent in advance and 4 weeks bond. we can manage around $350.00 p/w rent and we also have pets. we are very clean and respectful. it seems no one is willing to give us a go. will you?

If you are looking for a safe street and suburb and in a good school zone have a look at this property. https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-oak+park-423300550

Hi guys, I moved to Melbourne recently and staying at friends place for now. I got job in Preston and planning to look for 1 bedroom within 250$- 300$ / week. Can anyone suggest a safe locality for access. I am going to buy a car but still looking for a house within 10 KMs radius.
Plz share your thoughts guys. Cheers..

Hi prowinp, If you're working in Preston I'd recommend looking for rentals in Thornbury, Coburg and Reservoir.

Coburg is a nice up and coming family friendly area. As a neighbouring suburb, you'll only be 10 mins drive or so from work. It also has trams and train access, good cafes, shopping and parks.

Reservoir has lots of nice new units and apartments & being a bit further out from the city you'll get a bit more space for your $ than Coburg or Preston. It's also got great public transport only 30mins from the CBD. https://www.homely.com.au/rent/reservoir-darebin-melbourne-greater-victoria?pricemaximum=340&sort=2

I'd recommend Thornbury if you're looking for a more bustling area that's a little closer to the city with nightlife, trendy restaurants, pubs, live music and great bike trails.

I hope that helps!

Wow..Thanks Fitzroygirl.. it’s a pretty quick reply and for ur detailed answer. Definitely this can help me searching. I’ll check these areas n post my update. Cheers.....👍

Hello, I just got a job in Richmond, right next to the Victoria Gardens shopping centre, and I'm moving into the city from a rural town. I'm just on my own, so looking for a 1 bedroom, and ideally around $300 p/w with an absolute max of $350. All of my friends live in the Carlton/Brunswick/Parkville/North Melbourne area so I'd like a place somewhere in between there and work. I don't have a car, like to walk most places, and don't want to spend more than an hour getting to work on public transport. Does any body have any suggestions?

Hi Sarah, this might help you in your search :) https://www.homely.com.au/rent/map/-37.8004/144.9704/15?bedrooms=1&pricemaximum=350

Hi Sarah, welcome to Melbourne!

I'd recommend looking in Collingwood and Fitzroy if you want to be able to walk everywhere. These are trendy bustling suburbs with great shopping, cafes, bars, gyms, live music, pubs and restaurants all dotted around Smith Street and Brunswick Street and the side streets off them. It's also close to the pretty Carlton Gardens and the CBD. Looks like there are a few 1 bedroom apartments available for around $300pw. You'll find it very easy to navigate to work by taking the 109 or 12 tram from Victoria Parade which will take you all the way down Victoria St to Vic Gardens (about 25mins).

I feel like Brunswick East or Brunswick would also be a good option for you, if you're wanting to be close to your friends in Nth Melbourne. You can catch the 96 tram down Nicholson St and change at Victoria Parade to the 109 or 12 to go to Vic Gardens. This would take you about 30-45 minutes at peak hour.

Good luck!

Am looking to move to Melbourne in near future with my 2 teenage daughters and our dog. Would like a nice safe suburb with at least 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms and garage with decent backyard. Any suggestions on east/north east side for under $400? Don’t know anything about best Melbourne suburbs, close to train/shops and commutable to CBD.
Thanks
Sue

Hi Sues23,

I'm afraid you'll find you have to go pretty far out (about 45min-1 hour) in the NE/East to get a 3 bedroom/2 bath home for $400 a week with a big yard. Safe family-friendly suburbs I'd recommend looking into include: Berwick & Narre Warren (in the south-east), Ringwood (in the east), Greensborough (in the north) & Mernda (in the north- lots of newer builds for rent).

If you could sacrifice a bathroom & have smaller backyard space to live a bit closer to the CBD (approx 30 mins) I'd also check out: Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Doncaster, Oakleigh East, Oakleigh, Huntingdale & Clayton.

I also wonder if you'd ever considered living beachside? Seaford, Mount Eliza and Mordialloc are great suburbs too!

All the best with the move!

Thanks Fitzroygirl, will check these out
Sue

Hi, we are considering moving over with a young family. Looking for 4x2 ideally in a modern house. Need to be close to good primary schools. Ideally don’t want to be more than about 30mins from the city. I’ve heard to stay clear of the west as traffic in and out is bad is that the case? Ideally don’t want to spend more than $600 a week

Hello everyone!

Am an experienced professional and have recently moved to down under permanently. Currently staying at a friend 's place in Melbourne who have kindly offered to host me at their place. As I search for my next professional venture, I am looking to move out and seeking a 1 bedroom within the $300 pw limit preferably furnished.

Currently, I do not have a car and plan to use the trains to get to the CBD, ideally within 40-50 minutes. I like to walk most places and looking for neighbourhoods with shopping and other amenities nearby. Looking for safe and affordable suburbs which are easily accessible via the train/bus network. Am not too particular about being near the beach so suburbs deeper inland would work well as well.

Safety of the suburb and proximity to public transport, specially trains are important factors for me.

I have been reading and really appreciate the responses from helpful Melburnians here! Please let me know your suggestions!

Thanks!!

Rishi

Hi Rishi, welcome to Melbourne!

I'd recommend adding the following suburbs to your search:
Inland north of CBD- Preston, Coburg and Brunswick West

To the east 7 south-east- Carnegie, Malvern East, Glen Huntly, Ormond and Bentleigh

All these suburbs are safe, currently have 1 bedroom rentals available for $300pw, have great public transport & amenities (shops, parks, cafes) and are within 15 to 30mins commute from the city.

All the best with your search.

Hi Fitzroygirl,

Many thanks for your helpful and prompt response! I will definitely consider these suburbs as I begin my search.

Are there any specific details that you recommend looking out for while house hunting? Any "common questions" that a local Melburnian would ask before signing the dotted line that I may be unaware of?

I know rooms being "NBN ready" is a thing these days.

-Are utilities usually inclusive of the rent?

- What appliances are usually included in a furnished unit?

Thanks a ton for your suggestions and wishes!!

Hi Rishi, no problem at all.

Utilities are not included in rent, so you will have to factor gas, electricity and internet into your monthly budget on top of rent.

It's pretty rare that an apartment/ unit will be fully furnished and equipped with all appliances. The only appliance that's a given is a stove and oven. If you're lucky you'll get a dishwasher, fridge, heater/air conditioner and possibly access to a communal laundry. But you may have to prepare to buy your own furniture, fridge, microwave, washer and dryer.

Some questions to ask before signing a lease:
- How much is the bond? When rent is under $350 per week you should not be required to pay more than one month's rent as a bond.
- Are pets/ smoking allowed in this building? Can I BBQ on the balcony?
- How long is the lease for? Is there an option to extend it to lock in the rent?
- Who is responsible for gardening and maintenance?
- Can you make changes to the property? ie. paint walls or hang pictures.
- Can they arrange to fix any problems you notice with the property before moving in?

Here's an article that may come in handy to ensure you get your full bond back at the end of the lease https://about.homely.com.au/blog/2018/1/23/a-renters-guide-to-safeguarding-their-bond

Hope that helps.

Thank you for your helpful suggestions and useful insights Fitzroygirl! Really appreciate your help !

Hello everyone, for affordable housing and proximity to public transportation perhaps you should consider Coburg North, Fawkner and Hadfield. These suburbs are well serviced by the Upfield train line and have easy access to the city via Sydney Road. If you can spend a little more then Coburg, Brunswick, Brunswick East and Brunswick West are worth considering. Closer to the city, abundantly serviced by cafes at almost every corner and even greater public transport options; trams along Sydney Road, Nicholson Street, Lygon Street and Melville Road.

Hey there folks!

Still have some follow up questions about the suburbs (preferably Northern and Western suburbs).

Thanks for your recommendations Fitzroygirl. I have been exploring Maribyrnong, Poscoe Vale, Brunswick and Maidstone besides the ones suggested.

Any thoughts on those anyone? Again, safety and connectivity to public transport are key factors for me.

Thank you!

Hi Rishis,
I've lived in the West and North so hope I can help.
I lived in Maidstone and wasn't a great fan. I found transport was limited (I only had a bus close by and that stopped at 9pm), and as a single woman didn't feel very safe. (It could've been where I was though, it was a little rough, but this was about 4 years ago and a lot can change to suburbs so close to the city pretty quickly - Perhaps someone else can give you further insight to what it's like now.)
From Maidstone I moved Northside and I LOVE IT. I've lived in Thornbury and Preston (not too far from Brunswick but am often in Brunswick as it's a great area.) The locations I've lived in in the North were really close to public transport, I've felt very safe day or night here, it feels like a community that I'm apart of, people are happy to say hello, there's heaps of dogs and families (and coffee) and because of this, I chose to buy an apartment here after renting here for 3 years.
Best of luck on the search! If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Hello, I wanted to rent a one bed room apartment inclusive of all the bills and unlimited internet 4-5 Kms away from Melbourne uni. Can you please suggest me some places or links. Thanks

Try to stay on the eastern suburbs side as it is the most safest. The inner northern suburbs are ok too. Caulfield, Chadstone, Box Hill, Hawthorn and Kew are good options.

I rented in St Kilda, South Yarra, Kew and Kensington (current). Based on my experience, I'd say Kensington is the most affordable of the suburbs I've rented in and is very convenient with three train lines passing through and only 10-20min to CBD. I've found it to be very safe, although am not sure how it would be like to raise a family here. Having said that, two of my neighbours have lived in the suburb for 10-20yrs and have raised famiies here.

Kew also appears to be a pretty decent suburb and very family orientated, although transport links aren't the best as it is only serviced by trams (48 and 109) that have to compete with cars during peak hours. Renting isn't that affordable here either.

I recommend Altona Meadows. Some areas are walking distance to Laverton train station - there is a bridge accross freeway at Fitzroy St south- (zone 1) and you can also catch a bus directly to Altona Beach. You can rent a lovely family home for under $400/week. There are a lot of family friendly facilities in the area and the rents are kept down by newer houses in Point Cook. We have lived here for over 10 years and always felt super safe in our lovely court location. :-)

Hi, I’m planning to move to Melbourne in mid-Febraury with my partner and we have no idea which part of Melbourne we should stay. We are looking for one bedroom one bathroom unit in a safe area with public transport in walking distance (maybe less than 15 mins) as we don’t have a car, and idealy within 30 mins to CBD. We can afford up to $300 per week including water and electricity. Thanks in advance for the recommendation.

Hi Yikkic,

I'de recommend checking out Reservoir if you want a little bit more space, 2 bedroom units generally rent for about $270 a week and it's 30 minutes from the city by train.

Preston, Thornbury, Brunswick, Brunswick West and Brunswick East also might be worth a look for 1 bedroom apartments starting at about $280 pw. They're a bit closer to town (20 minutes by train or trams are an option too) and have lots of little shops, parks and cafes you can walk to.

Best of luck!

Hi everyone. I would appreciate your suggestions on finding a decent, safe and family friendly 3 bedroom house/apartment with a rent average of $300 p/w or so. Anything close to the schools and not too far from St. Kilda or Pahran streets.

Hi simphiwem,

You may have to lose a bedroom when looking for an apartment to rent around St Kilda & Prahran as the average rent is about $950 pw. There are many 2 bedroom apartments starting at about $340pw.

Otherwise if you really need 3 bedrooms in the south-east you'll have to live a bit further out. I'd recommend taking a look at Chadstone, Clayton, Oakleigh and Bentleigh where 3 bedroom houses start at about $380 a week.

Good luck!

Hi, I’ll be moving to Melbourne later this year and working in the CBD. I have friends that live in the Macedon area and I’d like to be somewhere in the middle, or at least convenient in that direction. I’m okay with a 30 minute commute from the CBD and would like a small 2 bedroom/2 bath house that is close to biking trails and some cafes. What neighborhoods would you recommend? Thank you! Aurora.

Hi Aurora, I'd check out Caroline Springs first. It has a nice lake with cycling paths, is about 35 mins from the CBD and 40 mins to Mt Macedon, and has lots of affordable newer homes to rent and buy.

Other areas worth a look too would be Melton, Coburg North and Fawkner. Hope that helps!

Hi guys,we are just planning to move in Melbourne in july-august this year only.need suggestions for residential area near to CBD, preferrebly on walking distance to downtown as we don't have a option to buy a car right now,will travel by public transportation only.looking for 2bhk apartment/house ,good schools nearby for our 7 yr old son. Our budget will be around $400/week.Any pointers will be appreciated.TIA.

Hi Ajits, you may find it challenging to find a 2-bed apartment for $400pw within walking distance of the CBD.

I'd recommend looking a little further out in the south-east to be closer to good primary schools and to get more space. Take a look in suburbs such as Mount Waverley, Oakleigh, Carnegie and Chadstone for units and houses. These suburbs all have decent public transport options, lots of schools and are about a 30 min train ride into the city.

Hi Fitzroygirl .

Thank you for the kind response . I would like to ask that the suburbs you mentioned have grocery stores, shopping center n restaurant's nearby?

Hi Ajits,

Chadstone is actually home to the biggest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere Chadstone so you won't be disappointed there! They have an amazing new food court, restaurants, cinemas, supermarkets and every shop you could ever want or dream of, including Tiffany's, Zara, Uniqlo, Kmart, Pottery Barn and Myer.

Oakleigh has a really nice village feel with lots of stores, cafes, a green grocer, butcher and great restaurants as well as Coles and Woolworths at Oakleigh Central shopping centre.

Carnegie also has all the necessities on its main shopping strip Koornang Rd with an Aldi and Woolworths at Carnegie Central, Spotlight, Officeworks, a fruit market and lots of little restaurants.

Mount Waverley has an IGA and Chemist Warehouse and a few restaurants and about 5 mins away in the next suburb is a bigger shopping centre The Glen which has recently undergone a big redevelopment. It has David Jones, Uniqlo, food courts, Aldi and lots of other shops.

Hope this info helps.

Hello all,

I am moving to Melbourne in June this year and would like the get the suggestions on safe and family friendly suburbs to consider.
Budget: 350/wk , i can consider to stay in a 2 BHK apartment also if the location is safe and convenient.

Consideration: Safety, Good Schools, Transport Connectivity ,

Hi Umar, I just have a couple of questions before I can suggest what suburbs may suit you best.

Is living near the city a big priority for you? If so, how long would you be willing to spend on the train or tram to commute to the city. Are you planning to have a car?

Also, what kinds of amenities other than schools, safety and transport are most important to you? Do you want to be near the beach, sports grounds, swimming pools, cycling paths, National Parks, restaurants or shopping centres?

Hello Fitzroygirl,

I appreciate your feedback .

Please see below my reply to your queries:

Is living near the city a big priority for you? Not a preference but yes, safety of family is my prime consideration. I am ok to spend 30 minutes journey time via train or tram. Regarding the car, i will buy probably in six months time and not immediately.

Do you want to be near the beach, sports grounds, swimming pools, cycling paths, National Parks, restaurants or shopping centers?

Not really on the priority . but Simple grocery stores like Aldi, wools , coles and other household stuff etc should be within walkable distance of 10 min.

Hey Umar, thanks for the extra info.

In that case, I'd recommend searching for units in suburbs in the north such as Coburg, Coburg North, Reservoir and Glenroy. These are all 30 mins max from the city by train, are family friendly, have access to nice parks and most have an Aldi, Woolworths or Coles (or at least one closeby in a neighbouring suburb). You'll also get better value for money than you would for $350 pw in eastern suburbs.

Hope that helps!

Hi everyone,
My wife and I will move to Mebourne in June and would like to know your opinion on which suburbs are the most convenient for us. I'm going to study at Thomastown and my wife is going to work at the CBD. We don't have a car and are looking for either a unit or a house but modern. We'd prefer near the beach, a park or a lake. Our budget 430 pw for 2 bedrooms. Thanks.

Hey Josem,

I'd check out 2 bed apartments in Preston & 2 bed units in Reservoir if you're studying in Thomastown.

It's an easy commute from Preston with trams and trains running regularly to the city and there's lots of great cafes, restaurants & it's near Northland shopping centre.

Reservoir also has a train station and if you want easy access to green areas itis close to Edwardes Lake Park and Bundoora Park.

Best of luck!

Hi all,
Looking for advice on areas within no more than a 30 min commute to sunshine hospital.
I am relocating from the UK with hubby and 3 kids and 2 small dogs.

Looking for safe, family friendly suburbs with good public secondary schools. Ideally want an area with decent public transport links and plenty of stuff to do for teenagers, areas to walk dogs etc.

Looking at spending up to 600 p/w

Hi Alex, welcome to Aus!

I'd recommend looking at Seddon (20 mins drive to Sunshine Hospital), Yarraville (25 mins) and Williamstown (25 mins).

All these areas have several train stations linking you to the city, are very family-friendly, have good cafes, restaurants and shopping options, and lots of parks for your dogs (particularly Williamstown which has several off-leash dog beaches and parks).

You could get a sweet 3 bedroom Victorian terrace in Seddon or Yarraville for $600 pw easily, such as https://www.homely.com.au/homes/64-hobbs-street-seddon-vic-3011/5660668

In Williamstown and its neighbouring suburb Newport you'll more than likely be able to get a bigger house, so I guess it depends what sort of property you're after and if you don't mind a slightly longer commute https://www.homely.com.au/homes/1-144-woods-street-newport-vic-3015/5669645

All the best with the move.

Hello, i’m set to fly to Melbourne this August. I’ll be living alone (27y/o M) and i’m looking to get a one bedroom fully furnished apartment. Kitchen and laundry is important to me. I dont mind a 15-minute tram/train ride to CBD for work. Budget is 375pw. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi Arbie,
It may be a challenge to find something furnished, as fully furnished rentals are pretty rare in Melbourne.

I'd recommend checking out Footscray, Brunswick, Brunswick East, Northcote and Preston. There are loads of nice, new or renovated 1-bedroom apartments in these areas and they're all close to the city with good public transport options.

For example- https://www.homely.com.au/homes/10-400-murray-road-preston-vic-3072/5804978

Good luck!

Hi all,

I have recently obtained employment in Dandenong. I'll be living alone and looking at 1-2 bedroom unit or apartment. Hoping for less than 350 per week if at all possible. Can someone recommend safe, affordable suburbs and possibly close to the train lines?I have my car but would like to have train as an option for transport. Wouldn't mind if it's an hour max away from CBD as long as there' other shopping centers nearby. Not a big city person myself. But preferably have close access to gym facilities and supermarket.

Hi Fir,

I'd check out Hallam first- it's only 10 mins from Dandenong and has a train station, 3 gyms, some good local restaurants and is 5 mins from Hampton Park shopping centre and Fountain Gate shopping centre. There's lots of great little2 bedroom units with backyards for rent for under $350 https://www.homely.com.au/rent/hallam-casey-melbourne-greater-victoria?pricemaximum=450

Other areas also worth considering could be Keysborough, Dingley Village, Narre Warren and Doveton.

Hope that helps!

Hi Fitzroygirl,

Thank you so much for your input. Considering I have only 2 weeks to relocate and trying to secure a house as soon as possible, it's great that I can narrow down my search to specific suburbs.

this page has been very enlightening, i and my family(hubby and 2 kids, 2&5yrs) hope to move to Melbourne sometime around March 2020....i am coming for studies, and i'll be studying at Hawthorn so we are looking for 2bed and our budget is between 200-250/wk ....proximity to good schools,CBD,malls,markets and safety is our top most priority. i will appreciate any suggestion

we do not have a car yet,so we would be using the public transportation....

Hi, I will be moving to Melbourne in a few months, kindly recommend a place I can get a 1 bedroom between 250-300 pw, to work in Cbd and study at ACU, Thanks

Hey! I understand your situation but there is nothing to worry about. For your convenience, for the time being, there are many self-catering apartments in Melbourne out of which one of the famous is South Yarra Stays.
South Yarra Stays provides a wide range of accommodation like Luxury, mid-range and Economical. According to your needs and budget, you cal select the apartment. I am sure you will get accommodation here according to your budget.

From my experience, I would say the services provided to the guests are extraordinary awesome here.
https://www.southyarrastays.com.au/

Hi, I'm relocating to Melbourne mid Jan. I'm 28 yo and my job is going to be in Melton. I'd prefer to stay to far out from the Centre but equally want somewhere that can be easily accessible by car to Melton. (I've heard that driving to Melton is a must due to limited public transport links) Can anyone recommend an area that would be good for that commute but still not too far from the coast? Thank you

Hi, In the West, Point Cook is a brilliant location. Everything is there, shopping, schools, transport. Thanks

Hi, I am relocating to Melbourne and need your advice, please.
I will be working in McKinnon or Elwood.
I am planning to rent 1 or 2 bedroom apartment ( I am really hoping it has air con and heating ).
My maximum budget is $400/week.
I’ve noticed Elwood and McKinnon are expensive areas to rent.
Could you please suggest suburbs near by that are more affordable, safe and have a good public transport?
Thank you. Lana

Hi Lana,
If you're working in McKinnon/Elwood, I'd recommend taking a look at Bentleigh, Bentleigh East and Cheltenham. These areas are close to train stations and you should be able to find a decent 2-bed apartment or unit with all your requirements for about $350-360 pw.
Cheltenham has the largest shopping centre in the bayside area, Southland, which has lots of restaurants, shops and cinemas so you might like to live close to that.

Good luck with your search!

hi everyone,

currently living in Dubai & planning to move to Melbourne sometime next year. we are a family of 3 me and 2 teens. I'm wondering which area and school will be good for secondary students.

my main priority is good school with a safe living.

Hello Everyone

We are planning to move to Melbourne from NZ soon. We don't know anyone there. I am a Healthcare Assistant and my Husband is a Baker. we are planning to stay somewhere short time at the beginning before renting and start looking for jobs in our field. Could someone please advise which area would be best for us to stay in regard for jobs search(Healthcare jobs and baker jobs).
Also what options we have for short stay. We don't mind if its 1/2 BDR house or apartment within 300 per week budget. Please help guys.
Appreciate any response of my post.

Hi Smik,

Have you considered North Melbourne? It is within walking distance to the CBD and two major hospitals (RMH & RCH) and has two tram lines and a train station.

Suburb Review: https://www.homely.com.au/north-melbourne-melbourne-melbourne-greater-victoria

Rentals: https://www.homely.com.au/for-rent/north-melbourne-vic-3051/real-estate

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/oQ54pppnUQsUhLoU7


Good luck!

Thanks Morgan ..I have not yet ..I dont have much idea about Melbourne so not sure which area would be good for me and my husband who is a baker to stay at the beginning...
Also plz advise if u have any idea about short term accomodation ...(Hotel or Motel is too expensive to stay for a month until we find a job).thanks

Hi Smik, you could try https://flatmates.com.au/rooms/north-melbourne-3051

Depends how far away you are willing to be, Melbourne has pretty damn good public transport, even if there are parts of Melbourne that I don't like, such as the woke sheep people, can't say anything but good things about the public transport.
So decide what you are comfortable with in terms of daily travel and get as far away from the CBD as possible lol

I am a born and bred Melbournian, lived in Broadmeadows my whole life. Went to shool in coburg North for 13 yrs. Then Studied at RMIT CBD.
In all honesty, anywhere you go at certain hours of the night, alone, could invite danger but i think its more perceived fear than the reality.

Broadmeadows is cheap, close to citylink entry to go city (Can go from my home to the city in 20mins via citylink).
- Reservoir
- Fawkner
- Broadmeadows
- Glenroy
they all fit the affordable criterion and are much safer than what their notorious reputations from 20 oddd years ago would suggest. Just be sensible with the times you travel at night alone on publicc transport and even then I could honestly say you'll be very unfortunate if you were to experience ANY issues.

- Hadfield
- Oak Park
- Pascoe Vale
- Coburg North
- Carlton
- Brunswick

These three i'd say happily safety is no issue again unless you go out looking for problems, over the years i've seen first hand if you're courteous, kind and careful then you're safe as can be. affordability? As of recent market growth I'd say these suburbs have had significant growth in amenities, public transport access, cafes, shopping centre refurbishments and overall heavily invested in by the government and the prices reflect this. in saying that, you can always find gems ($350/w) but i'd expect to be paying min. $400/w for anything decent.
- Hadfield/Oak Park is my choice as the best fit for all criteria. A lot of medium density (town houses and unit developments over the last 5-10yrs but the townhouses of late meaning the last 3-5yrs or so have been high quality especially in Hadfield/Oak Park... Glenroy/Broadmeadows are also now catching upto the quality standards set by these other suburbs,

BUT, really if you're in Melbourne... you'll see quick enough you're winning anyway you look at it! :)

Looking for 2bd house/unit/town house with courtyard or outdoor space fully fenced & 1+ car space in NORTHERN SUBURBS MELB to share with my adult son.
min rent $250 week max $300per week.
I am on Disability Support Pension

Hi, I am hoping to move to Victoria in January next year and Im struggling to find a good suburb. I would like somewhere that is safe and has a good public high school. I would like a 4 bedroom house but dont really want to pay anymore then $550 a week. Any suggestions? Thanks

Just seen this thread. And thought I'd add my question.

I am wanting to move to Melbourne. I have lived in Tasmania all my life.

I dont know much about any of the suburbs of Melbourne. But I am starting to look around possible areas to move to, all online, so it has been difficult to get a feeling of them. I want to spend an absolute maximum of $400 per week or less, and I want to live in a safe area, where I can park my car without worries and with public transport to the city and surrounds. I need somewhere that has lots of growing families and childcare centres, because that's what I do for work.

My main priorities are:
•somewhere safe to be on my own,
•close to basic essentials,
•my car parked safely (not stolen),
•decent public transport
•employment opportunities in childcare

Can anyone recommend suburbs that might fit my needs, within no more than 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours drive from CBD.
I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance! :)