Looking for student accommodation in Melbourne? You're in the right place. Acolyte Living lists verified, fully furnished rooms, studios, and apartments near the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Monash, and Deakin, with prices from around AUD $180 a week for a shared room up to roughly $380 for a private CBD studio. Every property is checked, every price is shown upfront, and you can book the whole thing online before you fly out. We also list student accommodation across Australia if you're still weighing up cities.
Use the filters above to sort by suburb, budget, room type, and university. If you'd rather see our picks first, the most-booked Melbourne buildings are listed below.
About Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city, with about 5.2 million people. It regularly lands near the top of the world's most liveable city lists, and it's been Australia's number one student city since 2015. For students that mostly means three things: good universities, plenty of part-time and graduate work, and a city that's genuinely easy to live in.
The inner suburbs — Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Brunswick — are where most of the cafes, galleries, and weekend markets are. The CBD is the shopping and nightlife core, and the outer suburbs are quieter and cheaper while still being a tram or train ride from campus.
The job market helps too. Melbourne's economy is spread across finance, health, education, tech, and the creative industries, and a lot of big employers recruit straight off the campuses. The weather is mild most of the year, though locals will warn you about getting "four seasons in one day."
Quick facts
- State:Victoria (VIC)
- Population:5.2 million
- Time zone:AEST (UTC +10/+11)
- Currency:AUD (A$)
- Student population:300,000+
- Average weekly rent:AUD $180 to $380
- Emergency number:000
Why students choose Melbourne
Melbourne ranks 5th in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 index, and first in Australia. A few reasons it keeps that spot:
- Good universities. Nine ranked institutions are based here, including the University of Melbourne (consistently in the global top 20), Monash, RMIT, and Deakin. Degrees from these are recognised internationally, which matters when you take them home or job-hunt abroad.
- Jobs after you graduate. With the economy spread across so many industries, there's a steady supply of internships and graduate roles, and Melbourne's graduate employment rate usually beats the national average.
- A genuinely mixed crowd. More than 160 languages are spoken across the city. Big Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Greek communities mean you can find familiar food, festivals, and a bit of home from your first week. It ranks #1 in the world on the QS "student mix" measure for diversity.
- Safety. Melbourne sits among the safest big cities anywhere. Strong anti-discrimination laws, university diversity offices, and an open social culture make it a comfortable place to land whatever your background.
- The lifestyle. Laneway coffee, rooftop cinemas, the Australian Open, live music, weekend markets. The arts, sport, and food scene is one of the best in the country and a lot of it is cheap or free on a student budget.
- Work rights. International students on a Subclass 500 visa can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during semester, which helps offset living costs and gets you local experience.
Find student accommodation in Melbourne by area
Melbourne CBD
Student accommodation in Melbourne CBD puts you inside the free tram zone, so getting around the city core costs nothing. RMIT's City campus is right here, and the University of Melbourne is a short tram up Swanston Street. CBD studios are the priciest option, but for a lot of students the location and zero commute are worth it. Expect AUD $300 to $380 a week for a private studio.
Carlton and Parkville
The default for University of Melbourne students. You can often walk to class, and the area is full of cheap eats, cafes, and the Lygon Street strip. Carlton has a good mix of shared rooms and studios, so it suits both tight and mid-range budgets.
Clayton and Caulfield
If you're at Monash, look here first. Clayton sits right by the Clayton campus, and rent tends to be cheaper than the inner city with more space for your money.
Brunswick, Fitzroy, and Collingwood
Cheaper, slightly further out, and the most fun if you care about live music, bars, and markets. Well connected by tram, and popular with RMIT and postgrad students.
Accommodation in Melbourne for international students
If you're moving from overseas, a few things make Acolyte Living easier than trying to sign a private lease from another country:
- Book before you arrive, with virtual tours so you're not signing blind.
- Rooms come furnished, so you don't land in Melbourne and have to buy a bed.
- No surprise bond terms, and many properties run a "no visa, no pay" policy, so you're not stuck if your visa is delayed.
- Roommate matching and group bookings if you're coming solo or with friends.
Two practical reminders. You'll need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the length of your visa, a Tax File Number if you plan to work, and a Myki concession card for half-price trams and trains. Sort the housing first, though. Everything else is easier once you have an address.
Top 5 student properties in Melbourne
Our most-booked Melbourne buildings, based on demand and student reviews:
- Carric Hostel — Melbourne CBD, opposite Queen Victoria Market and inside the free tram zone. Budget shared and non-ensuite rooms near RMIT.
- 2301/483 Swanston Street — CBD apartment on Swanston Street, walking distance to RMIT and the University of Melbourne.
- Home Southbank — Southbank, with furnished 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments, a pool and gym.
- 2 Connam Avenue — Clayton, close to the Monash Clayton campus. 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, good value split between two people.
- 234 Warrigal Road — Camberwell, near Deakin University's Burwood campus. Self-contained studios from around AUD $319 a week with all bills included.
Student resources and facilities in Melbourne
University student services. Every major university runs a student services hub. UMSU handles welfare support, legal advice, and a food bank. The Monash Student Association runs events, clubs, and emergency financial grants. RMIT's hub covers academic support, disability services, and free counselling.
Health and wellbeing. International students need OSHC, which covers GP visits, hospital stays, and some prescriptions. Bulk-billing GP clinics are near most campuses. University counselling is free for enrolled students.
Libraries and study spaces. The State Library of Victoria is free to use with co-working zones and long opening hours. Melbourne's council library network runs 30-plus branches with free wi-fi, printing, and study space.
Recreation and student life. Sport and rec centres at UniMelb, Monash, and RMIT offer cheap gym memberships. Major institutions like the NGV, Melbourne Museum, and ACMI are free or discounted with a student ID.
What every student needs to live in Melbourne
- 1. Myki concession card. Melbourne's trams, trains, and buses all run on the Myki card. Full-time students get a concession card that cuts fares by about half, with a daily cap around AUD $4.60. The whole CBD tram network is free.
- 2. Australian bank account. Open one when you arrive to dodge international transaction fees. NAB, ANZ, CommBank, and Westpac all offer fee-free student accounts with no minimum deposit.
- 3. SIM card and mobile plan. Prepaid SIMs from Optus, Telstra, Woolworths Mobile, or Aldi Mobile cover most of the country. Budget plans run AUD $10 to $35 a month.
- 4. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This is mandatory for your whole visa. Medibank, Bupa, Allianz Care, and nib all offer it, with single cover from around AUD $560 a year.
- 5. Tax File Number (TFN). If you plan to work at all, you need one. Apply free through the ATO website once you're in the country.
- 6. Groceries and food. Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI are the cheapest for a weekly shop. Budget roughly AUD $80 to $120 a week.
- 7. Contents insurance. Covers your laptop, phone, and belongings. Plans from about AUD $8 to $15 a month.
- 8. Internet. NBN plans from Aussie Broadband, Superloop, or Tangerine start around AUD $49.99 a month. Most PBSA bundles wi-fi into rent.
- 9. Bike or e-scooter. Melbourne has a growing network of protected bike lanes. A second-hand bike runs AUD $80 to $200. Lime and Neuron e-scooters cover short inner-city trips.
- 10. ISIC card. The International Student Identity Card gets you discounts on software, food, transport, and retail. It's AUD $30 a year and usually pays for itself in the first month.
