Student Accommodation in Melbourne: CBD, Carlton and Parkville Options
Which part of central Melbourne suits your campus?
Most students in central Melbourne pick between the CBD grid, Carlton and the streets around Parkville. Where you study should decide it.
Where do most students live in Melbourne?
Mostly in the CBD and Carlton. The bulk of our central listings sit in postcodes 3000 and 3053, with a few more in North Melbourne. Both areas put the University of Melbourne and RMIT City campus within walking distance or a short tram ride.
Is the CBD good for uni students?
Yes, especially for RMIT. You can walk to RMIT, Melbourne Central and the State Library, and trams run straight up Swanston Street to the University of Melbourne. Expect taller buildings, smaller rooms and more street noise than in Carlton.
What Carlton gives you over the CBD
Carlton is lower rise, a bit calmer and sits right beside the University of Melbourne. Lygon Street has cafes and cheap places to eat, and Carlton Gardens is close by. Campus House is one of the Carlton properties we list.
North Melbourne and the Parkville edge
North Melbourne and West Melbourne sit just west of the CBD, close to Queen Victoria Market and the hospitals around Parkville. dwell Village is one property here. It suits students who want a quieter street but still want the city close.
Best places for students to live in Melbourne?
Usually the area next to your campus. Carlton suits University of Melbourne students, the CBD suits RMIT, and ACU students often look east towards Fitzroy. Choose the area first, then the property, and always check the tram or train route.
Walk or take the tram each day?
Usually walk, if you live in Carlton or the northern CBD. From the southern end of the city near Flinders Street, most students take a Swanston Street tram. Add myki fares to your budget if your property sits more than a short walk away.
How do you live close to the Parkville campus?
The University of Melbourne runs its own residences and has affiliated colleges. Private properties in Carlton and the northern CBD cover everyone else.
Does Melbourne Uni run its own housing?
Yes. The university owns five residences near Parkville, including Lisa Bellear House, The Lofts and International House, and it has nine affiliated residential colleges. Most of them include meals. New students get an accommodation offer, subject to availability.
University residences or a private property
University residences start from around A$450 a week, and most include meals. Private properties we list in the city and Carlton start from around A$340 a week and are usually self catered. Weigh up what each weekly price actually covers.
Which trams go to Melbourne University?
Eight routes do. Trams 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72 all stop at the Melbourne University tram stop on Swanston Street, and six of them end there. Any Swanston Street tram heading north from the CBD gets you to campus.
Parkville Station on the Metro Tunnel
Parkville Station opened under Grattan Street as part of the Metro Tunnel. Its main entrance is about five minutes on foot from South Lawn. It serves the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, which helps if you live further out of the centre.
Is Parkville inside the Free Tram Zone?
No. The university says none of its campuses sit inside the Free Tram Zone, so touch on your myki every trip. Eligible international undergraduates can apply for the International Student Travel Pass, which takes 50% off tram, train and bus travel.
RMIT City campus runs along Swanston Street at the northern end of the CBD. Plenty of private properties are a few minutes away on foot.
Does RMIT run housing in the city?
No. RMIT says the city properties on its accommodation list are not affiliated with the university. Its only affiliated property is out at the Bundoora campus. City campus students book a private property directly, with our team or with the provider.
Which properties are closest to RMIT?
Several are within a few minutes on foot. RMIT's own list puts Scape Carlton about four minutes from City campus. Other options cluster around Swanston Street, La Trobe Street and Melbourne Central, so a long commute is rarely needed.
Which station is nearest RMIT?
Melbourne Central, right beside the campus. State Library Station on the Metro Tunnel is close by too. Between them you reach the City Loop lines and the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines within a short walk of class.
Studios and shared apartments near RMIT
Both are common around City campus. Studios come with a private bathroom and a kitchenette. A shared apartment puts you with a few flatmates and a shared kitchen, and usually costs less each week. Check the floor plan on each property page.
Approved properties for under 18 students
RMIT marks a small number of city properties as approved for international students under 18, including Scape Queensberry. If you are under 18, check RMIT's approved list and its care arrangements before you book any room.
All RMIT City campus options in one list
Our RMIT City campus student accommodation page shows the properties near Swanston Street. Nearly all are in the CBD or Carlton, which lets you sort by walking time to class as well as by price. Our team can help you shortlist.
How much should you budget for a room in central Melbourne?
Rent is quoted weekly in Australian dollars. Room type and what the price covers matter more than the postcode.
What is average student rent in Melbourne?
Usually from around A$340 a week in the centre. Properties we list across Melbourne run from around A$265 to around A$990 a week. Private studios sit at the top end, and shared rooms or twin rooms cost less.
Is there cheap student accommodation in the CBD?
Yes, if you share. The lowest city prices are usually for a room in a shared apartment or a twin room. Scape Melbourne Central is one city example with shared apartments. Check what the weekly rent includes before you book.
Bills, wifi and what the rent covers
Many purpose built properties in Melbourne include wifi, power and water in the weekly rent, but not all do. Each property page lists its inclusions. Read them before you weigh one weekly price against another, as the cheaper room can cost more overall.
Short stays and semester bookings
Most properties let rooms for a semester or an academic year. Some take shorter bookings for exchange or summer study. Tell our team your dates and we will check which central Melbourne properties can take a shorter stay.
Living costs beyond rent
Rent is the biggest cost, but transport and food add up fast. Budget for groceries, a phone plan and myki top ups on top of your weekly rent. Eligible international undergraduates can halve tram and train fares with the travel pass.
What students on Reddit say about price
Students on r/unimelb say UniLodge is usually the cheapest of the big student brands, though most of its buildings sit just outside the city grid, in North Melbourne, Carlton or Parkville. Treat that as student opinion and check each weekly price yourself.
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