Read this before you plan your budget. The cost guide below is a rough guide only. It is based on Census data for this suburb, scaled to today's state rents. Each property is different. It does not tell you the price of any room, studio or apartment.
Get the real number for your postcode. Use the official rent data before you agree to anything: Rental report — Victorian Government. This is real data from your state government. It is free. It shows the rent for the exact postcode you enter.
Studying in Docklands, VIC
302 courses are taught here by 31 registered schools, across postcode 3008.
Rent here was above the VIC middle at the last Census. Expect to share. Look one or two stations further out for cheaper rooms.
Census 2021 middle rent for Docklands was $411 a week. VIC rents have risen about 41% since then, so expect about $580 a week now. Check the exact postcode before you sign anything.
The scale compares this suburb with its state: $ cheaper, $$ medium, $$$ expensive, $$$$ most expensive. Checked ABS Census 2021, scaled to the VIC median (April 2025).
Living in Docklands
People: 15,495 residents, median age 32, 61.5% born overseas, 53.4% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 14.9%, Hindi 4.7%, Cantonese 3.3%, Spanish 2.6%, Arabic 2%.
Where people were born: India 14.5%, China 12.9%, Malaysia 2.5%, New Zealand 2.1%, South Korea 2%.
Income: median household income $1,957 a week; 1.8 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Professional Scientific and Technical Services, Financial and Insurance Services, Accommodation and Food Services, Health Care and Social Assistance.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
57 campuses in Docklands. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around Docklands: Nearest station is Waterfront City/Docklands Dr #D11 (light rail 35, 70, 86), 345 m away. Also Bourke St/Collins St #D18 (light rail 11, 48), 424 m away, New Quay Prom/Docklands Dr #D10 (light rail 35, 70, 86), 430 m away, NewQuay Prom/Docklands Dr #D10 (light rail 35, 70, 86), 498 m away. Buses within 800 m: 220, 237 (closest stop: Regatta Way/Lorimer St, 639 m). Plan a trip (PTV journey planner).
Transport data: PTV GTFS, Department of Transport and Planning Victoria (CC BY 4.0). Routes change; check the trip planner before you rely on one.
Weekly budget in Docklands
About $467–$727 a week for one student sharing a house. The visa living-cost benchmark is $571 a week ($29,710 a year).
| Room in a shared house | $230–$350 | Whole homes here rent for about $580 a week; a room is usually 40–60% of that. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | $57 | Myki, $11.40 daily cap. Undergraduate international students can buy the International Student Travel Pass (concession); postgraduates pay full fare. |
| Groceries and eating | $110–$170 | |
| Phone and internet | $15–$30 | |
| Power, gas and water (your share) | $15–$30 | |
| Everything else (clothes, going out, medicine) | $40–$90 |
Rent: ABS Census 2021 for Docklands, scaled to the current VIC median. Transport: state operator fares. Other lines are typical ranges for a single student; your own spending will differ. Tuition and health cover (OSHC) are extra. Full cost guide.
Docklands is in the Melbourne City area
149,601 people across 10+ suburbs. Median rent $396 a week. Languages: Mandarin 14.3%, Cantonese 3.4%, Spanish 2.7%, Hindi 2.4%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Melbourne, Southbank, Carlton, North Melbourne, Kensington, West Melbourne, Parkville, Flemington, East Melbourne.
All courses and suburbs in Melbourne City · Melbourne Council
What this place is like to study in
Docklands is a study area with many schools, not one large campus. 31 schools teach here. Most are colleges inside office buildings, not universities with grounds. 56% of courses here are vocational (VET). These courses are practical and hands-on. Your classmates will be a wide range of ages. Course fees here are about 21% below the national average. Over several years, this saves a large amount.
We calculate this description from the CRICOS register: the number of schools, the course levels and the registered fees. It describes study only. To learn about rent, transport and daily life here, talk to current students and ask your school.
What level people study here
| Level | Courses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vocational (VET) | 168 | 56% |
| Postgraduate | 77 | 25% |
| Other | 41 | 14% |
| Undergraduate | 16 | 5% |
Finding somewhere to live
Most international students choose one of four options. From cheapest to most expensive:
- A room in a shared house. The most common choice. In expensive cities it is often the only affordable option.
- Student accommodation. Buildings made for students, usually near campus.
- Homestay. You live with an Australian family.
- Your own studio or one-bedroom apartment. The most expensive option.
Two things to know before you sign a lease. First, the bond is usually four weeks of rent. A government office holds it, not the landlord. You get it back at the end. If someone asks you to pay a bond in cash directly to them, this is a warning sign.
Second, you usually cannot inspect a property from overseas. Book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation first. Then look at properties in person. This avoids the most common and most expensive mistake students make.
Your school's accommodation office is the best place to start. It is free. They know the area and often keep a list of checked properties.
Every course taught here
- A$69,1203 yr · A$23,040/yr
- A$69,1203 yr · A$23,040/yr
- A$69,1203 yr · A$23,040/yr
- A$69,1203 yr · A$23,040/yr
- A$69,1203 yr · A$23,040/yr
- A$70,0001.4 yr · A$48,533/yr
- A$70,1001.4 yr · A$48,603/yr
- A$70,8002 yr · A$35,400/yr
- A$71,3001.4 yr · A$49,435/yr
- A$72,1001.7 yr · A$41,658/yr
- A$74,7232 yr · A$37,362/yr
- A$74,8803 yr · A$24,960/yr
- A$79,9281.4 yr · A$55,417/yr
- A$80,8732 yr · A$40,437/yr
- A$82,4001.4 yr · A$57,131/yr
- A$85,9982 yr · A$42,999/yr
- A$89,1981.4 yr · A$61,844/yr
- A$90,6401.4 yr · A$62,844/yr
- A$91,6701.7 yr · A$52,965/yr
- A$92,4121.5 yr · A$61,608/yr
- A$94,7601.4 yr · A$65,700/yr
- A$95,5842 yr · A$47,792/yr
- A$95,5842 yr · A$47,792/yr
- A$96,2482 yr · A$48,124/yr
- A$99,0862 yr · A$49,543/yr
- A$109,1802 yr · A$54,590/yr
- A$114,3302 yr · A$57,165/yr
- A$121,1282 yr · A$60,564/yr
- A$122,7903 yr · A$40,930/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$123,3942 yr · A$61,697/yr
- A$125,9423 yr · A$41,981/yr
- A$157,0462.5 yr · A$62,818/yr
- A$177,0083 yr · A$59,003/yr
- A$243,2294 yr · A$60,807/yr
- A$262,9144 yr · A$65,729/yr
- A$300,8525 yr · A$60,170/yr
- A$338,7895 yr · A$67,758/yr
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