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 South Melbourne, VIC
14 courses are taught here by 12 registered schools, across postcode 3205.
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 South Melbourne was $421 a week. VIC rents have risen about 41% since then, so expect about $590 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 South Melbourne
People: 11,548 residents, median age 39, 35.2% born overseas, 24% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 3.2%, Greek 2.3%, Spanish 1.8%, Russian 1.4%, Cantonese 1.4%.
Where people were born: England 4.8%, New Zealand 2.7%, China 2.6%, India 1.7%, Malaysia 1.3%.
Income: median household income $2,101 a week; 1.9 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Professional Scientific and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, Financial and Insurance Services, Education and Training.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
62 campuses in South Melbourne. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around South Melbourne: Nearest station is South Melbourne Station/Light Rail #127 (light rail 96), 139 m away. Also Dorcas St/Clarendon St #128 (light rail 12), 307 m away, Cecil St/Park St #25 (light rail 1), 322 m away, York St/Clarendon St #127 (light rail 12), 349 m away. Buses within 800 m: 234, 236 (closest stop: Ferrars St/Dorcas St, 105 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 South Melbourne
About $472–$732 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 | $235–$355 | Whole homes here rent for about $590 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 South Melbourne, 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.
South Melbourne is in the Port Phillip area
101,956 people across 10+ suburbs. Median rent $420 a week. Languages: Greek 2.5%, Mandarin 2.1%, Spanish 1.9%, Italian 1.2%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: St Kilda, Port Melbourne, Elwood, St Kilda East, Albert Park, Balaclava, Middle Park, St Kilda West, Ripponlea.
All courses and suburbs in Port Phillip · Port Phillip Council
What this place is like to study in
South Melbourne has 12 schools teaching here. That is enough choice to compare options, but it is not a busy city-centre study area. Course fees here are about 14% 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) | 122 | 47% |
| Undergraduate | 103 | 39% |
| Other | 22 | 8% |
| Postgraduate | 14 | 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$12,0008 mo · A$18,909/yr
- A$14,5405 mo
- A$15,0006 mo · A$30,000/yr
- A$16,0001 yr · A$16,000/yr
- A$16,0001 yr · A$16,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$29,0801 yr · A$29,080/yr
- A$30,0001.8 yr · A$16,250/yr
- A$30,0001 yr · A$30,000/yr
- A$43,6202 yr · A$21,810/yr
- A$44,0002 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$47,7001.5 yr · A$31,800/yr
- A$48,0002 yr · A$24,000/yr
- A$68,1602 yr · A$34,080/yr