Accurately settling the accommodation accounts is the most crucial part of planning your study life in Melbourne. For students who are about to pursue their studies at prestigious institutions in Melbourne, such as Monash University and the University of Melbourne, the difference in location directly creates a gap in rental costs and lifestyle. This article will provide an objective and comprehensive cost breakdown based on the on-campus and off-campus rental situations of these two universities and safety rental tips.

Costs of Melbourne Accommodation by Types

There is a wide range of Melbourne student accommodation options for you to explore, from affordable share houses to premium purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). Among those accommodation types, PBSAs, shared private apartments/houses, and university accommodations are the most popular Melbourne housing types for students. Shared Houses and private apartments are considered as the most affordable options in Melbourne, with the average rent at AU$250 – AU$400/week per person. The average rent of purpose-built student accommodation in Melbourne ranges from AU$350 to AU$550/week, but the specific cost is still depending on various characteristics, like location, room types, facilities, etc. However, university accommodation has a higher rent than other housing types, costing AU$430 – AU$950/week.

University Accommodation

University-managed accommodation in Melbourne includes residential halls and colleges operated by universities. Living in university accommodation, you can easily access to the academic support, campus event and activities, even the meal plans, ideal for students gain the closet connection to campus life. However, the rent is usually more expensive and there are many limitations on the choices of room types, roommates, and locations.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)

PBSA in Melbourne is operated by professional institutions, specifically designed for students. The rooms are fully furnished, and the public areas include a gym, study rooms, a cinema, and 24-hour surveillance. Moreover, the rent usually covers all utility bills such as water, electricity, internet, and gas.

Melbourne CBD/UniMelb: The weekly rent is usually between AU$380 – AU$700 per week, depending on whether it’s a shared en-suite or an independent studio apartment.
Suburban campuses, such as around Monash Clayton: Weekly rent is usually between AU$320 – AU$520 per week.

Shared Private Apartments/Houses

Renting a house or an apartment with other classmates or roommates, each occupying one bedroom while sharing the kitchen and living room. This is the most cost-effective accommodation option in Melbourne, but the bills usually need to be shared equally among the roommates.

Overall, if you are looking to find satisfactory Melbourne accommodation during study life, the budget difference mainly depends on whether you choose the urban core area, the suburban campus, or the on-campus accommodation, as well as whether you value the independence of private space more or prefer economy and affordability.

Rental Costs for Monash Clayton and Caulfield Campuses

The main campus of Monash University is located in the southeastern area at the Clayton campus, and there is also the Caulfield campus which is closer to the CBD. Due to the different environments of the two campuses, the rental strategies can also vary greatly.

Monash University On-Campus Dorms

Monash University on-campus residences are mainly located in the Clayton campus and are uniformly managed by Monash Residential Services. While the Caulfield campus does not have on-campus residences. Students studying in the Caulfield campus usually choose to live in the Clayton campus and then take the university free campus shuttle bus, around a 15-20 minute ride to commute back and forth.

Traditional Halls: Single rooms, shared bathrooms and kitchens. The atmosphere is lively and suitable for freshmen. Weekly rent of Monash traditional halls is approximately AU$290 – AU$350 per week, including all bills.
Urban Community: Representative buildings among 6 Clayton Urban Community such as Briggs Hall and Campbell Hall. Separate bathrooms and mini kitchens, with strong privacy. Weekly rent of Urban Community is around AU$340 – AU$420 AUD per week, including all bills.

Furthermore, as Monash University does not offer on-campus housing at its Caulfield campus, many students choose student accommodation near Monash University or nearby private apartments with convenient access to campus, reducing daily commuting time.

Monash University Off-Campus Accommodation

Monash students also have their location preferrences on finding off-campus accommodation. For students studying at Clayton campus, Clayton is the top choice. For Caulfield campus students, most of them choose to live in Caulfield or Malvern East.

Clayton: Living in Clayton is just a short walk or bike ride to the Monash Clayton campus. There are Asian supermarkets, various restaurants and Hong Kong-style tea houses in the area, making life extremely convenient. The rent for student accommodation near Monash University Clayton campus is about AU$250 – AU$450 per week, while renting a shared single room in Clayton is AU$210 – AU$290 per week.
Caulfield / Malvern East: Right outside the Monash Caulfield campus, there is a train station and it is close to Chadstone, the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. The weekly rent for a shared apartment in Caulfield / Malvern East is AU$250 – AU$340/week. For renting a whole apartment in an upscale building or a single room in a commercial student apartment, it is about AU$380 – AU$550 per week.

Rental Costs for UniMelb Parkville Campus and Nearby Carlton Area

University of Melbourne main campus is located in Parkville, and is surrounded by Carlton and North Melbourne and the CBD. As a core area of Melbourne, the rental cost in Parkville is significantly higher than that in the suburbs.

University of Melbourne On-Campus Dorms

The University of Melbourne has a very strong residential college culture, such as Trinity College, Ormond College, International House, and also boasts student apartments directly managed by the university, such as Little Hall, Lisa Bellear House.

Traditional Residential Colleges: Usually include three meals a day, weekly academic guidance, and a wide range of club activities. The experience is excellent, but the cost of renting a room in Residential Colleges is relatively high, ranging from AU$700 – AU$950 per week.
University Accommodation: No meals included. Offers modern living facilities and academic support. Weekly rent of UniMelb University Accommodation is about AU$430 – AU$720 per week, with all-inclusive bills.

University of Melbourne Off-Campus Accommodation

Due to the high application threshold and limited number of dormitory spots on campus, the majority of students at University of Melbourne choose to live in Carlton or in the northern part of CBD.

Carlton:

Carlton is located on the east side of Melbourne University Parkville campus. The famous Lygon Food Street is right here. A large number of UniMelb students live here, and the academic and lifestyle atmosphere is very strong.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA): such as Scape, Journal, Yugo, etc. They are only a 5-10-minute walk from the classrooms, and the weekly rent is approximately AU$420 – AU$680 per week.
Traditional Apartment/Residential Shared Accommodation: The weekly rent for a single room is approximately AU$280 – AU$380/week.

North Melbourne / Parkville:

Located on the west and north sides of the campus, North Melbourne and Parkville are quieter compared to Carlton and has a high green coverage rate.

Shared room rental: AU$250 – AU$350 per week.
One-bedroom rental: approximately AU$450 – AU$600 per week.

Melbourne CBD:

You can reach University of Melbourne by taking a free tram from Melbourne CBD or by walking for 10-15 minutes.

Shared apartment rental: AU$300 – AU$420 per week.

Independent Studio / One-bedroom: AU$500 – AU$700 per week.

How Can Students Find Suitable Housing Efficiently and Safely?

For students who are visiting Melbourne for the first time, searching for accommodation across borders often involves issues such as information asymmetry, complex contract terms, or concerns about encountering fake listings.

When actually searching for a place to live, it is recommended that everyone try to choose platforms with transparent information and quality guarantees for comparison. Currently, the mainstream ways of finding a place to live in Melbourne include local real estate agency websites in Australia, official housing information pages of universities, and comprehensive booking platforms specifically for students.

uhomes.com is one of the most reliable and commonly used rental platforms. It integrates brand student apartments, trusted shared rental sources, and standalone houses in all major areas of Melbourne, presenting clear real-photo images of the rooms, rental ranges, surrounding transportation routes, and whether utilities are included, etc., as core information. Through uhomes.com, students can easily compare the rental prices around the Monash Clayton and Caulfield campuses, and also easily explore the specific housing conditions in areas surrounding the University of Melbourne, such as Carlton or Melbourne CBD. Conduct housing screening and inquiries online, thus avoiding the passive situation of having to rush to find housing upon arrival in the local area.

Final Thoughts

We have divided the Melbourne student accommodation budget into three levels, and have compiled the rental budget list for Monash and UniMelb Students to facilitate your planning based on the budget:

Accommodation Levels	Areas	Rents	Best for
Economy type	Suburban shared accommodation	AU$200 – AU$320 per week	Students at Monash Clayton campus, students with a tight budget
Comfortable type	CBD shared accommodation / Suburban student apartment / Shared accommodation near the University of Melbourne	AU$320 – AU$480 per week	Students pursuing convenient travel and attach great importance to the quality of life, Students at Melbourne University Parkville campus
Quality type	CBD / Carlton Independent Studio / One-bedroom	AU$480 – AU$700+ per week	Students with ample budget, who highly value personal independence and privacy

Melbourne Student Accommodation Costs: How Much Do Monash and UniMelb Students Spend on Rent?