Most in-demand share suburbs in Perth

We know WA was robbed of hosting the AFL Grand Final, but win one back by scoring a home in one of Perth’s hottest share suburbs.

^{Getty Images}

Whether you love Perth for its Perth-ect beaches, fab foodie culture or for its after-dark shenanigans, our list of the most in-demand share suburbs has a place to tempt you. Interestingly, proximity to the CBD doesn’t necessarily dictate price in Perth, so you’ll be able to find cheap and cheerful homes close to the city in the list below.

Peak season for share accommodation is Dec-Feb. Why not get ahead of the action and make the move to your dream suburb before the crowds return?

1. Perth, 6000

• Average weekly rent for room: $235
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 3,288
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 1,300

Fronting a curve in the glorious Swan River, the nation’s Westernmost CBD (and world’s second most isolated capital city after Honolulu) is the most in-demand suburb in the whole city. Why? To say it’s close to everything would be an understatement: the city has boogie hotspots, cafe lines aplenty and culture completely covered. There’s public transport for days, but if you manage to get a place with parking, you’ll find you have easy access to the arterial roads out of the city too. If you work or study between Hyde Park and Kings Park, the CBD might be the perfect spot for you!

2. Scarborough, 6019

• Average weekly rent for room: $196
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 2,378
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 784

Stunning Scarborough beach — this suburb’s namesake — is among Perth’s best. If soaking up sunsets from a relaxing stretch of white sand is your idea of heaven, then living in Scarborough puts lazy beach evenings and weekends right on your doorstep. It’s a quick trip from the city, so it’s popular with professionals and young families who love its laid-back atmosphere, great cafes and handy facilities. But it’s not just about family fun: buzzing nightlife brings the neighbourhood alive after dark and attracts visitors from across the city to party. If you love fun, you’ll love living in Scarborough.

3. Bentley, 6102

• Average weekly rent for room: $156
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 1,167
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 500

Across the Swan and just south of the CBD, Bentley is a hit with students: Curtin University and Bentley TAFE lie at its Western end, public transport links to other suburbs are solid and — drumroll — it is, on average the most affordable share house suburb on this list. But Bentley is popular with professionals and families too, thanks to its closeness to shopping centres, plethora of parks (including the gorgeous Canning River Regional Park) and ease of access to the city, the Swan and nearby foodie hotspots like Victoria Park. Arterial roads also make getting out of town a breeze, so Bentley really does tick all the boxes.

4. Nedlands, 6009

• Average weekly rent for room: $192
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 1,165
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 490

If you’re looking for a leafy, low-crime suburb with easy access to King’s Park and the river, look no further than Nedlands. This classy neighbourhood is a 5 minute drive from Subiaco, Cottesloe and the CBD, but it also has a decent clutch of restaurants and bars and a thriving cafe scene to keep you entertained closer to home. Older homes with established gardens front broad nature strips in quiet streets, making Nedlands very easy on the eye. Little wonder it’s popular with families and professionals, but students of the nearby Uni of WA also love to call Nedlands home.

5. West Perth, 6005

• Average weekly rent for room: $221
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 1,111
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 630

With King’s Park to its South and the CBD to its East, West Perth gives urban professionals a quick walk for a commute and a great place to unwind after work. Locals tout the village feel, especially around the Hay St shops and enjoy the great dining and green space in West Perth. Above all, they love the convenience of living so close to all the inner city has to offer. The area is stylish, progressive and safe and offers plenty of apartment living at reasonable prices alongside older-style homes for those who want a little more room.

6. East Perth, 6004

^{Getty Images}

• Average weekly rent for room: $251
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 1,090
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 639

Want a short CBD commute and plenty of outdoors space to enjoy? Try peaceful East Perth, which locals love so much, they like to compare it with Europe’s iconic riverside cities (ok Perth is not Berlin but let the westies dream!) Wedged between the city and The Swan, this suburb gives you access to numerous parks, walking, biking and running trails, gardens and playgrounds, so you won’t need to leave to soak up that WA sun. Everything’s an easy walk away, including Optus Stadium and Burswood Entertainment Centre.

7. Fremantle, 6160

• Average weekly rent for room: $205
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 939
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 487

Artsy, quirky and eclectic Fremantle has a long and lauded history as a beachside suburb that attracts visitors from all over Perth, Australia and the world. Most of the shops, nightlife and action cluster at the west end, near the iconic Fremantle waterfront, but to the east you’ll find low-key streets filled with family homes. The alternative atmosphere hits fever pitch on the weekends at the local markets, which are a great place to while away a sunny Saturday and pick up some bargains — or do your weekly shop before heading to the beach.

8. North Perth, 6006

• Average weekly rent for room: $186
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 902
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 551

Winning top marks for culture — both cafe and the arts — North Perth is a warm, neighbourly place that makes everyone feel welcome. Families love the kid-friendly facilities (schools, medical centres, parks), students have Edith Cowan Uni just a stone’s throw away and young professionals appreciate the fact that you can walk from North Perth to so many other inner city attractions — plus the city itself. There’s no need for a car here and with broad leafy streets to wander, you won’t want one anyway.

9. Subiaco, 6008

• Average weekly rent for room: $208
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 877
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 536

If you think you need to sacrifice the suburbs to live in the inner city, Subiaco is set to make you think again. This friendly neighbourhood offers safe, quiet, surprisingly cost-effective living close to the city and nearby attractions like Kings Park and, of course, Subiaco Oval. It’s well-serviced by public transport which is lucky, because the place is short on parking, especially on weekends when good weather and the footy attract visitors from all over. But between cheap fares to the city and Subi Markets for bargain shopping, Subiaco proves you can live close to the city on a budget.

10. East Victoria Park, 6101

• Average weekly rent for room: $173
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 822
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 496

The much-loved Albany shopping strip is the drawcard of East Victoria Park, offering every cuisine imaginable. Just try and eat your way through all the restaurants here — we dare you! For foodie shopping, there are the Swansea and Farmers’ Markets and we hear good things about great cafes for your Saturday morning fix. EVP is seriously multicultural and offers very easy access to both the CBD and Curtin Uni, so it’s popular with families, professionals and students. Rents are affordable here and lovely local parks only make this handy suburb even more liveable. If you’re on a tight budget, take a look.

The data above shows the most in-demand Perth share suburbs on our site from Dec 2019- Feb 2020, which is the peak season for share accommodation. We’re now in October and rents have dropped in many areas due to COVID. Why not get ahead of the crowd and find your dream house now, without the stress of peak-time competition?