Most in-demand share suburbs in Melbourne

Melbourne may be in lockdown, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop your search for the perfect home. With rents falling and a plethora of properties hitting the market, now could be the perfect time to move to one of Melb’s most in-demand suburbs, without having to deal with the peak-season crowds.

To give you a head start, we’ve put together this list of the 10 most in-demand suburbs in Melbourne. If you’re looking to move closer to the CBD, you’re in luck: all are clustered around the CBD, yet no two of these locations are alike. Take your time to find a suburb that has the atmosphere you’re after and you might just unearth a share house you love.

You can still move house during Stage 4 Lockdown in Melbourne.
We suggest you conduct video tours of the property first to see if the home is right for you. All in-person inspections must be completed before curfew hours and masks are mandatory.

1. Melbourne, 3000

• Average weekly rent for room: $250
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 34,495
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 8,208

Unsurprisingly, the heart of one of the world’s most liveable cities is the most in-demand for share house tenants right now. With the average rent sitting at the low end of this list, Melbourne CBD is affordable and since Covid-19 reduced the number of students living in the area, there are plenty of rooms on offer. Of course it’s not just students who have twigged to Melbourne’s historic beauty, cultural icons and ample green space: those lucky ones who still get to go to work tend to save on commuting times and costs by living in the CBD. As the state’s public transport hub, getting out and about is a breeze, but given the ever-changing calendar of things to see and do when the 3000 postcode isn’t in lockdown, you may not have much time to explore further afield!

2. Carlton, 3053

• Average weekly rent for room: $258
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 15,505
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 5,477

Perched on the edge of the city among plenty of parks and places to hang out, Carlton is our second most in-demand suburb. More suited to families than the CBD, those who live here enjoy a short stroll to everything the city has to offer, yet avoid the noise and bustle of city streets. Given it has several universities on its doorstep, Carlton buzzes with students and retains its multicultural roots, right down to an endless menu of great places to grab a bite. If you’re looking for city-living at a slightly slower pace, Carlton might be the go.

3. South Yarra, 3141

• Average weekly rent for room: $275
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 14,833
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 4,759

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Sandwiched between Fawkner Park, Como Park, the Botanical Gardens and the Yarra River, South Yarra prices are a little higher than the city but it’s no wonder why. With a more sophisticated atmosphere than the CBD, living in South Yarra puts you in the thick of things on weekends, when the streets come alive with everyone from shoppers to joggers, parents and partiers — all of them wanting to see and be seen. With its cafe-crammed Chapel and Toorak shopping strips, this area offers plenty of places for people-watching and catching up with mates. If you have a car, South Yarra might be a better place to consider than the CBD, but driving and parking here can still be pretty painful. The suburb’s public transport options are great though!

4. Southbank, 3006

• Average weekly rent for room: $280
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 14,495
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 4714

If you’re looking for somewhere close to the city, but with a little more community, you might just find it in Southbank. It’s not just professionals and students who love this area: residents enjoy all the benefits of the city. Walking across the river to work or school must be one of Melbourne’s best commutes, but this postcode also has plenty to keep you entertained in your downtime — including the National Gallery, Arts Centre, Casino, Centre for Contemporary Art and the Aquarium. It’s also close to beautiful gardens and the bayside. So while we can almost guarantee you won’t get a place with a backyard in Southbank, we promise you won’t miss having one.

5. Richmond, 3121

• Average weekly rent for room: $280
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 14,262
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 4674

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Within the grid of some of Melbourne’s busiest arterial roads lies leafy Richmond, where Victorian cottages snuggle up against brand-new high-rise apartment buildings. If you love sport, a place in Richmond will put you on the doorstep of the MCG, Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park and Melbourne Park, so that’s your weekends sorted — every single one of them! Its intriguing mix of shopping options includes Victoria Street (great Asian groceries), Bridge Road (cafes and clothes), and Swan Street (old-school neighbourhood strip shopping), which along with big brands like Bunnings and Ikea, draws weekend crowds too. Again, proximity to public transport and the city might cut your travel costs as well.

6. Saint Kilda, 3182

• Average weekly rent for room: $255
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 11,277
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 4189

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Renowned for fun, sun and nightlife, you’ll never be bored in beachside Saint Kilda. A tourist attraction in its own right, this eclectic destination suburb attracts diverse crowds to festivals, farmers’ markets and the iconic Luna Park. It’s a hotspot for professionals and families, who love the community atmosphere that persists here, but also for the young and adventurous, who come here to enjoy some of the best pubs, bars and restaurants south of the river. If you’re after relaxed days and endless after-dark adventures — and you don’t mind paying for transport (it’s served by trams and buses, but no trains) — St Kilda might be a great next move.

7. Brunswick, 3056

• Average weekly rent for room: $235
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 9488
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 3696

It’s quirky, laid-back, and the most affordable suburb of all ten on this list. Brunswick’s spine is Sydney Road, which combines old-school neighbourhood shops with some of Melbourne’s most popular bars and live music venues. But it’s not just a party place: families, singles, professionals and students mix happily here. A long history of multiculturalism gives Brunswick a strong sense of community, and there’s little pretence, so no matter who you are, you’ll fit in just fine. A quick train, tram or bike ride will take you to the city, so keeping a car might be more trouble than it’s worth.

8. Melbourne, 3004

• Average weekly rent for room: $250
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 5,864
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 3647

Travel south from Fed Square on St Kilda Road, and once you pass the Botanical Gardens, you’re in our 8th most in-demand suburb. This leafy dog’s leg stretches from Domain Road to Albert Park Lake’s southern end — a small swatch of high-rises overlooking some of the city’s most gorgeous parks. If you want to combine city living with outdoorsy pursuits like running, rowing, swimming, or biking, this is the place to be. With trams and a new underground train station on your doorstep, getting around once Covid restrictions lift won’t be a problem. And come Grand Prix time, you’ll be a stone’s throw from the track.

9. North Melbourne, 3051

• Average weekly rent for room: $250
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 7,319
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 3,410

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Often overlooked, this entirely unpretentious neighbourhood is wedged between Royal Park and the CBD, so it’s great for public transport and proximity to all of the city’s fab attractions. While the peak-hour traffic is nothing to write home about, you can easily walk to the CBD and universities from here. Weekends are laid-back and relaxed as everyone from families to students enjoy a coffee on Errol Street before grocery shopping at the Vic Market. While it seems like a paradox, North Melbourne really is a quiet suburb filled with character that’s close to the city. What more could you ask for?

10. Docklands, 3008

• Average weekly rent for room: $255
• Enquiries on Flatmates.com.au: 6,554
• Rooms available on Flatmates.com.au: 2,900

For multicultural waterside living on the fringe of the CBD, you can’t go past Docklands. A mix of offices and apartment blocks makes this a unique neighbourhood that gets busy at peak hour and is relatively laid back on weekends. While the cafes here serve mainly office workers, there are plenty of bars and pubs, and with Marvel Stadium hosting major sporting and entertainment events, the nightlife game is strong. With Southern Cross at your feet, you have ready access to Victoria’s entire train and tram network. That said, packed peak-hour Docklands trams might get you wondering if you’d be better to just walk the few hundred metres to your apartment, which, more often than not, will have stunning views across the water or the city — if not both!

Obviously Melbourne is currently in Lockdown 2.0, so all of these non-essential activities are on hold for now. However, if you’re in a good financial position or have permanent work, now could be the best time to move.

The data above shows the most in-demand suburbs on our site from Dec 2019- Feb 2020, which is the peak season on our site. We’re now in mid-August 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?