You probably already heard of the news that Melbourne has once again been nominated the most livable city in the world. Having been here in Melbourne for nearly two years for my studies at Australian Catholic University, I have found it a quite comfortable place for me to settle down. If you have just arrived, then the priority for you is to work out how to find suitable accommodation.

Which Suburb?

The first thing you need to figure out is which area you are planning to live. Take a look at a map of Melbourne, and you will see the city area in the centre, with the suburbs spreading out. Generally it’s more expensive to live in the city area and so most people live in the suburbs around. For students, the rent is generally cheaper if you choose to live in the suburbs. But that also means that you may have to spend some more time and money for public transport. It all depends on the destination and transport of your choice.

The public transport in Melbourne's city is divided in two zones.

Public Transport

Of course, another key factor you must consider is public transport. Melbourne is divided into Zone 1 and Zone 2.  I reckon, as an international student, one of the most frequent destinations should be school or uni. So you should try to find a place where public transport is convenient and the distance to your school not too long.  Check out the video about public transport in Melbourne to get an idea of what it will be like travelling around.

Accommodation Resources

There are various ways to look for accommodation information:

• Visit relevant websites: such as Domain or Gumtree. You will get a long list from this search.
• For students, the most convenient way is go and check the bulletin board at uni. There are ads from time to time and you might find lovely accommodation and friendly roomies.
• Look around the community where you want to live. Sometimes, you can even see the notice on the window of local grocery or a bookstore: one of the best examples for this is the side-window of the Readings Bookshop on the suburb Carlton’s famous Lygon Street – there you’ll find plenty of announcements!
• Ask your friends. Personally, I think it’s more reliable to find a house with the referral of someone you know well, since that may save a lot of trouble or possible scam.
• If you don’t have such resource at hand or are still unsure, browse through ACU’s Accommodation Guides or pop in to the International Office straight away and seek for assistance.

Just be patient, it usually takes a bit of effort in the beginning. Some students may even have to move again until they finally find the ideal accommodation to settle down.

One of my local friends told me that Melbourne has so much to offer, all you need to do is just to settle down and enjoy your stay in Melbourne.

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Have you already found your flat? How did you do it?
Tell us about the best ways to find a new home in Melbourne!

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