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Living in Melbourne as an International Student
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‍Hey, I'm Sam, city host of Melbourne at Socials.

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I landed in Melbourne three years ago with two suitcases and a university offer. Spent my first week completely lost, overpaying for everything, and wondering if I'd made a huge mistake. Now I can't imagine living anywhere else.

This guide is everything I wish someone had told me before I arrived. Not something you'll find on university websites - the actual details that matter when you're trying to figure out where to actually live and how much money you need.

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Here's what actually matters when you move here.

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1. Finding Student Accommodation in Melbourne

The rental market here moves fast, and unfortunately, international students are prime targets for dodgy landlords. Here's the breakdown by neighborhood:
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Carlton
This is the obvious choice if you're at Melbourne Uni or RMIT - you can literally walk to campus. Student accommodation here runs $350-400 per week, which is steep, but you save on transport and that extra hour of sleep before your 9am lecture is worth something. The area is packed with other students, libraries stay open late, and you're in the middle of everything.
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Brunswick
Once you've been here a semester and figured out the city, this is where most students migrate. It's got that lived-in feel - actual Vietnamese restaurants (not the tourist ones), vintage shops, and parks where people actually hang out. Rent drops to $280-320 per week, and you get more space. The 96 tram gets you to uni in 20 minutes.
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Footscray
This neighborhood gets a bad reputation from people who've never been there. It's 15 minutes from the CBD, has one of the best food scenes in Melbourne (especially African and Vietnamese), and rent is around $220 per week. If you're on a budget, this is where your money actually stretches.
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The thing nobody tells you: Join our Melbourne WhatsApp group before you even arrive. We maintain a running list of landlords to avoid, share rooms that are actually available, and students post when they're leaving a place so you get first access. The formal rental sites are fine, but this is how you find the good deals.

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2. Getting Around Melbourne: Transport for Students

Melbourne's public transport runs on Myki cards - you tap on, tap off, done. But there's one thing that confuses literally every international student when they arrive:
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The entire CBD is a FREE tram zone. No ticket needed. Just get on, ride anywhere in the city center, get off.
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The problem is the inspectors outside that zone. They don't wear uniforms, they look like regular commuters, and they will fine you $290 on the spot if you haven't tapped on. It's not a warning system - first offense is the full fine. So outside the free zone, always tap your Myki, even for one stop.
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Trams you'll end up using constantly:
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• 86 tram - Runs through Thornbury, Northcote, Collingwood, into the city.
• 96 tram - Goes to St Kilda beach. Not Bondi, but it's what we've got.
• Route 1 - Circles the CBD and Southbank. Good for orientation when you're new.
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Night Network runs Friday and Saturday nights if you're out late. Same Myki, trams and some trains run all night.
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3. Cost of Living for International Students in Melbourne

Let's be realistic about money. Melbourne isn't cheap, but you can make it work if you know where to spend and where to save.
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Weekly budget breakdown:
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• Rent: $220-400 depending on location
• Groceries: $60-80 if you shop smart
• Transport: $25 (student Myki concession)
• Phone: $15-25 prepaid plans work fine
• Going out: Budget $50-100 depending on your lifestyle
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Where to actually save money:
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Queen Victoria Market on Sunday afternoons - vendors mark everything down because they don't want to pack it up. You'll get avocados for $3, massive fruit bags for $5, and Borek from the deli section that's honestly two meals for $6.
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Coles and Woolworths both mark down meat and fresh food at specific times (usually around 7pm). Once you figure out your local store's schedule, you can cut your grocery bill significantly.
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For textbooks - don't buy new. Check the university Facebook groups, StudentVIP, or our WhatsApp community. Someone always has last semester's books.

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4. Finding Food from Home in Melbourne

One thing Melbourne actually delivers on: if you're homesick for food from your country, you'll probably find it here. The city has serious immigrant communities, which means real restaurants, not westernized versions.
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Box Hill - Chinese food that Chinese students will tell you is legitimate. The dumpling places, hot pot restaurants, and bakeries here are the real deal.
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Footscray - African and Vietnamese communities are huge here. If you're from East Africa, West Africa, or Vietnam, this is where you'll find ingredients from home and restaurants that taste right.
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Springvale - Vietnamese and Cambodian area. Pho under $12, banh mi that's actually good, and Asian grocery stores with everything you need.
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Dandenong - Afghan, Indian, Sri Lankan, and more diverse South Asian food than the CBD tourist spots.
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One weird Melbourne thing: coffee culture here is intense. When you order, say "regular flat white" or "small cappuccino" - not "medium" or "large" like you would elsewhere. It sounds silly, but baristas here are particular about it.

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5. Melbourne's Student Nightlife Scene

Wednesday is student night across the city. Venues know students are broke, so Wednesday deals are usually the best you'll find all week.
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Platform One in the CBD gets absolutely packed on Wednesemondays. $5 drinks, small dance floor, and half your university will be there. It's not sophisticated, but it's reliable.
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Thursday-Friday options:
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Brown Alley is the spot when you want multiple rooms with different music in each. It's easy to lose your friends here - the layout is confusing and the bathroom situation is a whole thing. But the vibe is good and it doesn't feel like a student bar.
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La Di Da has three levels including a rooftop. Thursday is more relaxed, Friday gets busier. It's one of those places that feels underground even though it's not really hidden anymore.
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Weekends:
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Albion Rooftop for sunset drinks that usually turn into staying way later than planned. The view over Melbourne is genuinely good, and Sunday sessions here are popular for a reason.
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Back to La Di Da on Saturday because it transforms completely - the basement becomes a proper techno room that goes until sunrise if you're still standing.
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FYI: Security staff at these venues know each other. Be decent to door staff and you'll have a better time. They remember faces, both good and bad. Also, if you're underage or your ID situation is complicated, don't try to fake it - the fines here are serious and they check properly.

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Look, I'm not going to lie and say Melbourne is easy. Your first month will be confusing. You'll overpay for things. You'll get on the wrong tram.
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But that's why we built this community. I had other international students help me figure this out, and now we do the same for people arriving.
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Looking forward to see you soon!
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Join our Melbourne WhatsApp group where other international students are sharing housing, answering questions at weird hours, and actually showing up when someone needs help navigating this expensive, beautiful, occasionally frustrating city.

Welcome to the family ;)