RMIT’s main campus sits at 124 La Trobe Street in the CBD, which makes the ‘cheapest suburbs near campus’ question harder than it looks - the immediate suburbs are some of the most expensive rental markets in Australia. This is the honest 2026 list of where RMIT students who can’t afford CBD rents actually live, with realistic prices and commute times.
The Five Suburbs to Actually Consider
In rough order of cheapest to dearest by 2-bedroom share-house rent: Footscray ($420-$520/week), Coburg ($450-$550), Brunswick ($500-$620), North Melbourne ($550-$650), and Carlton ($580-$700). Domain’s 2026 Q1 Rental Report confirms inner-north and inner-west sub-postcodes consistently undercut the eastern equivalents by $40-$80/week. Carlton is the most convenient but the dearest; Footscray is the cheapest but the longest commute.
Carlton: The Walking-Distance Choice
Carlton sits 1km north of RMIT - 15-minute walk or 5-minute tram (route 1 or 6). Heritage Italian neighbourhood, Lygon Street restaurants, dense student population. 2-bed share house: $580-$700/week. Studio apartment: $380-$480/week. The Carlton Gardens are next door. Trade-off: high rent, but you save $14/week on Myki and 30 minutes a day in commute. Most senior RMIT students who can afford it live here.
North Melbourne: The Sweet Spot
North Melbourne sits 1.5km west of RMIT - 8-minute tram (route 19, 57, or 59). Mix of heritage terraces and 1960s walk-up flats. Errol Street is the local strip - cafes, the Auction Rooms cafe, casual restaurants. 2-bed share house: $550-$650/week. The 5-minute walk to the Victoria Market and the 15-minute walk to the QV Library are bonuses. Better value than Carlton, similar convenience.
Brunswick: The Northside Option
Brunswick sits 4-5km north - 12-minute tram (route 19 along Sydney Road). Three sub-suburbs (Brunswick proper, Brunswick East, Brunswick West) with similar pricing. 2-bed share house: $500-$620/week. Sydney Road has the cheapest authentic Middle Eastern food in the city, dense cafes and bars, multiple specialty roasters. Most international students arriving at RMIT in their second year migrate here.
Coburg: The Cheaper Northside Option
Coburg sits 7-8km north - 18-22 minute tram (route 19 to Bell Street terminus). 2-bed share house: $450-$550/week. Bell Street is the local high street; Pentridge Coburg (the redeveloped historic prison) has cinemas and restaurants. Trade-off: 25-30 minutes door-to-door to RMIT vs Brunswick’s 18-22. Coburg is what you settle for when Brunswick prices stretch you.
Footscray: The Cheapest By Far
Footscray sits 5km west - 8-minute Metro train from Footscray Station to Flagstaff (then 5-minute walk to RMIT). 2-bed share house: $420-$520/week. The cheapest Vietnamese food in the city ($10 pho), African and Middle Eastern groceries, busy market. Trade-off: train-dependent (vs walking distance for Carlton), so missed trains hurt. Many international students prefer Footscray for the cuisine and price combination.
What This Actually Costs Per Year
Annual rent share at $500/week (Brunswick mid-range): $26,000. Annual Myki: $480 (full-time student concession, $9.20/week capped). Total housing+transport: $26,480. By comparison, CBD studio apartment around $480/week + zero transport: $24,960 - genuinely competitive for solo students. The gap closes once you’re in a 2-3 person share.
What This Means for You
For most RMIT undergrads on a budget: Brunswick or Footscray. For students who can stretch and want walking distance: Carlton or North Melbourne. For postgrads/international students who prioritise restaurant culture: Brunswick. For pure cost: Footscray. See the best share houses near RMIT for the share-house specifics, or the commute time to RMIT matrix for the door-to-door numbers.
Jack Carver covers Melbourne food, drink, and city life for MELBZ.
