Monash Caulfield campus sits in the Caulfield East/Caulfield North area, well-connected by tram and train, and the share-house map is different from the Clayton equivalent - more inner-southeast, less far-south-east. This is the 2026 breakdown of which suburbs work best for Caulfield students by walking distance, by single-tram, and by budget.
Caulfield East: Walking Distance
Caulfield East share-houses sit 0-1.5km from campus - 0-15 minute walk. $300-$400/room/week. Mostly 1960s walk-up flats, 1970s-1980s brick units, occasional Edwardian conversions. The Caulfield Plaza shopping centre is utility-grade. Most international students start here and migrate further out in year two if budget tightens.
Caulfield North: Slightly Quieter
Caulfield North share-houses run $280-$380/room/week. 1.5-2km from campus. More family-style housing stock; quieter streets. The Glen Eira Road tram (route 67) covers it well. Trade-off: less student density but better-quality housing.
Carnegie: 1-Stop South
Carnegie sits 1 train stop south of Caulfield. Carnegie share-houses run $260-$360/room/week. Kookaburra Road and Koornang Road are the local commercial strips - cafes, restaurants, lots of Asian food. 5-minute train + 5-minute walk = 10-minute door-to-door commute. Better value than Caulfield North; younger feel.
Glen Huntly: 2-Stops South
Glen Huntly (1 train stop after Carnegie) runs $250-$350/room. Smaller commercial strip; more residential. 8-minute train + 5-minute walk = 13-minute commute. Less buzzy than Carnegie; cheaper. Many Monash Caulfield students who want to save money settle here.
Caulfield South and Bentleigh East: 10-Minute Tram
Caulfield South ($240-$340/room) and Bentleigh East ($230-$330/room) are 10-15 minute tram south of campus on the 67 line. Quieter, more residential, slightly cheaper. Trade-off: less student culture nearby; quieter.
Caulfield Junction: The Mixed Option
Caulfield Junction (between Caulfield East, Caulfield North, and Caulfield South) is the cluster of older buildings around the Glenhuntly/Hawthorn/Glen Eira intersection. $300-$400/room. Higher density of older students and recent grads.
How to Find a Room
Flatmates.com.au is standard. Facebook groups (Monash Housing, Caulfield Share House) are second tier. Always inspect in person; never pay before viewing. Bond to RTBA, not landlord. Standard scam: photos of real house + fake landlord demanding deposit before viewing - never pay before standing in the property.
What This Costs Per Year
Annual rent at $320/room/week (Caulfield East mid-range): $16,640. Annual Myki at student concession: $480. Total: $17,120. Glen Huntly at $290/room: $15,080 + $480 = $15,560. The Glen Huntly-vs-Caulfield East gap is $1,500-$2,000/year.
What This Means for You
For walking distance: Caulfield East. For middle-ground: Carnegie. For cheapest viable: Glen Huntly. For quiet residential: Caulfield North or Bentleigh East. Pair with the commute time to Monash Clayton if you mix campuses, or see the international student guide to Monash for first-month setup.
Jack Carver covers Melbourne food, drink, and city life for MELBZ.