Melbourne average 1-bed rent: A$2,200/mo Year-on-year rent increase: +3.5% Melbourne rents grow slower than Sydney Victoria's minimum standards enforced Inner north remains most competitive Bonds are capped at 1 month's rent (for rent under $900/week) and lodged with the RTBA. Rent can rise once every 12 months with 60 days' notice. Melbourne average 1-bed rent: A$2,200/mo Year-on-year rent increase: +3.5% Melbourne rents grow slower than Sydney Victoria's minimum standards enforced Inner north remains most competitive Bonds are capped at 1 month's rent (for rent under $900/week) and lodged with the RTBA. Rent can rise once every 12 months with 60 days' notice.
Australia · Rent guide
Melbourne Rent Guide 2026
Average rent costs by neighbourhood, yearly rent increases and tenant rights in Melbourne. The typical one-bedroom rent is A$2,200 per month, up 3.5% year on year.
Average rent by neighbourhood
| Neighbourhood | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | Yearly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Yarra | A$2,500 | A$3,500 | +3% |
| Fitzroy | A$2,400 | A$3,300 | +3.6% |
| Richmond | A$2,300 | A$3,200 | +3.4% |
| Footscray | A$1,850 | A$2,500 | +4.1% |
Indicative 2026 figures (per month, AUD). Compare with real tenant-reported rents on RentScore.
Average rent per square metre in Melbourne
A$44 / m² per month
City-wide indicative average, based on a typical 50 m² one-bedroom flat. Central neighbourhoods cost more:
- South Yarra: A$50 / m²
- Fitzroy: A$48 / m²
- Richmond: A$46 / m²
- Footscray: A$37 / m²
Deposit laws in Melbourne
- Bonds are capped at 1 month's rent (for rent under $900/week) and lodged with the RTBA.
- Always get a written inventory with dated photos at move-in to protect your deposit.
How do foreigners and expats without a local credit score find a home in Melbourne with RentScore?
- Check the building first: read verified tenant reviews, rent history and street safety on RentScore before you contact a landlord.
- Know the fair price: use the neighbourhood averages above and the RentScore rent estimate so you are not overcharged as a newcomer.
- Replace the missing credit score: offer an employment contract, recent payslips, a reference from your previous landlord and your RentScore rental history.
- Consider a rent guarantee service or a larger (but legal) deposit instead of a local guarantor — never pay more than the legal limit shown above.
- Upload your lease to the free RentScore contract check: RentScore flags hidden clauses, unfair rent increases and deposit traps in your own language.
- Ask the RentScore advisor below any local question, in any language.
Tenant rights in Melbourne
- Bonds are capped at 1 month's rent (for rent under $900/week) and lodged with the RTBA.
- Rent can rise once every 12 months with 60 days' notice.
- Landlords must meet minimum standards (heating, locks, mould-free).
- Rental bidding and no-reason evictions at end of lease are banned.
Ask the RentScore advisor about renting in Melbourne
Ask anything about rents here
For example: Which neighbourhood is cheapest for a 2-bedroom? Can my landlord raise the rent twice a year?
Other city rent guides
New YorkSan FranciscoLos AngelesTorontoVancouverMontrealMiamiChicagoLondonBerlinParisAmsterdamDublinBrusselsBarcelonaMadridLisbonMunichZurichGenevaViennaMilanRomeAthensPragueBudapestBucharestWarsawOsloStockholmCopenhagenHelsinkiTokyoOsakaSeoulTaipeiHong KongSingaporeKuala LumpurBangkokPhuketPattayaHo Chi Minh CityHanoiJakartaBali (Denpasar/Canggu)ManilaDubaiAbu DhabiDohaRiyadhSydneyAucklandWellingtonIstanbulAnkaraİzmirMexico CitySão PauloBuenos AiresBogotáJohannesburgEstimate a fair rent