The 8 most affordable suburbs for first time renters

Carramar might not be as well-known as the suburbs that surround it, but this western neighbourhood certainly deserves a mention.

Situated smack bang between Fairfield, Villawood and Cabramatta, Carramar is incredibly accessible yet quiet and peaceful – and apartments rent for a median price of only $325 per week, which is a bargain by Sydney standards.

The suburb also has great public transport links: Carramar has its own train station which gets you to Town Hall in just 50 minutes and there are several bus services.

Anne Flaherty, economist, realestate.com.au, says suburbs like Carramar are an ideal way to enjoy all the conveniences of living close to the city without the high prices – especially if you can go without your car.

“For renters looking for an inner-city lifestyle, suburbs that are well connected via public transport are a great option,” Anne says.

“For tenants not regularly using a car, renting an apartment without a car park is another key way of saving money.”

Caulfield East is a fairly compact suburb, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in livability.

There are plenty of places to shop (including major supermarkets and a shopping plaza), cafes, restaurants, amenities like gyms and hairdressers, parks and reserves (this is the home of Caulfield Racecourse, after all) and a very well-connected train station (Caulfield) that takes you to Flinders Street Station in 20 minutes.

Caulfield East is brimming with parks and natural landscapes to help escape the hustle and bustle. Picture: Getty

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If you’re a Monash student, you’ll be glad to know the university’s Caufield campus is located here too.

The best part? Apartments go for a median price of $315 per week, which is cheaper than other parts of Caulfield like Caulfield North and Caulfield proper.

If you previously had your eye on those areas, Anne has some advice.

“In some cases, there can be a notable difference in median rents between neighbouring suburbs, despite offering similar lifestyle attributes and amenities,” she says.

“Being open to a wider range of suburbs can help renters to find a more affordable property.”

If you’re a lover of the great outdoors, you might want to consider Woodridge – where apartments are rented for a median price of $340 per week.

The suburb sits south of the Brisbane CBD in the City of Logan and is flanked by lots of open green space – think parks, reserves, bushland and national park.

But that’s not to say it’s entirely undeveloped. There are supermarkets and local shops, along with a few eateries, as well as decent bus services that’ll get you to Brisbane city in just under an hour.

Bonus: IKEA Logan is just five minutes away by car, which is ideal if you need to deck out your new pad.

Located in Adelaide’s north, Elizabeth South blends the rugged beauty of the area around the Adelaide Hills and the convenience of inner-city living.

It’s just 30 minutes into the CBD and to the Barossa Valley, while the many towns and attractions across the Hills are within easy reach.

Imagine being just 30 minutes from the stunning Barossa Valley. Picture: Getty

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There are also good shops (including a shopping centre), health services (including a hospital) and several places to eat and drink (including cafes, restaurants and a pub).

Houses here go for a median price of $320 per week and many addresses fall in the catchment for Optus nbn. There are a range of plan options with high-speed internet plans, unlimited data and a $0 start-up fee. Select plans also include a Netflix standard subscription, making it even more appealing and ideal if you’re looking to move house.

And if you are thinking of moving, then the Optus nbn home Mover’s experience makes moving home super easy, because it puts you in control, allowing you to organise your move online in four easy steps in minutes, at a time when it’s convenient for you.

A waterfront suburb usually comes with an eye-watering price tag, but not the lakeside Perth locale of Ashby.

Perched right next to Lake Joondalup, Ashby residents have the luxury of being able to walk to the water in a matter of minutes, as well as the many parks and gardens that surround it.

And, apartment-dwellers only have to pay a median price of $349 per week.

The suburb is also only 10 minutes from the coast, 30 minutes from the CBD and has a shopping centre and several cafes and eateries within its bounds.

True to its name, Greenway is, well, very green. The suburb sits adjacent to Pine Island Reserve and the Urambi Hills Nature Reserve, and is between Lake Tuggeranong and the Murrumbidgee River, so nature is in ample supply.

It also offers excellent amenities: there’s a great shopping centre, cafes and plenty of places to play sport.

For all of this, you’d be forgiven for thinking living in Greenway costs a pretty penny. Instead, the suburb’s apartment market has a median weekly rental price of $500.

Lake Tuggeranong is just a short drive from Greenway where nature is aplenty. Picture: Getty

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Despite the abundance of affordable rentals in Greenway, Anne adds that it’s always worth doing your research to make sure you’re not paying too much.

 “The best way to avoid overpaying is to keep an eye on how much similar properties are renting for in the area,” she says.

If you’re happy to live outside central Darwin and in the city of Palmerston, you might want to consider the suburb of Gray. Here, apartments sit at a median price of $450 per week.

You’ll also enjoy easy access to Darwin’s CBD (it’s just a 20-minute drive away), decent bus services, a peaceful atmosphere, parks and reserves.

There are good shopping options nearby including a supermarket in Gray itself plus Palmerston Shopping Centre just north of the suburb, and a growing drinking and dining scene.

If you’re moving out of home in Tasmania, the town of Primrose Sands boasts the title of the state’s most affordable place to live. Houses here go for a median price of $393 per week.

The town does sit about 45 minutes from Hobart, but it’s a great option if you don’t need to travel into the city for work.

Plus, the area certainly doesn’t skimp on livability. In Primrose Sands, you can enjoy decent eateries, great spots to fish and a very beautiful beach.

And while homes here tend to be older, Anne says that’s not such a bad thing if you’re looking for bang for your buck.

“Often, properties with an equivalent number of bedrooms vary significantly in size,” she says.

“For example, an older, single bedroom apartment may offer substantially more living space compared with a newer two-bedroom apartment.”

“In cases where a tenant is looking for a second bedroom for extra space, a larger one-bedroom apartment may meet their needs,” she adds.