Australia Accommodation Complete Guide (2025)

"Where should I stay after arriving in Australia? How do I find a sharehouse?"

Accommodation is the largest part of Australian living costs (monthly $600-1,200). Wrong choice = $400 loss per month!

This guide was created based on experiences from over 3,000 working holidaymakers.

💡 Just arrived in Australia? Check Australia First Week Guide for all essential procedures including finding accommodation.

1. Types of Accommodation

1.1. Backpacker Hostels (First 1-2 Weeks)

Features:

Dormitory (Dorm): 4-8 bed rooms
Shared bathrooms and kitchen
Networking opportunities

Price:

$25-45/night
Weekly: $150-280/week

Recommended For:

First 1-2 weeks
Until finding sharehouse

Popular Hostels:

Wake Up! Sydney
Base Sydney
Space Hotel Melbourne

1.2. Sharehouses (Long-term)

Features:

One room (Shareroom or Own room)
Shared kitchen and bathroom
Rent: Weekly payment

Price:

Shareroom (2-3 people): $120-200/week
Own room (1 person): $180-350/week

Recommended For:

Staying 1+ months
Stable lifestyle

1.3. Airbnb (Short-term)

Price:

$50-100/night

Recommended For:

Travel and tourism
Too expensive for working holidaymakers

2. How to Find Sharehouses

2.1. Platforms

Flatmates.com.au ⭐ Recommended!

Australia's largest platform
Filters: Location, price, move-in date

Gumtree

Free classifieds
Beware of scams

Korean Communities:

Australia Working Holiday Cafe (Naver)
Sydney/Melbourne Korean Communities (Facebook)

2.2. Sharehouse Search Tips

Filter Settings:

Location
- Within 30 minutes of work/school
Price
- Budget: $150-250/week
Move-in date
- Within 2 weeks

Listing Check:

10+ photos
Detailed description
Bills included (electricity, gas, internet included?)

2.3. Inspection (Visit)

Must visit in person!

May differ from photos

Checklist:

Room size and lighting
Bed, desk, wardrobe condition
Kitchen and bathroom cleanliness
Housemates (how many? nationalities? jobs?)
Transport (distance to station/bus stop)
Neighborhood (supermarket, cafes)
Internet speed (test)

Questions:

Bills included?
Minimum stay?
Bond (deposit)?
House rules?

3. Rental Contract Checklist

3.1. Rent

Weekly Payment:

Usually calculated weekly
E.g., $200/week = monthly $800-870

Payment Method:

Bank transfer (recommended)
Cash (request receipt)

3.2. Bond (Deposit)

Definition:

Rental deposit
Refunded upon moving out

Amount:

Usually 2-4 weeks rent
E.g., Rent $200/week → Bond $400-800

⚠️ Caution:

Official Bond protection: RentBond (Victoria)
Private transactions: Receipt mandatory

3.3. Bills (Electricity, Gas, Internet)

Bills included:

Included in rent
No additional costs

Bills excluded:

Rent + Bills separate
Monthly $50-100 extra

💡 Recommendation: Choose Bills included

3.4. Minimum Stay

Typical:

1 month or 3 months

Negotiable:

"I can stay 2 months minimum"

3.5. House Rules

Check:

Guests allowed?
Parties allowed?
Cleaning rotation?
Quiet hours?

4. Avoiding Sharehouse Scams

Sharehouse scams are common among working holidaymakers. Check Australia Sharehouse Scam Prevention Guide for more details.

4.1. Common Scams

Scam #1: Advance Payment Demand

"Send $500 now to reserve room"
→ Never send!

Scam #2: Fake Listings

Too good conditions (CBD $100/week)
Stolen photos

Scam #3: Bond Not Returned

No receipt
"Not cleaned" excuse

4.2. Safety Checklist

✅ Safe Listings:

Can visit in person
Meet housemates
Contract provided
Bank transfer (automatic receipt)

❌ Risky Listings:

Cannot visit (overseas residence)
Advance payment demand
Cash only
No contract

5. Rent Prices by Region

Sydney

Area	Shareroom	Own room
CBD	$200-280	$350-550
Bondi	$180-250	$300-450
Inner West	$160-220	$250-380
Strathfield	$140-200	$220-350

More Sydney Information: Check Sydney Working Holiday Complete Guide for area characteristics and recommendations.

Melbourne

Area	Shareroom	Own room
CBD	$180-250	$300-450
Fitzroy	$160-220	$250-380
St Kilda	$140-200	$220-350
Box Hill	$120-180	$200-300

More Melbourne Information: Check Melbourne Working Holiday Complete Guide for area characteristics and recommendations.

Brisbane

Area	Shareroom	Own room
CBD	$150-210	$250-400
South Bank	$140-200	$230-380
Sunnybank	$120-170	$180-280

More Brisbane Information: Check Brisbane Working Holiday Complete Guide for area characteristics and recommendations.

6. Sharehouse Living Tips

6.1. Cleaning

Cleaning Rotation:

Usually weekly deep clean
Rota system

Your Responsibility:

Own room
Dishes (immediately after use)

6.2. Groceries

Shared vs Personal:

Shared: Condiments, cooking oil
Personal: Assigned fridge space

Labels:

Write your name on your food

6.3. Noise

Quiet Hours:

Usually after 10pm

Courtesy:

Shower: Within 15 minutes
Cooking: Ventilation (windows, range hood)

7. Move-in & Move-out Checklist

Move-in

Sign contract
Pay bond (get receipt)
Pay first week's rent
Take photos of room (evidence)
Receive keys
Exchange contact with housemates
Confirm house rules

Move-out

Give 2 weeks notice
Clean room (same as move-in condition)
Return keys
Confirm bond refund
Change address (bank, myGov)

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Shareroom vs Own room, which is better?

A. Budget important → Shareroom. Privacy important → Own room.

Q2. Is furniture included?

A. Most are Furnished (furniture included): bed, desk, wardrobe. Bedding is your responsibility.

Q3. When do I pay rent?

A. Usually every Monday or fortnightly. Check your contract.

Q4. When do I get my bond back?

A. 1-2 weeks after moving out. After cleaning and damage inspection.

Q5. What if I don't give 2 weeks notice?

A. May be deducted from your bond.

Conclusion

Accommodation must be visited in person! Don't sign based only on photos.

Key Summary:

✅ First 1-2 weeks: Backpacker hostel
✅ Long-term: Sharehouse (Flatmates.com.au)
✅ Must visit in person (Inspection)
✅ Bond receipt mandatory
✅ Choose Bills included

Next Steps:

Join Flatmates.com.au
Set location and price filters
Save 10+ listings
Book inspections (5-10 places)

Related Guides:

Sydney Working Holiday Complete Guide - Sydney area accommodation info
Melbourne Working Holiday Complete Guide - Melbourne area accommodation info
Australia Sharehouse Scam Prevention Guide - Avoiding scams
Australia First Week Guide - What to do after arrival

Best of luck finding Australian accommodation! 🏠🇦🇺✨

About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

💬 Feedback Welcome: If you find outdated or inaccurate information, please let us know via Contact Us!