Finding a room near RMIT Bundoora means balancing more than rent. You need a weekly cost that works with your student budget, a manageable journey to classes and a household where you can study and relax comfortably. A cheaper room can feel less appealing if the commute is awkward or the shared spaces do not suit your routines.
Chillax Student, private share houses and La Trobe residences offer different alternatives to living on RMIT campus. This shortlist includes neighbourhood housing off university campuses alongside residences that are off RMIT campus but on La Trobe campus. That distinction matters when comparing both the living environment and the journey to class.
Start with the advertised room price, then look at included bills, furnishing and how many people share your kitchen and bathroom. Those details often make the difference between an affordable listing and a comfortable place to live.
Off-Campus Accommodation at a Glance
These options suit different priorities, from keeping rent down to finding meal-plan options or private studio space. The La Trobe residences below are on La Trobe campus, not RMIT campus.
Accommodation | Location or setting | Best-fit student | Advertised starting price or defining feature |
|---|---|---|---|
Chillax Student | 1027 Plenty Road, Kingsbury | Budget-conscious students wanting furnished, bills-inclusive shared living | Chillax Student lists rooms from AUD $195 / week |
Chillax Student | on Dunne Street, Kingsbury | Budget-conscious student wanting newly built-house with furnished. All Bill included, Private Bathroom and Smart TV with Kitchenette | Room Start from A$290/wk walk 5 mins to La Trobe University |
Glenn College | La Trobe campus, off RMIT campus | Students interested in meal-plan options | Amber lists La Trobe University - Glenn College from AU$270/ week |
Menzies College | La Trobe campus, off RMIT campus | Students who want social residential living | Amber lists La Trobe University - Menzies College from AU$290/ week |
North & South Apartments | La Trobe campus, off RMIT campus | Students seeking a studio or apartment setting | Amber lists La Trobe University - North And South Apartments from AU$310/ week |
Private share houses | Neighbourhood housing | Students wanting more choice over household and location | FindUniRooms estimates A$220 - A$350 for a Private Share House |
Chillax Student’s starting rate applies specifically to its Plenty Road property. The private-share-house range is a general estimate, not a Chillax Student price or a quote for a particular room.
For broader context, FindUniRooms estimates typical weekly costs of A$380 - A$500 for a PBSA Shared Apartment, A$550 - A$680+ for a PBSA Studio, A$285 - A$420 for On-Campus (Walert House), and A$500 - A$650 for a Private Apartment (1-bed). Use these categories to frame your budget, then compare each property’s actual inclusions.
Chillax Student: Bills-Inclusive Shared Living in Kingsbury
Chillax Student’s Plenty Road property is a shared house at 1027 Plenty Road, Kingsbury VIC 3083 and 35 Dunne Street, Kingsbury VIC 3083 (Newly-Built). Chillax Student furnishes rooms there with a bed, working desk, chair and built-in wardrobe, giving students the bedroom essentials without having to organise those items separately.
Chillax Student includes electricity, gas, water and internet in room bills at 1027 Plenty Road and 35 Dunne Street. Chillax Student also includes fortnightly cleaning of common areas and monthly garden maintenance. Together, the furnished bedroom and bundled household services make this an option for students seeking a simpler move into shared accommodation.
Chillax Student lists rooms at 1027 Plenty Road from AUD $195 / week. Chillax Student lists rooms at 35 Dunne Street, Kignsbury from AUD $290 / week Chillax Student lists an extra person fee of AUD $55 / week and a car park space for rent at AUD $25 / week. Keep those additional charges separate from the starting room rate when building your budget.
The Kingsbury address also puts the property along the campus tram corridor. Tram service no. 86 runs from Docklands via Bourke Street to RMIT Bundoora, passing through Fitzroy, Clifton Hill, Northcote, Thornbury and Preston via High Street, then along Plenty Road to Kingsbury and Bundoora.
This option best suits a student who values predictable household bills and a furnished room. The trade-off is communal living rather than a self-contained apartment: household compatibility still matters, even when services are bundled. Explore Chillax Student’s Plenty Road shared house with both your budget and shared-living preferences in mind.
Chisholm College: A Budget-Priced La Trobe Residence
La Trobe University Chisholm College offers a college-style alternative for students looking for community at a lower listed rent. It overlooks native bushland and caters to a diverse student community, with La Trobe classrooms, the library and campus cafes a short walk away.
University Living lists La Trobe University Chisholm College at 1 Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora Victoria 3083 Australia, 3.07 miles from the university, at A$245/wk, with 29 amenities.
La Trobe University Chisholm College includes utilities and Wi-Fi in weekly rent. Its facilities and residential life include student leaders and social programs, 24-hour study labs, lounges and entertainment spaces. La Trobe University Chisholm College also provides 24/7 security, key-card access and evening escort services.
For a budget-conscious student, the appeal is the combination of bundled essential bills, study facilities and college community. It offers a different experience from independently organising a private household.
Keep the location distinction clear, however. Walking access to La Trobe facilities is useful for residential life, but it is not the same as walking access to RMIT classes. Consider Chisholm College’s residential setting and your separate RMIT journey together rather than treating the listed distance as the whole transport picture.
Glenn College: Campus Community With Meal-Plan Options
La Trobe University Glenn College is located directly on La Trobe’s Bundoora campus. Its distinguishing feature for this shortlist is its meal-plan offering, making it worth considering if you would rather not independently organise every meal.
La Trobe University Glenn College offers a meal plan that includes breakfast and buffet-style dinners. La Trobe University Glenn College also includes utilities and high-speed Wi-Fi in weekly rent, alongside lounges, BBQ areas and student-led events. Its access and security provisions include 24/7 security and key-card access.
Amber lists La Trobe University - Glenn College at College Dr, Bundoora, 3083, 4.0 mi from RMIT University Bundoora Campus, with a starting price of AU$270/ week. Treat the advertised accommodation price and your interest in meal-plan options as separate parts of the decision, rather than assuming every optional service is covered by the starting rate.
Glenn College is La Trobe’s most historic residence and is home to 347 students, with catered options available. That scale suits someone seeking organised residential life and a wider student community.
It is a different proposition from looking for a house with only a few residents. If a quieter, smaller household is your main priority, consider the people sharing your immediate facilities as well as the overall atmosphere of college life.
Menzies College: Social Living With Included Essentials
La Trobe University Menzies College is located on La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus, within walking distance of classes, dining, study spaces and transport links. For an RMIT student, its appeal is a socially oriented residential base with a separate journey to RMIT.
La Trobe University Menzies College includes utilities, high-speed Wi-Fi and laundry in weekly rent. La Trobe University Menzies College also offers round-the-clock security, key-card access and on-site support, combining practical inclusions with a supported residential setting.
Amber lists La Trobe University - Menzies College at Menzies Dr, Bundoora, 3083, 4.1 mi from RMIT University Bundoora Campus, with a starting price of AU$290/ week.
La Trobe University Menzies College has communal lounges, BBQ areas and regular social events, plus tram and bus links to RMIT, Melbourne CBD and city student hotspots. Those features make it a stronger match for someone who actively wants residential events and communal spaces than someone whose main goal is minimal shared interaction.
Menzies College is a socially vibrant residence and a home for 401 students. That residence-wide population describes the broader community, not the number of people sharing an individual kitchen or bathroom. Menzies College also offers short-term accommodation bookings on La Trobe University Bundoora Campus, giving arriving students an option while they assess longer-term housing.
North & South Apartments: Studio Privacy With Residential Facilities
North & South Apartments is located on La Trobe University’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus and offers private studios and shared apartments. It provides a different choice from college-style living: you can prioritise a studio or apartment arrangement while remaining within a student residence.
North & South Apartments offers modern, fully furnished apartments with utilities included in the weekly rate. Residents have access to kitchen facilities, dedicated study spaces, laundry facilities and common rooms, with catered breakfast and dinner available as an option. North & South Apartments also provides free 24/7 laundry access with washing machines and dryers.
Amber lists La Trobe University - North And South Apartments at College Dr, Bundoora, 3083, 4.0 mi from RMIT University Bundoora Campus, with a starting price of AU$310/ week. This is a starting listing price for the property, rather than a price to apply indiscriminately to every accommodation arrangement.
North & South Apartments provides a 24-hour security presence, secure individual key-card access to bedrooms, evening escorts from vehicles to residences and security staff on call for other safety concerns.
North and South Apartments is a state-of-the-art building with student-focused design that can accommodate 624 students. Private living space and a small residential community are therefore different considerations. This option suits students seeking studio or apartment living with residential facilities and support, provided the journey to RMIT fits their routine.
Private Share Houses: More Choice Over Housemates and Location
A private share house generally means having your own bedroom while sharing the kitchen, bathroom and other common areas. RMIT describes share houses as generally the cheapest housing option. The key attraction is the opportunity to assess a particular household rather than choosing primarily by residence type.
Joining an established household is different from setting up a rental yourself. RMIT says moving into an existing share house is usually easier and cheaper because utilities and internet are already connected and common areas are likely furnished. That can make the move more manageable, but the household’s routines still need to suit you.
FindUniRooms estimates typical weekly costs of A$220 - A$350 for a Private Share House. Treat that as a general estimate, then separate the room rent from utilities, internet and any furniture you need.
RMIT says private rental properties are usually unfurnished and rent excludes electricity, gas, water and internet. RMIT also says private rental lease agreements are typically 12 months, although the term may be negotiated with the real estate agent or landlord.
Private share houses suit students who want to select a neighbourhood and discuss household expectations directly. The trade-off is greater responsibility for bills, cleaning arrangements and rental commitments. An appealing bedroom is only part of the decision: the agreement and the people sharing the home deserve equal attention.
How We Picked These Accommodation Alternatives
This shortlist focuses on accommodation off RMIT campus, with local addresses or transport connections and meaningfully different living arrangements. It brings together a furnished shared house, La Trobe college residences, studio and apartment options, and the broader private share-house market.
The comparison looks beyond headline rent. Included utilities, internet, furnishing, laundry and optional services all affect how an accommodation choice fits a student budget. A lower advertised price is most useful when you understand what remains to be paid separately.
Household scale also needs careful interpretation. Residence-wide population, apartment occupancy and actual housemates are different measures. A large residence can offer private living space, while a neighbourhood house can still involve substantial sharing of kitchens and bathrooms.
These options are not a universal quality ranking. They are choices for different priorities: lower rent, catered living, social activity, private space or greater control over household fit. Start with the living style you want, then compare its full cost and daily travel.
Choosing a Smaller Household Near La Trobe
If you want only a few housemates, focus on the facilities you will actually share. A private bedroom does not automatically mean a private bathroom, and neither is the same as a self-contained studio.
Use an inspection to work through these questions:
How many residents share your kitchen?
How many residents share your bathroom?
Is the bedroom intended for your sole use or shared use?
How are bedrooms positioned relative to the kitchen and living areas?
Is there common space where residents can spend time without disturbing someone studying?
How are cleaning responsibilities, visitors and quiet time handled?
Household compatibility is about routines as much as numbers. Discuss cooking, visitors, cleaning expectations and quiet study preferences before deciding. A household that shares your expectations may feel more comfortable than one chosen solely for its size.
For neighbourhood-house options, focus your search on Kingsbury and Bundoora, including Chillax Student’s local shared houses. Chillax Student lists 1/35 Dunne Street, Kingsbury as a shared house. Explore Chillax Student’s Kingsbury rooming-house options, then assess occupancy at the kitchen and bathroom level rather than assuming a shared-house label guarantees fewer residents.
Plan the Journey to Your RMIT Bundoora Classes
A suitable room needs to work with your teaching location, not just look close on a map. Compare the complete journey from the property entrance to your classes, including walking, transfers and services at the times you travel.
Bundoora and Mill Park are often within walking distance or a quick bus or tram ride from campus and are served by tram route 86 and bus no. 564, 570 and 572. This makes local housing worth considering alongside accommodation with a stronger connection to central Melbourne.
Tram service no. 86 runs from Docklands via Bourke Street to RMIT Bundoora, passing through Fitzroy, Clifton Hill, Northcote, Thornbury and Preston via High Street, then along Plenty Road to Kingsbury and Bundoora. That corridor gives Kingsbury and Preston a place in a transport-led housing search.
Direct bus services to RMIT Bundoora also run from Greensborough, South Morang, Whittlesea and Northland Shopping Centre.
A listing’s distance from campus is not the same as a practical public-transport journey. Build your shortlist around daily class travel and everyday shopping, rather than access to central Melbourne alone. Use housing near RMIT Bundoora as a starting point, then compare each address against your actual routine.
Compare the Full Cost Before Choosing a Room
A housing-cost worksheet helps you compare accommodation on equal terms. Separate ongoing expenses from the money needed to move in.
Recurring budget | Move-in budget |
|---|---|
Room rent | Bond |
Utilities not included in rent | Advance rent |
Internet not included in rent | Furniture you need to provide |
Transport | Bedding |
Laundry costs, where applicable | Kitchen equipment |
Optional parking or other services | Other moving expenses |
RMIT says private rental properties are usually unfurnished and rent excludes electricity, gas, water and internet. A furnished, bills-inclusive room therefore needs a different calculation from an unfurnished rental with separate household accounts.
Chillax Student includes all bills in all rooms. When comparing a Chillax Student room with another arrangement, account for those included bills rather than comparing the advertised rents alone. Keep optional services separate so your worksheet reflects the arrangement you intend to choose.
Inspect the accommodation in person or by live video. Look at the bedroom and shared areas, review the agreement, and record the room’s condition when moving in. Use traceable payment methods and keep records of the agreed arrangements.
Finally, connect the numbers back to household suitability. Affordable rent matters, but so do a workable commute, compatible routines and a clear understanding of what you are committing to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find student housing near RMIT Bundoora for under $250 a week?
Chillax Student lists rooms at 1027 Plenty Road from AUD $195 / week. University Living lists La Trobe University Chisholm College at A$245/wk. These are starting points for a room-rent budget under $250 a week.
Chillax Student includes electricity, gas, water and internet in room bills at 1027 Plenty Road. University Living lists La Trobe University Chisholm College at 1 Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora Victoria 3083 Australia, 3.07 miles from the university, with 29 amenities.
Keep room rent separate from your wider weekly budget, including transport, food and optional services. Included household bills help make the comparison more useful.
Can I arrange a short stay before choosing long-term accommodation?
Yes. Menzies College offers short-term accommodation bookings on La Trobe University Bundoora Campus. A short stay can give you a base while you explore neighbourhoods, inspect rooms and assess household arrangements.
RMIT advises students new to Melbourne to arrive at least two weeks before classes start to explore housing locations and types before choosing a long-term option. Use that time to assess both the accommodation and the journey to your classes.
Who can help me with housing or tenancy problems?
RMIT Student Welfare Advisors at Student Connect can assist with housing information, rental and tenancy issues, moving guidance, and financial support and budgeting advice.
Contact them when you need help understanding housing choices, working through a tenancy concern or planning the financial side of a move. Their assistance can help you approach the next step with a clearer understanding of your options.