Our Guide to the Best Suburbs to Live in Melbourne in 2025

From growing families to students and ambitious young professionals, there’s a Melbourne suburb to suit every type of lifestyle. Whether you’re looking in the city fringe, inner east, north of the river or bayside, each neighbourhood has its own colour and unique personality.

Keeping in mind walkability, cafe culture, job opportunities, public transport and local amenities, these are the best places to live in Melbourne in 2025.

Canterbury

Just 10 clicks from the CBD, Canterbury is a quietly sophisticated sanctuary where heritage elegance meets modern ease. With its sweeping period homes and dappled, tree-lined streets, this suburb breathes timeless charm. Maling Road hums softly with boutique shops and cafes that invite lingering afternoons, while top-tier schools and sprawling green spaces make it a haven for families who value both style and substance. Canterbury isn’t just a postcode — it’s Melbourne’s understated luxury, wrapped in calm and community.

Coburg

Coburg is the inner-north icon that’s traded grunge for giddy gentrification — without losing its soul. It’s where Federation-era terraces meet third-wave coffee, where gnocchi-stuffed Sunday feasts at Nonna’s segue into natural wine at a neighbourhood bar. Merri Creek carves a green ribbon through the suburb, and the village-like charm of Coburg’s market scene gives off strong Euro-holiday energy. Add in excellent transport, schools, and a price tag that still turns heads, and you’ve got a postcode that proves you don’t need to head south for sophistication. Coburg: cool, connected, and quietly glorious.

Balwyn

Balwyn is where elegance lives and leafy dreams come true. With streets lined by grand period homes and towering plane trees, this is genteel suburbia at its most refined — but there’s substance behind the style. Some of the city’s top-ranking schools, including the ever-prestigious Balwyn High, make it catnip for families, while Maranoa Botanic Gardens offers a verdant escape that feels lifted from a storybook. Add in swift tram connections, quiet cafés, and a certain silk-gloved charm, and you’ve got yourself a postcode that whispers rather than shouts — and is all the more desirable for it.

South Yarra

South Yarra is a suburb that doesn’t just flirt with perfection — it practically winks at it. This is Melbourne’s glamorous overachiever, where heritage mansions and cutting-edge apartments exist in elegant harmony, and every corner cafe is a contender for your new local. Chapel Street hums with designer energy, Toorak Road offers the perfect wine bar crawl, and the Royal Botanic Gardens are practically your backyard. Add in enviable public transport, elite schools, and riverside serenity, and you’ve got a postcode where luxury feels like second nature. South Yarra doesn’t try hard — it doesn’t need to.

Preston

Preston is having a moment — though truth be told, it’s been quietly fabulous for years. Where old-school charm meets new-school flair, this inner-north darling is all multicultural buzz and low-key cool. Think: sambal-laced laksa one night, natural wines at a neighbourhood bar the next. Preston Market hums with life, the Merri Creek Trail winds like a green ribbon through the ‘burb, and the housing still offers a flicker of hope for first-home buyers. Affordable, eclectic and undeniably on the up, Preston is living proof that grit and gloss can (and do) coexist.

Sitchu Tip: You must visit Northside Grocer. Find out why here.

Armadale

Armadale is Melbourne at its most charming, a leafy haven where heritage architecture meets village-style living. In 2025, it stands as one of the city’s most desirable suburbs, offering the perfect balance of tranquillity and urban convenience. With Armadale and Toorak train stations connecting you to the CBD in minutes, and boutique-lined streets like High Street offering endless shopping and dining, it’s no wonder this pocket remains so coveted.

Surprisingly, first-home buyers will find a sweet spot here with affordable 1-2 bedroom apartments, making it a dream suburb for singles and young professionals alike.

Mont Albert

What makes a suburb feel like home? Encased in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs, Mont Albert exudes charm and convenience in equal measure. Its rich history, dating back to the mid-19th century, shines through in its picturesque tree-lined streets and historic architecture. The lush Mont Albert Reserve and Kingsley Gardens are community hubs, ideal for picnics or weekend strolls. A foodie’s haven, the suburb’s cosy cafes and diverse eateries cater to every craving. While the median house price sits at a steep $2.33 million, Mont Albert’s excellent schools, strong community feel, and seamless transport links make it a dream destination for families and professionals.

Mordialloc 

Mordialloc is where Melbourne slows down, trading suits for sandy toes. Just 26 kilometres from the CBD, this coastal haven is a breath of fresh air—literally. With house prices hovering around $1.1 million and units at $697,500, it’s a sweet spot for those craving salt air and community spirit. Trendy cafes, eclectic boutiques, and a dining scene that punches above its weight keep things lively, while lush parks and top-notch schools make it a family favourite. And with a convenient train ride to the city, it’s urban convenience wrapped in coastal bliss.

Elsternwick

Elsternwick weaves old-world charm with contemporary ease, offering a rare blend of culture and calm. Its tree-lined streets and vibrant community exude a quiet magnetism, drawing in those who crave both connection and sanctuary. Stroll through Elsternwick Park, lose yourself in its green expanses, or hop on a train for a quick escape to the city.

The dining scene is delightfully varied—cosy cafes, refined eateries, and spots where locals linger over stories and wine. Families are lured by esteemed private schools, while residents embrace the suburb’s effortless rhythm. Elsternwick isn’t just a place to live; it’s a place to belong.

Sitchu Tip: We can’t get enough of the perfect date night pairing at Copycat and Classic Cinemas. Start your evening with expertly crafted cocktails and mouthwatering bites at Copycat, then snuggle up for a movie at the historic Classic Cinemas, where the ambiance sets the stage for a memorable night.

Berwick

Berwick strikes the rare balance between suburban ease and understated charm. The tree-lined streets and manicured parks offer a sense of calm, but it’s the vibrant community pulse that truly sets it apart. Families gravitate here for the exceptional schools and a sense of security, yet Berwick offers much more—its heart lies in the everyday moments: a coffee on the village main street, a stroll through Wilson Botanic Park, or a wander through the Fountain Gate shopping centre.

Sitchu Picks: Seeing a performance at Bluestone Amphitheatre in Wilson Botanic Park before drinks at The Courthouse Circa 1884. 

Mentone

Just 22 kilometres from Melbourne’s core, Mentone is another place where the city’s madness feels like a distant memory. With its beachy charm, tight-knit community, and top-tier schools, it’s the ultimate haven for ambitious families and those ready to settle in for the long haul. 

This is a suburb that knows balance — beach life and local parks meet friendly neighbourhood cafes, while sporting clubs and playgrounds keep everyone moving. The beach is always a stone’s throw away, but when it’s time for dinner and drinks, Mentone also delivers — if you know where to look. With nearby Cheltenham, Bentleigh, Parkdale and Mordialloc offering even more variety, this is one place you’ll want to stake your claim in, pronto.

Sitchu Picks: A delicious slice of NYC-style pizza from Sunnyside Sliced never goes out of style. 

Moonee Ponds 

Moonee Ponds, where suburban ease meets metropolitan grit, has enough personality to make you feel right at home. This is the kind of place where quirky cafes, buzzing bars, and unique boutiques dot tree-lined streets, yet the lush green parks keep things grounded. Families and professionals flock here for the great schools, spacious homes, and proximity to the Maribyrnong River.

Puckle Street offers a smorgasbord of culinary delights, while local charity shops give you that thrill of discovery. It’s a suburb that balances convenience, character, and cool – all wrapped in one.

Sitchu Picks: Run, don’t walk to Convoy, for all things brunch. We also love Holmes Hall for a low-key mid-week dinner and pool playing sesh. They make a mean basil sour. 

Prahran

For those looking to be in the heart of Melbourne’s shopping, dining and entertainment precinct, Prahran is a lively, easy-going neighbourhood that has become a mecca for youth and young singles. It has a vibrant community and is well-connected with quick trams and trains into the CBD.

Prahran also offers a sophisticated dining scene and leafy residential backstreets. Between the shopping mecca of Chapel Street and the low-key cool of Greville Street with its record stores and boutiques, friendly Prahran still manages to possess a village-like feel. 

Sitchu Picks: You can never go wrong with a weekly shop at Prahran Market. Inside, Maker & Maker will soothe your soul with their oozing cheese toasties – the stuff of dairy legend. 

Footscray

Footscray is where cultures collide, and food reigns supreme. A former home to Greek and Italian migrants, it’s now a vibrant mix of Vietnamese, East African, and everything in between. The streets hum with new cafes, bars, and restaurants that draw foodies from across Melbourne, with locals swearing by spots like Ras Dashen for Ethiopian feasts, Kariton Sorbetes for a scoop of Filipino-style gelato, and Mr West for a night out.

But it’s not all polished — Footscray keeps its gritty charm intact. While the housing market is on the rise, rapid gentrification raises questions about the suburb’s community soul. Still, Footscray thrives as a vibrant, evolving neighborhood, offering a unique chance to be part of Melbourne’s most eclectic urban blend.

East Melbourne

Punctuated by Victorian terraces and Art Deco homes, East Melbourne is a prestigious neighbourhood with the city centre on its doorstep. It’s coveted by young independents and professionals for its culture, cafes and access to public transport. The suburb is effortlessly walkable with tree-lined streets, inspiring architecture and picturesque gardens.

Affluent East Melbourne is home to a very wealthy crowd. Here, the families that reside in the area’s storied terraces and glamorous mansions are as prestigious as the buildings they inhabit. However, due to its prime location right by the CBD, it’s mostly (very) cashed-up young singles and established older couples that call East Melbourne their own.

Sitchu Picks: A walk through Fitzroy Gardens is truly a Melbourne prerequisite. Finish with a delicious sourdough pizza from the amiable team at Roccella. 

Malvern

A quietly affluent enclave long favoured by Melbourne’s well-to-do, Malvern offers up a picture-perfect snapshot of life in the inner suburbs – white picket fences and all. With tree-lined streets, cosy brunch spots, chic wine bars, and beautiful parks, this idyllic locale are what young families’ dreams are made of.

Gardens are perfectly manicured, cafe culture reigns supreme, and a pet dog is essential. Nowhere is this more evident than in firm local favourite Central Park, where you’ll find everyone from fitness addicts to latte sippers, weekend cricket clubs and playgroups all enjoying their spot on the grass.

Sitchu Picks: Settle in for a cosy post-work wine and dine at the charming Milton Wine Bar. 

Hawthorn East

The leafy, prosperous suburb of Hawthorn East combines a family-friendly atmosphere with the convenience of the inner-city. It ticks all the boxes in terms of a bustling foodie scene, shopping strips and quick, convenient transport into the CBD. The suburban gem has seen a steady increase in property prices over the past five years, with a mix of charming Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco homes.

Sitchu Picks: Anderson Park is the premium picnic spot in all of Melbourne, in our humble opinion. On a warm day, make a beeline for it with a group of friends and spend it kicking a ball around and tucking into sandwiches and cheeky bevs. 

Northcote

Delightful Northcote has become one of the city’s most stylish neighbourhoods, with notable restaurants, cool wine bars and independent boutiques. It has a bustling village vibe attracting everyone from hip young renters and buyers to growing families. The inner-north suburb is well connected via an easy tram ride to the city and offers great parklands along with the scenic Merri Creek Trail through the northern suburbs.

Sitchu Picks: See a movie at Westgarth Theatre after indulging in the delicious butter paneer pasanda and garlic roti at Base Camp. It’s a true hidden gem and so, so good.

Collingwood

Considered one of the best places to live among millennials, Collingwood has transformed from its rough roots into one of the city’s coolest hubs. This creative, inner-city gem is just a quick train ride into the city centre, and is jam-packed with coffee shops, wine bars, galleries and design stores. 

With its relatively small blocks of land and predilection for late-night revelry, Collingwood isn’t quite the place for families. Rather, this trendy postcode is home to young singles and urban workers who can’t get enough of the buzzing drinking and dining scene, and close proximity to the city. 

Sitchu Picks: It’s impossible to choose favourites in this bar-heavy ‘burb, but Gum Bar is a nostalgia-inducing dream. You should also spend the day enjoying Collingwood Yards, where the likes of galleries, furniture designers, radio stations, book shops, bars and record stores unite. A real artist’s denizen. Make a beeline for the Stay Soft Markets when they’re on, and be sure to devour all the focaccia bread and a natty wine at Hope St Radio. 

Elwood

It’s hard to deny — Elwood is a stunning suburb. From its sunny, Art Deco apartments to the leafy parks and beachfront promenade, this neighbourhood offers a picture-perfect, white-picket fence lifestyle. With easy access to both the city and the ocean, residents enjoy the best of both worlds.

Community-oriented and effortlessly liveable, Elwood thrives on its cafe culture. While nearby St Kilda pulses with nightlife, Elwood draws brunch aficionados with its top-tier coffee and breakfast scene. When they’re not sipping lattes, locals cruise down canal-side bike paths or jog along the beach, dogs happily in tow.

Sitchu Picks: A sunrise or sunset stroll with a pit stop at Point Ormond Lookout thrown in for the vibes, followed by coffee at Plain Sailing or margies and tacos at Repeat Offender. 

Carlton North

Carlton North is one of Melbourne’s most revered suburbs, striking the perfect balance between city convenience and suburban serenity. A stone’s throw from the CBD, it offers a peaceful escape without losing the city’s pulse. The streets are lined with stunning Victorian and Edwardian homes, giving the area a timeless elegance and making it a haven for lovers of period properties. But this isn’t just a pretty face — Carlton North hums with energy.

From the delicious restaurants, bars and cafes found along Lygon Street to the local bars and small independent shops of leafy Rathdowne Street, the area offers a diverse mix of experiences. Add in green spaces like Princes Park, excellent schools, and easy transport, and you’ve got a place where history, community, and modern living collide beautifully.

Sitchu Picks: Start with a massage at Ma Saj on Nicholson Street and end with tipples at either Gerald’s Bar or Henry Sugar. We’re just a little in love with Rathdowne Street’s tranquil beauty during golden hour. 

Doing your research on the best suburbs to live in Melbourne and looking for more helpful property advice? Check out our explainer on what you should look out for when buying a house. Then, have a read of our guide on what to look for in a suburb before buying there.