Melbourne vs Southbank

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Southbank: a median of $570,000, against $452,000 in Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. Southbank is closer to the city centre: 2.4 km, against 3.4 km. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (12 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (40 vs 15)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 6)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($516,000 vs $660,000)
  • has cheaper units ($452,000 vs $570,000)
  • But Southbank leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (24% vs 16%)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (30 vs 5)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and Southbank drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Melbourne Southbank
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Melbourne Southbank
Walkability 100 / 100
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 Southbank — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 3 / 7
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Southbank — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Southbank — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 7
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Southbank — Low flood risk: 7/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 22,631); Southbank has higher household incomes ($100,152 vs $75,296).

Melbourne Southbank
Population 54,941
+59% vs other
 22,631
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +21.0%
Median age 29 31
Median household income $75,296/yr $100,152/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $411/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne Southbank
0-4 2.0% / 3.1%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% Southbank — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 2.2% / 2.9%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% Southbank — 5-14: 2.9%
15-19 3.5% / 2.0%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% Southbank — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 21.0% / 12.6%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% Southbank — 20-24: 12.6%
25-34 38.3% / 41.6%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% Southbank — 25-34: 41.6%
35-44 14.8% / 18.6%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% Southbank — 35-44: 18.6%
45-54 6.8% / 7.7%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% Southbank — 45-54: 7.7%
55-64 5.1% / 5.8%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% Southbank — 55-64: 5.8%
65-74 3.7% / 3.8%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% Southbank — 65-74: 3.8%
75-84 1.9% / 1.6%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% Southbank — 75-84: 1.6%
85+ 0.7% / 0.3%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% Southbank — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (41.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 63.4% lone person
Melbourne — Lone Person: 63.4% Melbourne — Group Household: 20.6% Melbourne — Couple Families: 7.7% Melbourne — One Parent Families: 4.2% Melbourne — Other Families: 4.2%
Southbank 61.4% lone person
Southbank — Lone Person: 61.4% Southbank — Group Household: 18.3% Southbank — Couple Families: 11.5% Southbank — One Parent Families: 5.8% Southbank — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 73.3% renting
Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.1% Melbourne — Mortgage: 13.6% Melbourne — Renting: 73.3%
Southbank 68.9% renting
Southbank — Owned Outright: 12.9% Southbank — Mortgage: 18.2% Southbank — Renting: 68.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Melbourne Southbank
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 33.1%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% Southbank — Bachelor Degree: 33.1%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 19.3%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% Southbank — Postgraduate Degree: 19.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.8%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Southbank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 5.1%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Southbank — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.1%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Southbank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Melbourne Southbank
China 15.1% / 8.9%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% Southbank — China: 8.9%
India 7.0% / 9.4%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% Southbank — India: 9.4%
Malaysia 6.2% / 3.7%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% Southbank — Malaysia: 3.7%
Indonesia 3.7% / 2.7%
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% Southbank — Indonesia: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.7%
Melbourne — New Zealand: 1.9% Southbank — New Zealand: 2.7%
England — / 3.0%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest Southbank — England: 3.0%
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% Southbank — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 99.7% flats / apartments
Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 99.7% Melbourne — Townhouses: 0.2% Melbourne — Houses: 0.1%
Southbank 98.6% flats / apartments
Southbank — Flats / Apartments: 98.6% Southbank — Townhouses: 1.3% Southbank — Houses: 0.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne Southbank
Median house price $516,000 $660,000
Median unit price $452,000 $570,000
Median land price — $680,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 84 days
from 8 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Melbourne Southbank
1 bed $363K / $500K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $363K (6 sales) Southbank — 1 bed: $500K (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

2 bed $562K / $708K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $562K (8 sales) Southbank — 2 bed: $708K (10 sales)

8 vs 10 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Melbourne Southbank
1 bed $349K / $390K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) Southbank — 1 bed: $390K (529 sales)

787 vs 529 sales

2 bed $540K / $600K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) Southbank — 2 bed: $600K (1089 sales)

999 vs 1089 sales

3 bed $890K / $1M
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) Southbank — 3 bed: $1M (255 sales)

131 vs 255 sales

4 bed $1.57M / $1.7M
Melbourne — 4 bed: $1.57M (9 sales) Southbank — 4 bed: $1.7M (8 sales)

9 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Southbank has more commercially zoned land (54% vs 41%).

Melbourne Southbank
Commercial 41% 54%
Parks and recreation 37% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 28%
Residential 3% 9%
Other and special use 3% 4%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Melbourne Southbank
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
same for both
Approvals change year on year +195%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Melbourne Southbank
Houses — 4.4%
$750/wk on $877K
Units — 6.6%
$740/wk on $579K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne Southbank
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 97% of VIC

Liveability

Melbourne Southbank
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Southbank carries more flood risk (93 vs 64).

Melbourne Southbank
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
93/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
93/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 29
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne Southbank
Inside the suburb 12 2
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 5.8%

Schools in Melbourne

  • MacRobertson Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Melbourne Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Wesley College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Eltham College - Lonsdale Street Campus Independent · Combined
  • Holmes Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Melbourne Grammar School - Wadhurst Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Southbank

  • South Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne Southbank
Supermarkets 25 8
Cafes & restaurants 944 75
Parks & reserves 40 15
Childcare 11 6
GPs 30 5
Pharmacies 28 3
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 43 2
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Melbourne Southbank
Walkability score 100/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km
+29% vs other
 2.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min
same for both
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 82/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 391.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 2.1%
postcode 3006
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 0
postcode 3006

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Melbourne Southbank
Worked from Home 41.2% / 47.6%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% Southbank — Worked from Home: 47.6%
Walked Only 17.3% / 15.1%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% Southbank — Walked Only: 15.1%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 17.7%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% Southbank — Car (driver): 17.7%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 9.9%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% Southbank — Tram / Light Rail: 9.9%
Train 10.2% / 5.6%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% Southbank — Train: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.6%).

Setting

Melbourne Southbank
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 2.8 km
2.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melbourne Southbank
Connectivity score 76/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 46%
18,885 premises

Climate

Melbourne Southbank
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Melbourne Southbank
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Melbourne Southbank
Average residential rate $2,345/yr
same for both
Council Melbourne
same for both

Federal electorate

Melbourne Southbank
Division Melbourne Macnamara
Member Sarah Witty Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne Southbank
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melbourne

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals River Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

Southbank

Apartments Coastal Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melbourne

Melbourne vs Richmond Melbourne vs South Yarra Melbourne vs St Kilda Melbourne vs Carlton Melbourne vs Docklands Melbourne vs North Melbourne

Other comparisons with Southbank

Southbank vs Docklands Southbank vs South Melbourne Southbank vs South Wharf
Full data on Melbourne Full data on Southbank
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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