Student Accommodation near Australian Institute Of Music (AIM)

The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is a private higher education provider focused on music, dramatic arts and entertainment management. It began in Sydney in 1968 and has more than 6,000 alumni.

AIM Melbourne is located at 120 King Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, on the western side of the CBD. You’ll study in a multi-level city building rather than a large university-style campus, so you’ll arrange your accommodation off campus and travel to classes.

One of the biggest advantages of the location is its proximity to Southern Cross Station. You can also walk to many parts of the CBD or use the nearby tram network for short trips around central Melbourne.

AIM has facilities designed around music and performance, including the 160-seat Peter Calvo Auditorium, a live tracking room and an analogue production suite. Its industry-mentor model also gives you opportunities to work with academic and industry professionals.

Popular courses include the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Theatre and Bachelor of Performance (Dramatic Arts). You can also study postgraduate courses such as the Master of Music and Graduate Diplomas and Certificates.

AIM does not operate its own student halls or provide an accommodation guarantee, so you’ll need to arrange your housing independently. 

AIM offers a different student experience from a large university. Instead of spending your days on a large campus filled with sports facilities and dozens of societies, much of your student life centres around music, performance, creative work and Melbourne’s wider arts scene.

AIM’s Student Wellbeing and Support team provides services such as confidential 1:1 counselling and wellbeing workshops. You can also meet other students through academic, performance and creative activities.

Sports and Recreation

AIM focuses on music and performance, so extensive sports facilities and university sports clubs are limited. If you want to stay active, you can use local gyms, fitness studios, parks and community sports facilities around Melbourne.

Nightlife and Social Scene

AIM’s CBD location puts you close to many of Melbourne’s food, entertainment and music areas.

• Chinatown: Around an 8-minute walk from AIM, with plenty of restaurants and late-night food options.
• Hardware Lane: A popular CBD spot for cafes, restaurants and bars.
• Fitzroy and Collingwood: Easily reached by tram, with live music venues such as The Tote, Old Bar and Yah Yah’s.

For music students, Melbourne’s live-gig scene can become a big part of your time outside class. You can also find smaller venues and creative events across the inner suburbs.

Shopping and Markets

• Queen Victoria Market: Useful for fresh produce, groceries and everyday shopping.

• Melbourne Central: Offers fashion, food, entertainment and everyday essentials.
• Emporium Melbourne: A major CBD shopping centre with a wide range of stores and restaurants.
• Bourke Street Mall: A busy retail area with plenty of shops.

Culture and Events

AIM runs events such as masterclasses, orientation activities and other student events throughout the year. You can also make use of Melbourne’s wider cultural calendar.

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Melbourne Music Week can be especially relevant if you’re interested in music. Southbank’s Arts Centre Melbourne and the NGV also put performances, exhibitions and other cultural activities within easy reach.

Healthcare and Safety

AIM provides confidential 1:1 wellbeing counselling and academic support through its Student Wellbeing team.

International students are required to maintain OSHC as part of their Student visa arrangements. For everyday healthcare, you’ll find medical centres and pharmacies across Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

The King Street and CBD area is busy and well connected during the day. At night, take extra care around quieter streets and public transport areas, particularly when travelling alone.

Your student experience at AIM is closely linked to Melbourne itself. You can spend time on your course and creative work, then head into the city for live music, performances, exhibitions or social events.

AIM’s central location gives you several areas to consider. Your choice will mainly come down to your weekly budget, preferred commute and the kind of neighbourhood you want to call home.

Melbourne CBD (Postcode 3000, immediate area)

• Distance to Campus: 0-10 minutes walk.

• Vibe: City living in a high-rise with laneways, restaurants, bars and Chinatown nearby.
• Best For: Students who want the shortest commute and like to be in the heart of the city.
• Indicative Rent: AU$462–870/week for one- and two-bedroom units.

Docklands (Postcode 3008)

• Distance to Campus: Approx 10-15 minute walk or quick tram ride

• Vibe: High rise waterfront apartments close to Victoria Harbour and Marvel Stadium.
• Best For: Students who want newer apartments in a quieter environment close to the CBD.
• Indicative Rent: AU$745 to $1,065 per week for studio and two-bedroom apartments.

Southbank (Postcode 3006)

• Distance to Campus: 15-20 mins walk or quick public transport

• Vibe: Artsy neighbourhood with Arts Centre Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and riverside dining within walking distance.
• Best For: Music and performance students wanting easy access to Melbourne’s arts precinct.
• Indicative Rent: One- to two-bedroom units $600-970 per week AU$.

North Melbourne (Postcode 3051)

• Distance to Campus: One stop from North Melbourne Station to Southern Cross

• Vibe: A quieter inner-north suburb with Victorian terraces, local shops and a more residential feel.
• Best For: Students who want to be in a quieter neighbourhood close to AIM.
• Indicative Rent: Approx. AU$480/week one-bedroom unit.

Carlton (Postcode 3053)

• Distance to Campus: About 25-30 minutes by tram or approximately 35 minutes on foot

• Vibe: A student hub, with lots of cafes and restaurants on Lygon Street and a big student population.
• Best for: Students who want a lively student scene and shared accommodation and PBSA access.
• Indicative Rent: Around AU$480-775 / week for one to two bedroom units.

West Melbourne (Postcode 3003)

• Distance to Campus: Approx. 10-15 min. walking

• Vibe: Warehouse conversions and residential streets around Southern Cross Station make for a quieter inner city.
• Best for: Students who want to walk to AIM and avoid living in the busiest parts of the CBD.

Fitzroy / Collingwood (Postcodes 3065/3066)

• Distance to Campus: About 25-35 min by tram and walk

• Vibe: Artsy inner-north ‘hood with live music venues, galleries, street art, cafes and bars.
• Best For: Music and performance students wanting to be close to Melbourne's live-gig scene.

Richmond (Postcode 3121)

• Distance to Campus: approximately 20 to 25 minutes by train

• Vibe: Mix of residential and commercial areas, with restaurants and shops along Bridge Road and Swan Street.
• Best for: students who want a direct train to Southern Cross and a more residential surrounding.
• Indicative rent: Depending on property and room type.

A note on rent: The figures above are indicative individual listing prices from September 2026 rather than suburb-wide rental medians. Domain reported a Melbourne-wide unit rent of AU$600 per week in its June 2026 Rental Report.

You can also look at PBSA options such as Scape Swanston, UniLodge Melbourne City and Iglu. Among the areas listed above, Docklands is the premium pick, with some two-bedroom apartments reaching around AU$1,065 per week.

Studying at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is a dream — until rent day rolls around and you realise “living the artist life” comes with bills. Sydney and Melbourne are both incredible cities, but let’s not sugarcoat it — they’re also two of the priciest postcodes in Australia. The trick is knowing how to balance your budget without sacrificing your caffeine, Wi-Fi, or sanity.

Rent & Housing Costs

If you’re looking for student housing near AIM, shared apartments are your wallet’s best friend. Expect to pay anywhere between AUD $350–$450 per week for a furnished shared flat. Private studios and ensuites range between AUD $500–$700 weekly, depending on amenities and proximity to campus. The good news? Most Australian Institute of Music student accommodation comes with bills included — covering essentials like electricity, water, and internet. So, no awkward “who used all the hot water” arguments.

Food & Groceries

Melbourne’s laneways and Sydney’s café culture make resisting temptation impossible. Weekly groceries average AUD $80–$120, but if you’re a serial bruncher or bubble tea enthusiast, budget extra. Cooking at home (or with flatmates) saves serious money — and turns into an unplanned jam session when someone whips out a guitar.

Transport & Travel

Public transport in both cities is surprisingly student-friendly. You’ll spend around AUD $30–$50 a week using trams, trains, or buses with concession fares. Many AIM students prefer to live close enough to walk or cycle — saving money and avoiding the trauma of waiting for delayed trams. Both cities are incredibly walkable, especially around the campus districts.

Lifestyle & Entertainment

Being a creative means you’ll never run out of things to do — live gigs, film screenings, art exhibits, or open-mic nights. Budget around AUD $60–$100 weekly for social life and recreation. The beauty of Sydney and Melbourne? You can find free concerts, festivals, and cultural events every weekend, so you’ll always have something to do even when your wallet is whispering “please stop.”

Utilities & Extras

If you’re renting privately, add AUD $30–$40 weekly for utilities. Phone plans and streaming subscriptions will tack on another AUD $20–$30. It’s not glamorous, but budgeting early keeps the music playing (and the lights on).

Average Monthly Cost Breakdown

All in, most AIM students spend between AUD $1,500–$2,000 per month, covering rent, food, transport, and fun. It sounds like a lot, but when you’ve got great housing, a thriving music scene, and an entire city as your stage — it’s worth every cent.

And with House of Students, finding affordable, quality accommodation near Australian Institute of Music (AIM) doesn’t require a miracle. We do the heavy lifting — sourcing verified listings that suit your budget and lifestyle. Because while AIM helps you find your sound, we’ll make sure you’ve got somewhere solid to come home to after the encore.

Where you decide to stay will depend on your budget and how much privacy you want.

Studio Apartment

A studio has a combined sleeping and living area, a kitchenette and a private bathroom.

• Best For: Students desiring privacy and independence.
• Things to know: Studios are usually more expensive than rooms in shared accommodation, but you have your own facilities.

Entire Place (Apartment/Unit)

You can rent out the entire place, a one-bed unit or a larger apartment or house with its own kitchen, sitting room and bathroom.

• Best for: Students who need more space or want to live with friends or a partner.
• Considerations: You gain more privacy, but the total rent and household bills may be higher.

Private Room

If you opt for a private room, you will have your own bedroom but share facilities such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom with housemates.

• Best for: Students needing their own space for less than the cost of a studio.
• Things to think about: You will be sharing facilities and need to be comfortable living with other people.

Shared Room

Shared room means you will share your bedroom with another student or students and share the communal facilities.

• Best for: Students who want to minimise their accommodation fees.
• Thoughts: Less personal space but the setup may make it easier to meet other students.

PBSA properties often have private rooms, en-suite rooms and studios. Many also include bills and access to communal student facilities.

If you’re looking for student accommodation close to AIM, House of Student has several options across Melbourne. The properties below cover different budgets and locations.

West Tower, Melbourne Quarter

• Distance to AIM: 1.16 km

• Travel Time: Around 12 minutes on foot, 10 minutes by public transport or 5 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$700 per week
• Why it’s worth considering: You’ll be close to AIM and Southern Cross Station, which makes this a practical choice if a short daily commute matters to you.

UKO Melbourne Central

• Distance to AIM: 1.91 km

• Travel Time: Around 25 minutes on foot, 16 minutes by public transport or 9 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$620 per week
• Why it’s worth considering: You’ll be further into the CBD, with shopping, dining and entertainment close by.

The Archive - Residential Living

• Distance to AIM: 2.27 km

• Travel Time: Around 27 minutes on foot, 15 minutes by public transport or 8 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$990 per week
• Why it’s worth considering: Its Southbank location can suit music and performance students who want easy access to the arts precinct.

Indi South Bank

• Distance to AIM: 2.99 km

• Travel Time: Around 22 minutes on foot, 14 minutes by public transport or 10 minutes by car
• Starting Price: Currently unavailable
• Why it’s worth considering: Its Southbank location puts you close to the arts precinct and riverside areas, while AIM remains within easy reach.

WeAreLiving Preston

• Distance to AIM: 10.66 km

• Travel Time: Around 42 minutes by public transport or 29 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$455 per week
• Why it’s worth considering: The lower starting price may suit you if you’re happy to live further from the CBD and spend more time commuting.

A lower weekly rent can often mean living further from central Melbourne. Before you book, compare the rent with your travel time and regular transport costs.

La Trobe University - Orde House

• Distance to AIM: 153.58 km

• Travel Time: Around 161 minutes by public transport or 109 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$265 per week
• Why it’s affordable: This is the lowest-priced option in the supplied listings. Its Flora Hill location makes it impractical for regular travel to AIM Melbourne, so it is better suited to students studying at La Trobe’s Bendigo campus.

Campus Melbourne

• Distance to AIM: 11.62 km

• Travel Time: Around 58 minutes by public transport or 30 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$266 per week
• Why it’s affordable: Located in Preston, it has a much lower starting rent than many central Melbourne options. You’ll need to allow extra time for your daily journey to AIM.

La Trobe University - Glenn College

• Distance to AIM: 21.77 km

• Travel Time: Around 61 minutes by public transport or 38 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$270 per week
• Why it’s affordable: The lower weekly price may appeal to you if rent savings are a bigger priority than a short commute.

La Trobe University - Menzies College

• Distance to AIM: 22.01 km

• Travel Time: Around 64 minutes by public transport or 38 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$295 per week
• Why it’s affordable: Menzies College has a lower starting price, though you’ll spend more time travelling to AIM.

WeAreLiving Preston

• Distance to AIM: 10.66 km

• Travel Time: Around 42 minutes by public transport or 29 minutes by car
• Starting Price: From AU$455 per week
• Why it’s affordable: It gives you a more practical balance between rent and commute than the more distant options above.

For an AIM student, a low weekly rent can look appealing, but your daily schedule matters too. If you have regular classes, rehearsals or campus events, paying a little more for a shorter commute may make your week easier.

AIM’s location at 120 King Street gives you easy access to Melbourne’s transport network. Southern Cross Station is beside the campus, while the CBD tram network gives you another option for travelling around central Melbourne.

Trains

Southern Cross Station connects you with Melbourne’s suburban and regional rail network.

• North Melbourne: Take a Metro service from North Melbourne Station to Southern Cross. It is one stop and takes around 2–3 minutes, followed by a short walk to AIM.
• Richmond: Richmond Station is a major interchange, with trains connecting to Southern Cross in around 10–15 minutes.

Trams

AIM sits within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone, which covers the CBD and several central areas.

• Docklands: Around a 5-minute tram journey or 10–15 minutes on foot.
• Southbank: Around 15–20 minutes on foot, with tram options across the Yarra.
• Carlton: Around 25–30 minutes by tram, depending on your location and route.
• Fitzroy / Collingwood: Around 25–35 minutes by tram and walking.

The Free Tram Zone can help lower your regular transport costs if you live and study within central Melbourne.

Walking

Walking works well if you live in the CBD, West Melbourne or Docklands. Many shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are also within walking distance of AIM.

Cycling

Melbourne has a network of on-road cycling routes, and the relatively flat CBD can make cycling useful for shorter journeys.

There are bike-sharing and rental services all around the city. Information on AIM-specific cycling facilities does not include details on secure bike storage, so if you plan on cycling regularly, check with your accommodation.

Major Transport Hubs & Airport Access

Southern Cross Station is the main transport hub close to AIM. From here, you can access suburban trains, V/Line regional services and long-distance services.

For airport travel, SkyBus runs between Southern Cross Station and Melbourne Airport. Since the station is beside AIM, this can be useful when you’re travelling with luggage.

Melbourne Airport is generally around 20–30 minutes from Southern Cross by SkyBus, although journey times can vary with traffic.

With trains, trams, buses and major transport services close to campus, you can live further from AIM and still have a practical commute. Before booking, compare your weekly rent with the time and cost of getting to class each day.