Curtin's Bentley campus is surrounded by suburbs with different rental levels and lifestyles. Public transport makes it possible to live several kilometres away while still reaching campus without a car.
The five areas below are among the main choices in the supplied accommodation data.
Bentley
Distance to campus: 0–1.5 km
Typical walking time: 5–20 minutes
Average shared-room rent: AU$210–310/week
Bentley is the most straightforward choice for students who want to stay close to Curtin. The suburb contains the university campus and its surrounding student accommodation precinct, so daily travel can often be reduced to a short walk.
The area also has Curtin's student accommodation villages and nearby shared housing. Students can reach classes quickly and spend less time dealing with public transport schedules.
Bentley is particularly relevant for first-year and international students who want to settle close to campus. The supplied figures also place it at the lower end of the weekly shared-room rental estimates among the areas covered here.
Best suited to: Students prioritising proximity to campus, first-year students and international students.
Victoria Park
Distance to campus: Approximately 3 km
Transport: Bus or train via Victoria Park/Burswood station
Average shared-room rent: AU$240–350/week
Victoria Park offers a different living experience from Bentley. Its Albany Highway strip is known for cafes, restaurants and shops, giving students plenty of places to eat and spend time outside university.
The suburb remains relatively close to Bentley, with bus connections making the campus accessible. Students can also use nearby Victoria Park or Burswood railway stations, although a further bus connection may be needed to reach Curtin.
The higher rent range compared with Bentley reflects its stronger local food, retail and social scene.
Best suited to: Students who want a more active neighbourhood with food, cafes, shops and nightlife nearby.
Como
Distance to campus: Approximately 3 km
Transport: Bus
Average shared-room rent: AU$230–330/week
Como sits along the Swan River and has a more residential character. The area has riverside parkland and cafes, making it a reasonable choice for students who prefer a quieter setting after classes.
The campus is around 3 km away, with bus services forming the main transport connection.
Como can therefore offer a middle ground between staying close to Curtin and choosing a more residential neighbourhood.
Best suited to: Students who prefer a quieter area, riverside surroundings and a residential setting.
South Perth
Distance to campus: Approximately 5 km
Transport: Bus and/or ferry
Average shared-room rent: AU$260–370/week
South Perth is one of the more expensive areas in the comparison. It sits across the Swan River from Perth CBD and is known for its riverside setting, parkland and Perth Zoo.
Students can travel by bus towards Curtin, while ferry services offer another way to reach central Perth. The ferry is more relevant for city trips than for a direct daily journey to the Bentley campus.
The area's higher rental estimate makes South Perth the premium pick among the five neighbourhoods listed here.
Best suited to: Students who are willing to spend more for a riverside location and access to Perth's wider city network.
Cannington
Distance to campus: Approximately 4 km
Transport: Train via Cannington Station or bus
Average shared-room rent: AU$220–320/week
Cannington is a practical option for students who place a high value on shopping and transport connections. The suburb is home to Westfield Carousel, one of the major shopping centres in the area.
The combination of retail access, groceries and public transport makes Cannington useful for students who want to handle everyday errands close to home.
The average shared-room estimate also puts it closer to Bentley's budget range than South Perth's.
Best suited to: Students who want strong access to shopping, groceries and public transport.
Comparing the Main Areas
|
Area
|
Distance from Curtin
|
Shared-room rent/week
|
Main advantage
|
|
Bentley
|
0–1.5 km
|
AU$210–310
|
Closest to campus
|
|
Victoria Park
|
~3 km
|
AU$240–350
|
Food, cafes and social life
|
|
Como
|
~3 km
|
AU$230–330
|
Quieter riverside setting
|
|
South Perth
|
~5 km
|
AU$260–370
|
Premium riverside location
|
|
Cannington
|
~4 km
|
AU$220–320
|
Shopping and transport
|
The distance figures are useful as a starting point, but they should not be treated as commute times on their own. A three-kilometre journey by bus can take longer than expected depending on the route, frequency and number of stops.
Budget Pick
Bentley has the lowest starting shared-room estimate at AU$210 per week, while Cannington starts at around AU$220 and Como at around AU$230.
Bentley also has the advantage of the shortest commute. For students trying to control both rent and daily travel, staying close to campus can reduce the need for regular public transport.
Victoria Park can also work for students who want to keep the commute short while having more food and social options around their accommodation.
Premium Pick
South Perth has the highest shared-room rental range in the supplied data, at approximately AU$260–370 per week.
Its position along the Swan River, proximity to Perth CBD and access to riverside parkland make it a more expensive choice. Students choosing South Perth should weigh those benefits against the additional rent and the roughly 5 km journey to Curtin.
Practical Considerations for Curtin Students
The Bentley campus is primarily served by buses, even though nearby suburbs also have access to Perth's train network. This distinction matters when comparing accommodation.
Victoria Park and Burswood stations can help with rail travel, but reaching the Bentley campus may still require a bus connection. Cannington has its own railway station, while Como and South Perth rely more heavily on bus services for university travel.
Students comparing Curtin University student housing should therefore look at the complete journey rather than choosing a property solely because it appears close on a map.
The same applies to rent. A room with a lower weekly price may involve longer daily travel and higher transport costs. A slightly more expensive room near campus can sometimes reduce those additional expenses.