Perth’s five most popular suburbs for young professionals

Many young Australians may look towards the country’s east coast for both their career and to live. However, Perth is often overlooked. Why? We’re not so sure because the liveability of Western Australia’s capital is pretty much unbeatable.

Despite it being a little further away from other Aus cities, Perth is a great place to base yourself if you love travelling. The city itself is just under a four-hour direct flight to Bali. It has a much shorter route to Europe, which explains its popularity with international students, expats and an increasing community of young people.

Perth itself has it all. Typically Australian white sandy beaches, great employment opportunities, world-class universities, affordable property and a thriving arts and culture scene. Oh, and most importantly, over 3000 hours of glorious sunshine every year. Seriously, what’s not to love?

When it comes to deciding where to live – whether you’re buying or renting – you need to make the right decision for yourself. Qualities such as price, location, proximity to the beach, lifestyle, work/life balance and safety are all critical factors to consider when choosing a suburb. So we’ve put together the five most popular suburbs for young professionals worth considering.

Top 5 Perth suburbs to live for young professionals

#1 Perth (CBD)

Kicking off our list of the best suburbs for young adults in Perth is, of course, Perth itself. Perth’s CBD is arguably one of the most convenient places to live. With rent prices in Perth much lower than in other capital cities across the country, many young professionals can happily afford to live an urban lifestyle in the city centre.

Among the increasing apartment blocks under construction is the surge in co-living opportunities in Perth. The Switch, for example, offers the ultimate city lifestyle by providing an affordable co-living concept where young professionals and students can live communally with one single bill, modern facilities and access to coworking spaces and a gym in their building.

Perth CBD is a hub for young professionals who want easy access to public transport, with the popular Yagan Square on their doorstep and a growing culture of bars, restaurants, cafes and entertainment all within a stone’s throw.

The average rental price (as of 2020) of a one-bedroom apartment in Perth CBD is $360* per week, making city living pretty affordable for young adults who prefer to be in the centre of it all.

#2 Leederville 

Located just north of Perth CBD is Leederville, a suburb in high demand from young professionals in Western Australia. With an average rental price of a one-bedroom unit at just $320* a week, the suburb is a slightly cheaper option for those wanting to live close to the CBD.

We like to think of Leederville as Perth’s version of Sydney’s inner-west suburb of Newtown. It is a dream for young creatives seeking a fast-paced lifestyle oozing with culture, entertainment, and arts.

Leederville’s main strip, Oxford Street, is bursting with cafes, vintage record stores, small bars and beer gardens around every corner.

At just 3km from Perth CBD and not far from popular beaches such as Scarborough, this suburb makes one of the best places to live in Perth for young adults and professionals.

#3 Scarborough

Amongst Perth’s most famous – and popular – suburbs for the younger generation is Scarborough. It is a place known across Australia for its white-sand beaches, bustling beachfront, surfing and long stretch of coastal bars that are perfect for a Sunday session on a hot summer’s day.

If you’re a young professional looking for great nightlife along with one of Australia’s most beautiful coastlines, Scarborough provides the perfect laid-back lifestyle. Not to mention, the sunsets are E-P-I-C. No wonder 42% of the population comprises young people between the ages of 20-39 living life to the full.

Beach access and a great nightlife have meant huge urban growth for Scarborough over recent years. But with popularity comes a price. At an average rental price of $360* per week for a one-bedroom unit, the seaside suburb comes at a similar – if not higher – price to live in compared to its south-east CBD counterparts. For residents in this highly sought after suburb, the price is justifiable and worth every cent to live in this beautiful part of the world.

#4 East Perth

Joining Perth CBD and Leederville as a popular business hub, East Perth is a great suburb to live in for those seeking excellent cafe culture, a diverse selection of restaurants and close access to the scenic Swan River Esplanade. There has been a surge in high rise units in the suburb in recent years, making it highly desirable for a huge chunk of Perth’s city professionals.

For those looking to ‘work hard, play hard’, East Perth has the best of both worlds. Just a short walk from the CBD, residents can easily access Perth’s nightlife while enjoying great views along the Swan River from a huge selection of classy apartment towers. With an average weekly rental price for a 1 bedroom unit at just $345*, the majority of the suburb is unsurprisingly home to young, independent professionals.

#5 Northbridge

Northbridge is a hub for millennial and gen z populations. Here, residents can experience Perth’s very own slice of Melbourne. Think streets packed with small bars, graffiti lined laneways, its own China town, art galleries and bookshops.

The suburb is perfect for young professionals who crave a busy lifestyle, university students, or those who just moved to the city. And the numbers don’t lie. Almost 58% of Northbridge’s population is made up of young folk.

With a median weekly rental price of $380* (for a one-bedroom unit), Northbridge provides a fairly affordable way to live within the city’s realms.

If you’re looking to move to Perth for work, the laid-back lifestyle or attractive property prices, there’s a suburb that provides the perfect lifestyle for your needs. From Fremantle to Joondalup, Perth provides a quintessential Australian lifestyle in one of the world’s most beautiful places.

*Note: All median rental prices in this article are sourced from reiwa.com’s suburb rental tool and are accurate as of Oct-Dec quarter 2020.