Question 1

Is St Kilda East a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

St Kilda East sits just inland from St Kilda’s foreshore and has a clearly inner-suburban, village feel. Tree-lined streets feature timber workers’ cottages, interwar and Art Deco flats and pockets of low-rise modern apartments. A long-established Jewish community is visible in local synagogues, kosher shops and community organisations, and day-to-day life revolves around neighbourhood shopping strips and cafés. Trams and buses run through the area and nearby train stations expand rail connections, while the beach and Melbourne’s CBD remain within easy reach.

Home to 12,571 people with a median age of 34 and a median household income of $2,020 a week (roughly $105,040 a year), the suburb is weighted towards couple families: couple families without children are 47.9% of families and couple families with children 39.1%. Owner-occupiers just outnumber renters at 50.1% compared with 49.9%, so housing is a mix of owners and renters. Council plans for pocket parks, expanded reserves, streetscape improvements and the St Kilda Triangle renewal point to more public-space work ahead. That mix tends to suit families and professionals looking for an established inner-suburban setting; whether it suits you comes down to your priorities.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in St Kilda East?

Accepted Answer

Buying in St Kilda East sits notably above what local households earned at the last Census. The median house price of $1,340,000 is about 12.8 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (weekly income $2,020 × 52 = $105,040). The median unit price of $565,000 is about 5.4 times that annual income, so units are closer to local earnings than houses on these figures.

Looking at renting, the average house rent of $895 a week would take roughly 44.4% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a large share. The average unit rent of $545 a week would take about 26.9% of that income, a moderate share. Which of these matters most depends on whether you plan to rent or buy and on your own circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is St Kilda East a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The standout movement in St Kilda East over the past 12 months is the notable fall in unit values, down 6.9%. Unit rents rose 2.8% over the same period, while on the house side values edged up 0.4% and house rents increased a more modest 4.7%. In other words, house rental income has risen faster than house capital value this year, and units have seen rents climb modestly despite a clear fall in their capital value.

Which of those facts matters most depends on your aim: if rental income is your priority the rent figures are the most relevant, while capital-growth-focused investors will want to consider the contrasting value movements. Whether that balance fits your goals and circumstances is for you to weigh up.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.34M	$565K
Change in value Past 12 months	0.4%	-6.9%
Sold Past 3 months	22	45
Median days on market Past 12 months	43	35
Average rent Past 12 months	$895	$545
Change in rent Past 12 months	4.7%	2.8%

Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in St Kilda East

St Kilda East suburb profile

St Kilda East property market performance

5 year median price trend for houses and units

St Kilda East demographics

Suburbs near St Kilda East

How does St Kilda East compare to nearby suburbs?

Choose the right real estate agents in St Kilda East

Get a head start and compare top local agents in St Kilda East

Not quite ready to sell?

Suburb and property report

Digital estimate for your property

Navigate the market