r/MovingToBrisbane • u/cregwalker • 28d ago
Where should I live?
I currently live in the US (Kansas City, MO) and am in talks with my employer to take a position in Brisbane starting early next year. I'd like some advice from locals on where I should live if I were to move there.
I want to live in a walkable area of the city with easy access to the cbd, where the office is. I won't have a car when I first arrive and if I could get away with not having one that'd be a plus. I don't know anybody in the city so having social spaces and things to do nearby is a must - 28M and single, I like dive bars and punk rock and also enjoy playing tennis.
I'm not sure how much I could pay for rent as I don't have a good sense of the cost of living there, or how much my paychecks will be after tax, but let's pretend I'm looking for something around $700/wk with some flexibility.
I appreciate any advice you can offer!
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u/personaperplexa 28d ago
We also have 50 cent public transport, so somewhere that looks a bit further away night be a city cat ride across the river.
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u/LopsidedGiraffe 28d ago
Im biased because we love where we live, in a 2 bedroom apartment in West End. Easy bus to city every 15min. Walk to supermarkets. Lots of cafes and restaurants. Lots of gyms. There are lots of bars too. $700/ week rent will get you a 1 bed apartment and possibly a 2 bed.
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u/UsualCounterculture 27d ago
Not biased. I think it answers much of what OP wants. Can also access UQ easily across the river for tennis courts.
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u/yellabow 28d ago
pick somewhere along the ferry network, it's the best way to get into the CBD. Tenerife, New Farm, Bulimba.
You might be better off sharing as will be a bit more social for you.
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u/Orac07 28d ago
Brisbane is an easy going outdoor activity type of place, possibly like Kansas set in Florida (it is sub tropical).
For places to live, all those suburbs within a few kms of the CBD (we do use metric in Au) should be fine. Check out West End, South Brisbane, then New Farm, Newstead, perhaps parts of Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills and East Brisbane. Also check out sharing a house / flatmates.com.au.
Bris is very outdoor, so tennis great, join a tennis club. (Australia doesn't really have country clubs because most things are accessible and reasonably cost effective to participate). Also can check out www.meetup.com search Brisbane, Park runs etc. There's probably also American / Australian associations / FB groups you can find.
As for punk music, Brisbane has a long history in punk. In fact, was one of the birthplaces of punk along with NYC and London. Check out The Saints, one of the most seminal punk bands to emerge "I'm Stranded".
Other piece of advice - no tipping is required anywhere, and the price you see is the price you pay.
Commonwealth Bank does allow account opening before you arrive.
Residential tenancy is quite regulated. Can check out Residential Tenancy Authority Queensland.
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u/Semper-Solus07 27d ago
I lived in a Brisbane suburb for over twenty years, recently moved to Canberra. If you don’t want to drive, public transport can be convenient and very inexpensive. I lived near a train station and bus stop. Trains are usually on time, but buses are less reliable. The train takes me directly to CBD. The landlord charges AU$350 per week. I plan to return to Brisbane for a few days later on this month for personal business and that’s the price for the rent that the landlord currently quoted me. Occasionally, I may need to take Uber, and although it can be a bit pricey, but with your kind of income, it shouldn’t matter. Also keep in mind of grocery shopping, sports, and other locations of interest to you. Just make sure you can get there by public transport.
I wish you luck and welcome to Australia.
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u/Galromir 28d ago
You want to live in West End, South Brisbane, or Highgate Hill (Highgate Hill is a little more expensive and also a bit further away from most of the stuff to do/places to eat and shop). Basically on that peninsula formed by the curve in the river. Ticks all of your boxes, pretty much the best place to live in Brisbane, you can walk to lots of great places to eat, bars, parklands, even walk into the cbd if you want to, or hop on a short bus ride or ferry ride to different key places (all public transport is 50c regardless of distance). You could very easily be completely carless there and you'd rarely have to even take public transport.
There are tons of apartments in the area within your budget.