Melbourne by far, obviously the further out from the CBD the lower the rents. Head East along the coast, Cheltenham, Seaford areas are probably most affordable without getting to far out. Rail and road links are also good. The new Eastlink and Peninsula freeways both not far away.
Also work prospects better in Melbourne.

Answer to that question as someone thats been here for 3 decades is... To live near the beach in an environment I would be comfortable with, Lots of amenities and things to do Aka cosmopolitan vibe would cost me at least 800 bucks per week in Melbourne.

So I'd prefer the amenities and vibe only and pay circa 500 bucks (average decent 3 bed'er) per week 8ks from the CBD in Melbourne. There again thats because I travel to the City a hell of a lot by public transport, (at least once a week... most of my family daily,) which I prefer, as I cant stand the hassle of driving in a busy enviornment and I'm damned if I want to be more than 30 mins door to door away by public transport away.


Comes down to want you want from life and whats most important to you I guess.

and they say Melbourne is like the UK...etc...I look at that picture and it could be anywhere but the UK!

...and there are so many other beaches like Black Rock here - its not unique! The white sands of Aspendale/Edithvale are stunning, and Safety Beach could be mistaken for a tropical island, just by example.

BB

Your budget and availability of work is more your priority for city or area selection.

Stark comments about beaches to make you feel better distract from fact.

If your wanting to live right on a beach in above price bracket you will do so at risk of distance to be travelled to work. With risk of lower work options.

I don't actually want to live right on the beach or have beach views.. I want to live in subs.. I just mean that the beach is important to us but we don't mind driving distance at all...

Pretty unfair, The UK has some lovely beaches and some stunning coastlines. That photo doesn't look any better than Bournemouth on a sunny weekday.

It was touched up and over saturated with Snapseed too!

We do have some lovely beaches... But with the crap weather too.... Not much fun walking along the beach in scarlf and gloves...

Alice Springs is cheap

You can drive to any of the beaches then

guys you have forgotten to mention that after big rains, there is a lot of sewage that gets dumped in the Port Phillip Bay too. Anywhere from Black Rock appears to be great but this Summer Portsea has had it's sewage dumping issues too. Even if you live inland where rental maybe cheaper, most Melbourne beaches along Port Phillip Bay are about a 30 min drive away. For $300 a week you won't getting much in terms of a hse esp within 10 km of the city & the rents in Seaford for 3 bed houses are now above $300 per week. Good luck in whatever you choose. If you have kids, you may want to research schools first before deciding where to live because a lot of the good schools are zoned here in Melbourne.

It's a sensitive topic to some on here, but anyone that has lived near, or is used to real ocean facing beaches, generally doesn't like the giant pond that is Port Philip bay. If beaches are very high on your agenda then Melbourne is one of the worst cities in Australia in that area. Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle, Wollongong, even Geelong would all be better places to live if you want proper beaches.

Anyone who says otherwise is just deluded.

Clearly I'm deluded then. I chose Melbourne over Brisbane because I could live near a great beach, within commuting distance of the CBD. This is not possible in Brisbane, which has mud flats, not beaches.

BB

Brisbane does not have beaches

No, but where else would you work and have access to Queensland beaches?