Sydney's beachside suburbs where you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for less than $500 per week

So you’re gunning to live the Sydney dream and find some digs near the beach. But a quick skim of the rental listings gives you a sinking feeling. It’s not cheap.

The median rent for a Sydney apartment is $545, according to Domain Group data, but beachside suburbs tend to be much more expensive. Fortunately, there are still some suburbs where you can find a sub-$500 a week one-bedder near the water.

Why winter is the best time to look for a beach apartment

Demand for beachside rentals slows down in winter, making it the ideal time for bargain-hunters, according to Joe Iemma from Doyle Spillane at Dee Why.

“January and February were out of control, we leased around 101 properties,” he said. “If I was looking, I’d look in June and July.”

Kevin Cipi from Century 21 Bayview said the rental market wasn’t as strong in winter as it was in summer, providing an opportunity for keen, forward-thinking renters.

“I think people just get themselves ready for the summertime,” he said of those flat-hunting in winter. “Then they don’t have to worry about moving at that time of year.”

Viviana Suarez from Raine and Horne Maroubra said tenants had the upper hand during the winter months.

“It’s obviously a lot harder to lease in winter,” she said. “During winter, we do actually tend to drop the prices. 

“Often if the market is pretty bad, we’ll offer a week free rent.”

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So where are the most affordable areas within reach of the surf, and what are the trade-offs?

The South

Brighton Le Sands. Photo: Chris Lane

Brighton-Le-Sands to Sans Souci

The strip south of Sydney airport offers a swathe of more affordable units. 

Brighton-Le-Sands has a median rent of $430 a week for a one-bedroom unit, according to Domain Group data. In Ramsgate it was $495, and in Sans Souci it was $420.

And according to Mr Cipi, an increasing number of flat hunters were shifting down from the eastern suburbs and the Inner West, drawn by the affordability, while others were heading up from the Shire. “You still have the beach, but it’s closer to the city,” he said.

Closest beaches: All these suburbs are next to Botany Bay and its beaches.

Trade-offs: You may cop some traffic noise, and just traffic, generally, as the closest train station is Rockdale. Parking can be difficult but, on the upside, there’s a range of dining options.

Sub-$500 apartments for rent:
4/18-20 Gordon Street, Brighton-Le-Sands – Two bedrooms, $460pw
10-12 Queens Road, Brighton-Le-Sands – One bedroom, balcony and car space, $400pw
27/53 Banks Street, Monterey – Two bedrooms, lock-up garage, $440pw
9/48 Solander Street, Monterey – Two bedroom with parking, $450pw
168 Chuter Avenue, Sans Souci – Two bedrooms, with balcony, $440pw
2/116 Ramsgate Road, Ramsgate – Two bedrooms, with balcony, $450pw

Cronulla

Domain’s 2016 Liveability Index found Cronulla was the third-most liveable suburb in the city’s south. It also has a rarity for a beachside suburb in Sydney: a train station. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $400. 

Closest beaches: Cronulla Beach, North Cronulla Beach. You can also get the ferry to Bundeena.

Trade offs: It is at the very end of the train line, so you’re looking at an hour-long commute to the city.

Sub-$500 apartments for rent:
6/61 Elouera Road, Cronulla – One bedroom with balcony and pool, $450pw
16 Waratah Street, Cronulla – One bedroom with balcony, $410pw
1/83 Mitchell Road, Cronulla – One bedroom opposite North Cronulla Beach, $400pw
3/95 Elouera Road, Cronulla – One bedroom, $370pw
1/8 Gerrale Street, Cronulla – One bedroom, two car spaces, balcony, $470pw

The East

Bathers at Maroubra Beach. Photo: James Alcock

You can’t expect a bargain at Bondi or Bronte, but head further south and you’ll find better beachside value.

Inland from Maroubra and just south of Eastgardens, Hillsdale had a median rental price for a one-bedroom apartment of $480. Maroubra’s, by comparison, was $520. A whopping 86.4 per cent of housing stock in Hillsdale is apartments, and 53.2 per cent of the population rents.

Ms Suarez said newer two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments in Maroubra were popular with professional couples and tended to lease quickly.

Closest beaches: Maroubra, Malabar, La Perouse

Trade-offs: Again you’re reliant on the buses, although proximity to Eastgardens is a bonus. Hillsdale is not especially close to the beach itself – it’s about three kilometres away – and traffic congestion can be an issue.

Sub-$500 apartments for rent:
22/9 Grace Campbell Crescent, Hillsdale – Two bedrooms, one car space, $450pw
5/14 Brittain Crescent, Hillsdale – Two bedrooms, $460pw
11/38 Rhodes Street, Hillsdale – Two bedrooms, $430pw
5/37 Jauncey Place, Hillsdale – One bedroom, with off-street parking, $440pw
36/20 Maroubra Road, Maroubra – Studio, $340pw
U/847 Anzac Parade, Maroubra – One bedroom, $380pw

The Lower North Shore

Balmoral Beach. Photo: Robert Pearce

Mosman

This highly-desired lower north shore suburb also has older apartment stock, and is adjacent to Balmoral Beach, as well as close to other small beaches such as Sirius, Whiting and Clifton Gardens.

Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Mosman was $500 in the first quarter of 2018. For neighbouring Neutral Bay, the median rent for a one-bedder was $487.50 and Cremorne’s was $530. For comparison, Manly’s was $610 per week.

Closest beaches: Balmoral

Trade-offs: Again, no trains, and you have to contend with the traffic on Military Road. There are buses and ferries, however.

Sub-$500 apartments for rent:
9/47 Shadforth Street, Mosman – One bedroom, $470pw
6/60B Raglan Street, Mosman – Two bedrooms, $480pw
7/8 Avenue Road, Mosman – Two bedrooms, balcony and car space, $460pw
5/22 Mosman Street, Mosman – One bedroom, balcony, $410pw

The Northern Beaches

Ocean Thunder boat racing at Dee Why beach. Photo: James Brickwood

Dee Why, Collaroy and Narrabeen

Dee Why-not? Not only was it ranked third most-liveable on the Northern Beaches, it’s decidedly more affordable than neighbouring Curl Curl.

Its one-bedder apartment median was $480. Collaroy’s was $440 and Narrabeen’s was also $440.

Mr Iemma, who has worked in the Dee Why area for 30 years, said the demographics of the area had changed considerably in the past decade.

He said older-style, two-bedroom units appealed to professional couples who could commute to and from the city via bus.

“Thirty years ago, it was that ‘Dee Why has too many units’ but now people are saying ‘We want to live in Dee Why’,” he said, adding that people now preferred it over nearby Collaroy. “It’s better bang for your buck.”

Closest beaches: Dee Why, Collaroy, Narrabeen

Trade-offs: Traffic. You’re probably going to spend some quality time with Warringah Road and Pittwater Road.

Sub-$500 apartments for rent:
3/115 Pacific Parade, Dee Why – One bedroom, lock-up garage, $480pw
9/41 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why – One bedroom, $450pw
10B/3 Grafton Crescent, Dee Why – Studio with balcony, $360pw
35/1259 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen  – One bedroom, $430pw
2/1179 Pittwater Road, Collaroy – One bedroom with car port, $450pw
4/11 Frazer Street, Collaroy – One bedroom with car space, offers over $430pw
7/18 Clarke Street, Narrabeen – One bedroom with balcony and lock-up garage, $465pw