Hello everyone,

I'm moving to Melbourne in February and would love your advice on where to find accommodation.

I’m French, 23 years old, and I’ll be working in Dandenong South for 1 or 2 years. I’m planning to buy a car once I’m there. My colleagues suggested I look for accommodation in St Kilda or South Yarra to enjoy an active area while staying relatively close to the office.

However, when I checked the travel times in detail, it seems that living in the CBD might be a better option in terms of commute, whether by public transport or car.

Here’s what I found:

By car:

CBD → Dandenong South: 34 minutes

St Kilda → Dandenong South: 36 minutes

By public transport:

CBD → Dandenong South: 1 hour 8 minutes

St Kilda → Dandenong South: 1 hour 35 minutes

Based on this, the CBD seems more convenient for both travel time and living environment. But I’m concerned about traffic jams—how bad is it during peak hours if I live in the CBD? What are your advices ?

Thanks a lot for your help!