Recommendations to Live in Sydney Suburbs?

Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 02:59
Last edited 29/12/2021 - 09:19 by 1 other user

Hi.

I just arrived in Sydney and is currently living at a friend's air bnb in Little Bay (up to 45 min drive peak or 20 min drive off peak) to the CBD.

Was browsing through The Golden Ibises 2020: The Third Annual Completing Sydney Awards which gave good insights into all the different localities.

I will be looking for a place to rent for late 20s couple working in CBD (near King/Sussex Street). Plan is only work here for a year or few years.

  • 20-25 mins max commute to CBD ideally 10-15 mins ideal
  • Not a big fan of smoothie Instagram lifestyle (seems like East Sydney / Kings Cross Bondi thing?)
  • Safety is big deciding factor so (Outer West Sydney all ruled out)
  • Need catch train preferably to work
  • Cheap and good portioned dining and takeaway options
  • Chinese friendly suburbs (have visited areas that really dislike Chinese but don't need live in Chinese dominated areas)
  • Air con, parking and relatively newer living apartments with lifts under $650 (1 /2 bedroom) Chatswood seem have many 2 bedroom options

So far I am leaning towards Chatswood and areas between North Sydney along the train line to the CBD.

I'm originally from Brisbane so I'm used to living inner city such as Toowong / New Farm.

My parents recommended Burwood? Seems a bit far. Surry Hills / Redfern housing seems older along with most of East Sydney.

Any guidance or discussion tips will help a lot! Rental market is looking a lot cheaper with Covid so want to secure a nicer spot on my first try.

Thanks!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 03:16

    I have also read comments supporting and not supporting living in CBD itself.

    Walking to work will be amazing (under 5 mins) but there are very limited options for 1-2 bedders on the market which have car park, air condition (and even some no laundry).

    Also not sure about the traffic after work if I want to head out for dinner 7pm to those Asian suburbs for some good portioned cheaper feeds.

    The apartments I inspected on KING Street are also noisy as hell and a bit older that's a big no.

    Also grocery shopping might be a hassle with parking?

    I like simplicity, cleanliness and views offered by Meriton apartments as I stayed past holidays but can't see any rental options in my budget range unfortunately

  • FoxJump on 29/12/2021 - 03:27

    Wherever there isn't a red rooster I think is the guiding principle.

    • CheapandUsed on 29/12/2021 - 09:14
      +1

      Exactly! Who would want to live somewhere that doesn't have a Red Rooster :)

  • trustnoone on 29/12/2021 - 03:29

    This is a personal opinion for me, others may definitely find it different.
    I really liked Chatswood, and do really like the northern side of sydney also. I never felt worried or in danger living in chatswood, they also have that area with asian food near woolies. I wish I could but there to be honest.
    Also lived in burwood, was nice too, though i liked chatswood more. Many of my friends would come to burwood though as they liked the asian and chinese food there. I'm not chinese myself so can't comment too much, but I do enjoy it. I felt less safe then chatswood but not by much (I like to walk around at like 3 in the morning on a weekend and never had issues at either, though I do that in haymarket also). Some people also like Strahfield and Ashfield/Newtown up that way. I think Burwood is closer? I swear it was like 10/15 mins to redfern then like 15/20 to central?
    I lived in CBD also, its okay, I personally love it, but not great for family I feel, sound can be a major issue, and it does feel a bit more dangerous but I love the life I see in the CBD with everything going on. Shops are typically close by and open often, but parking is an issue unless you get a place with your own parking spot.

    Honestly if you're taking a circle around the CBD of the radius of chatswood around, you're probably going to find they largely fit what you're looking for? $650 a week is quite a fair bit for a 1 bedroom. I paid $400 a week for a studio in CBD and chatswood, so likely you'll have options that fit?

    • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 16:00

      Thanks for comment I'll take these into account

  • morse on 29/12/2021 - 03:50

    The commute from Chatswood will likely take longer than 20mins once you factor in waiting for train and walking to the station on either end. It’s a decent place to live though. There’s also lower north shore suburbs like St Leonard (a bit dull), artarmon, Kirribilli.

    Inner west is good, Annandale and Glebe have bus or light rail options into the city. They are generally ‘safe’ but when I lived in the area a fair bit of crime like car being broken into.

    Pyrmont might be more affordable than other parts near the CBD and has units with parking/aircon.

  • MS Paint on 29/12/2021 - 07:19

    Point Piper

  • SmiTTy on 29/12/2021 - 08:37
    +1

    Chatswood is a logical choice as you've stated. Another option is wolli creek.

  • upended on 29/12/2021 - 09:28

    Epping is another suburb you could consider. Great public transport connections to the city and pretty much any other part of Sydney. It takes 24 minutes on an express train to Central.

    • st1ng on 29/12/2021 - 22:00

      My votes would be Wolli Creek and Epping (I've lived in both this year). Express train from Epping is one stop to Central (at Strathfield). Wolli Creek is slightly closer to the city, and serviced by both the T8 (via airport) and T4 (via Sydenham) if one line is tits up. Both have plenty of Asian restaurants, and 2 bedroom apartments in your price range.

      If a 15 minute commute to the city is important, Wolli Creek would be a better option (it's slightly less than 15 minutes to Central).

  • tallkid123 on 29/12/2021 - 09:55

    Any of the suburbs with stations between North Sydney and Chatswood will be fine. They're all safe areas and the commute is quite pleasant.

    You probably don't need to go as far as Chatswood considering your commute time.
    North Sydney is a commercial district so it's often deserted during non-working hours.
    Waverton and Wollstonecraft are very residential.
    St Leonards has the Royal North Shore Hospital but the suburb itself is pretty meh (boring).
    Artarmon is not bad either as there are plenty of little shops around the train line.

    You probably wouldn't go wrong with living at any of these locations OP.

    As for Burwood, the suburb stinks and the trains get packed because its the only way for people in the West to get to/from the city.

    • Baysew on 29/12/2021 - 12:40

      The parents may have been thinking about Burwood in Victoria.

    • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 16:01

      Yep sounds like burwood won't be considered anymore lol thanks

  • Euphemistic on 29/12/2021 - 09:59
    +1

    If you have no budget, you get to choose wherever you like. If you have a budget, you are screwed and end up in outer west.

  • djones145 on 29/12/2021 - 10:47

    where ever u can afford thats close to the city
    traffic is terrible everywhere
    public transport aint any better

    do you need to be close to the city? will you be working from home much?

    • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 16:02

      No working from home so will need be close to city

  • Yummy on 29/12/2021 - 12:16
    +1

    Cheap and good portioned dining and takeaway options & Chinese friendly suburbs

    Campsie is your bingo.

  • justgooddeals on 29/12/2021 - 12:21

    Close as you can afford to the city or beaches. Historically living near the city or beaches has returned greater capital gains

    Worst house best street …an oldie and Goldie advice that’s why it’s repeated so much

    • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 16:02

      I'm not buying here just renting lol

      • justgooddeals on 29/12/2021 - 16:20

        Whoops sorry scan read while doing other work. 🤭🤫

        Edit -Waterloo also great suburb with lots new apartments.

  • scotty on 29/12/2021 - 12:33
    +1

    Anywhere between Mascot & Green Square stations? Lots of apartment blocks in Zetland, and around 15 minutes of train ride between Green Square and Circular Quays.

  • Luminary on 29/12/2021 - 12:34
    +1

    I lived in a relatively unknown suburb called Turrella. It's one suburb down from Wolli Creek which is an asian suburb. It's mostly young asians there as opposed to families as there is a hub of apartments.There's an asian grocery store, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese food, bubble tea as well as a Woolies there. We stayed in Turrella as it is quite a bit cheaper than Wolli (we had a 2 bedder for $460 and a 3 bedder for $600 including parking and onsite gym/pool/bbq if that's important) but still only being one train stop, 5 min drive or 15-20 minute walk to Wolli Creek. We lived about 1 minute from the station so never really any safety concerns coming home from the station but we were mostly working from home. If you can afford it, I'd recommend staying in Wolli Creek since the train station has two lines including express trains.

  • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 16:04

    Wolli Creek might be a bit far

    How about mascot? What's that area like? I see alot of newish apartments there close to the train station

    • st1ng on 29/12/2021 - 22:02
      +1

      Wolli Creek is 13 minutes (T4) or 14 minutes (T8) to Central, so still meets your criteria.

      • Fat Horny Ghost on 29/12/2021 - 23:08

        That's not too bad

        What's the area like? I noticed there's alot of new apartments at affordable prices in that area

  • yellowfever on 29/12/2021 - 20:58

    Barangaroo NSW

  • silenthillrocks on 30/12/2021 - 14:23

    Kirribilli, NSW. If it's good.enough for the PM, it's good enough for you

    • Fat Horny Ghost on 30/12/2021 - 21:29
      +1

      If I had a limo at my fingertips at anytime I wouldn't mind… there's no train station within easy walking distance there for the poor and lazy

  • StonedWizard on 01/01/2022 - 01:26

    Burwood is good.

    If you like Chatswood, then look at Lane Cove/Lane Cove north. Only 5 minutes from Chatswood, but you’ll save on the rent. Plus have a newer apartment. Lane cove is only 20 - 30 minutes into the city. Backs onto a national park and is very central/accessible to most parts of Sydney.

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