Melbourne has coworking spaces in almost every inner city precinct, from corporate towers on Collins Street to creative spaces in Cremorne and Fitzroy. The right coworking space in Melbourne depends less on the building and more on the precinct: where your clients are, how your team gets to work and the kind of atmosphere you want around you.
Here’s how the main precincts compare, what coworking costs and how to choose.
What coworking costs in Melbourne
Coworking is usually priced as a monthly membership. A hot desk typically costs about $250 to $500 a month, and a dedicated desk about $450 to $700, excluding GST. Part-time memberships of a day or two a week cost less.
If you need a private, lockable office instead, serviced offices across the Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs currently sit between about $600 and $950 per desk per month, all inclusive and excluding GST. Many coworking spaces offer both under one roof.
Melbourne CBD
The CBD has the biggest choice of coworking spaces in Melbourne. The eastern end, around Collins Street, suits professional services and businesses that meet corporate clients. The western end, closer to Southern Cross Station, suits teams commuting from the west and regional Victoria.
Suits: professional services, client facing teams and anyone who wants the best public transport access in the city.
Southbank
Just across the Yarra from the CBD, Southbank sits beside the arts precinct and the river. It’s a short walk from Flinders Street Station, with a slightly calmer feel than the CBD.
Suits: teams who want a CBD fringe address with river views and easy access to the city.
Docklands
Docklands is a waterfront precinct of large, modern office buildings, home to several big corporates. It sits within the Free Tram Zone and is close to Southern Cross Station.
Suits: teams who want modern buildings and larger floor plates, often at better value than the CBD core.
South Melbourne
South Melbourne is a well established business precinct a few minutes from the CBD, known for its market, cafés and a strong mix of small and medium businesses.
Suits: growing teams who want a local, community feel close to the city.
Richmond and Cremorne
Cremorne has become one of Melbourne’s best known tech and creative precincts, and it’s home to the Victorian Government’s Cremorne Digital Hub. Richmond next door adds train access and plenty of places to eat.
Suits: tech businesses, startups, creative agencies and teams who want to be around like minded companies.
Fitzroy and Collingwood
Fitzroy and Collingwood have a strong creative and design scene, with a lively mix of cafés, galleries and independent businesses on the doorstep.
Suits: creative agencies, design studios and teams for whom culture and atmosphere are a big part of coming in.
South Yarra and St Kilda
South of the river, South Yarra and St Kilda offer something the CBD can’t: lifestyle on the doorstep. Cafés, the beach, parks and wellness studios are all close by, with good tram links back to the city.
Suits: creative and design businesses, established businesses that value wellness amenities, and anyone who’d rather work close to home.
How to choose the right coworking space
Start with your team’s commute. A space your team can reach easily gets used. Check train and tram access from where people actually live.
Think about your clients. If clients visit, a central address and good meeting rooms matter more than a lively breakout area.
Visit at the time you’d use it. A space can feel very different at 9am on a Tuesday than on a Friday afternoon.
Check the phone booths and meeting rooms. Phone booths in most coworking spaces work on a walk-in, fair use basis, and meeting room hours are often limited. If you take a lot of private calls, ask how busy they get.
Look ahead. If your team might need its own office within a year, a building that offers both coworking and serviced offices makes the move simple.
What we’re seeing: wellness and lifestyle matter more than ever
In the briefs we run, location is increasingly about lifestyle, not just the commute. Precincts like South Yarra and St Kilda attract creative and design businesses because the area itself is part of the appeal. They also suit established businesses that want their teams close to wellness amenities.
Melbourne’s eastern suburbs are full of wellness-focused workspaces, with gyms, saunas and similar amenities built into the membership. For teams that value wellbeing, that can make a workspace somewhere people actually want to be, which is often the difference between an office that’s used and one that sits empty.
If wellness is high on your team’s list, it’s worth asking exactly what’s included in the membership and what costs extra.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a coworking space cost in Melbourne? A hot desk typically costs about $250 to $500 a month and a dedicated desk about $450 to $700, excluding GST. Prices vary by precinct and building.
Can I use a coworking space part-time? Yes. Many Melbourne coworking spaces offer memberships for one or two days a week.
Which Melbourne precinct is best for a startup? Richmond and Cremorne are popular with tech and creative businesses, while the CBD suits startups that meet corporate clients. The right choice depends on your team and clients.
Can I move from coworking into a private office later? Often, yes, and sometimes in the same building. Many Melbourne operators offer coworking and serviced offices side by side.
Are there coworking spaces in Melbourne with gyms? Yes. Many workspaces, particularly in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, include gyms, saunas and other wellness amenities in the membership. Check what’s included before you sign.
Find your coworking space in Melbourne
Browse coworking and serviced offices across Melbourne, or tell us how your team works and we’ll send you a shortlist of spaces that fit, at no cost to you.