jimmy1986

A lot of the suggestions you've got on here are out east, which means you'll be commuting in via Metro, which is the suburban train network, a bit like the London underground except above ground. It breaks a lot, and is slow.

If you want to commute in luxury, VLine is the way to go, it's our regional rail network. Services aren't as frequent (usually once an hour after peak), but it's far more comfortable and has a lot less agro on it (junkies, graffitti, ferals etc). Have a look at the VLine network map and look at some of the smaller regional towns, there should be plenty of options within an hours commute like Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne, Woodend etc. That's what I did 4+ years ago, had a look at the map, "Bacchus Marsh looks alright", found someone on here who lived there, never looked back.

As the others have said, you need to give us a bit more info like what work you'll be doing and what type of visa you have for us to give a good suggestion.

It's pretty easy to live out in the sticks and still work in Melbourne, just have a look at the VLine map (not metro). I'm living out in the countryside on acreage, but it's an easy 10km to get onto the Ballarat line and get to the city for work (am IT programmer, pretty much have to go to the CBD for that).

May I throw in another suggestion? Look at Ballan. Quiet country town with the essentials, good schools, shops. Cheap(er) property that actually have back yards, NBN. Hardly any crime, no gangs of kids hanging around. Don't think I've ever seen graffitti there.

1 hour commute on VLine to Southern Cross (I do it every day). If you go for Frankston you'll be taking metro, out here it's Vline so regional train, much like you'd be used to commuting in from Essex (except you can pretty much guarantee a seat at Ballan).

Shout if you want to know anything else about that area

Stayed at CityEdge serviced apartments for about a week on Elizabeth/A Beckett street just so we could get stuff sorted in the city like bank/medicare etc.

Then moved out to Coburg for about 3 weeks, stayed at an Airbnb in someones garage. It was a bit grim, the guy was a massive hoarder and there was junk everywhere, we managed to secure a rental a week earlier so we were glad to escape.

Then it was Bacchus Marsh renting for about 9 months, we were half looking for a place to buy, went out for a drive one Saturday, saw there were some open houses in Greendale, was blown away and said fck it, we'll take this one. Been here several years now, best decision ever.

Don't just look at metro, also look at vline services. Even though you'd be further out, the vline is often quicker than metro because of fewer stops. Being further out also gets you more for your money. It'd be quite easy to find a 3 bed house with double garage for $300 pw if you don't mind a 45min-1 hour vline train