Moving to Preston (2026)
Moving suburbs is one of the biggest decisions you will make. This guide puts every essential for Preston in one place — the GP you will register with, the supermarket you will default to, the cafe that becomes your regular, and the park where you will walk the dog.
Population: 33,790 (ABS Census 2021)
Preston at a Glance
| Need | Preston |
|---|---|
| Estimated rent (1BR) | $420–$550/week |
| Restaurants | 68 |
| Cafes | 58 |
| Schools | 22 |
| Parks | 50 |
| Medical | 6 |
| Supermarkets | 11 |
| Pharmacies | 0 |
Your First Week in Preston
Day 1-2: Set Up Healthcare
Register with a GP immediately — do not wait until you are sick.
Preston has 6 medical facilities:
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Care Medical Centre | — | — |
| Dundas Street Family Medical Practice | 4 Dundas Street | +61 3 9484 2007 |
| Panch Health Centre | 300 Bell Street | — |
| Murray Road Medical Centre | — | — |
| High Street Medical and Dentist Centre Preston | 520-538 High Street, Preston | +61 3 9092 2222 |
| Gower St Family Dental | — | — |
Day 2-3: Find Your Supermarket
- Woolworths
- IGA
- ARC Asian Grocers — 1 Cook Street
- Thornbury Cellars IGA — 141 Miller Street
- Quoc Te United Asian Food Stores — 445 High Street, Preston
- Dong Thinh International Food Store — 441 High Street, Preston
- Big 8 Asian Foods — 439 High Street, Preston
- 888 Supermarket — 415 High Street, Preston
- Coles
- ALDI — 15 Dundas Street, Preston
- Bell Cellar & Grocery
Day 3-4: Explore the Food Scene
Preston has 68 restaurants and 58 cafes. Start with these:
Morning coffee:
- The Old Milkbar — 144 Dundas Street
- Raqwa Cafe and Beer Garden — 224 Plenty Road
- Belchif Snack Bar
- Raglan Cafe — 41 Raglan Street
Day 4-5: Set Up Transport
- Get a Myki card — available at any train station, 7-Eleven, or PTV hub
- Myki Money vs Myki Pass — Money for occasional use, Pass for daily commuters
- Daily cap: $10.60 (Zone 1+2) — you will never pay more than this per day
- Register your Myki at ptv.vic.gov.au — protects your balance if lost
Check PTV Journey Planner for your specific commute from Preston.
Day 5-7: Walk the Neighbourhood
Preston has 50 parks. Find the one closest to your place and make it your default walk:
- Ray Bramham Gardens
- G.H. Mott Reserve
- T.W. Blake Park
- A.G. Davis Park
- L.W. Williams Reserve
- T.A. Cochrane Reserve
If You Have Kids
Preston has 22 schools. Check your zone at findmyschool.vic.gov.au.
| School | Address |
|---|---|
| James An College | — |
| Australia Asia Education | — |
| St John’s College | — |
| Preston West Primary School | 383 Murray Road |
| St John’s College | 1 Blanch Street |
Cost of Living in Preston
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $420–$550/week |
| Groceries (weekly, single) | $80–$120 |
| Myki transport (monthly) | ~$165 |
| Utilities (monthly) | $150–$250 |
| Internet (monthly) | $60–$90 |
| Flat white (daily) | $4.50–$5.50 |
See our detailed Cost of Living Guide for the full breakdown.
Should You Move to Preston?
Read our Honest Guide for the unfiltered pros and cons based on real data.
Related Guides
- Best Restaurants in Preston
- Best Cafes in Preston
- Best Bars in Preston
- Cost of Living in Preston
- Preston Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Preston
- Is Preston Safe?
- Preston Transport Guide
Last updated: March 2026. This guide is refreshed when OpenStreetMap data changes — new openings, closures and corrections are reflected automatically. Found something wrong? Let us know.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap Contributors — openstreetmap.org — accessed March 2026
- ABS Census 2021 — abs.gov.au/census
- REIV Quarterly Median Prices — reiv.com.au
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