Australia's share accommodation website, Flatmates.com.au, reports that more and more home sharers are searching for Gold Coast beachside suburbs than the inner-city spots in Brisbane. Surfer's Paradise was found to be the most searched for suburb while the neighboring Southport trails right behind. The other locations are indicated below with the average room rates per week per location, according to Domain.
1 Surfers Paradise $217
2 Southport $194
3 St Lucia $229
4 Burleigh Heads $212
5 New Farm $220
6 Broadbeach $203
7 Brisbane CBD $272
8 West End $224
9 Paddington $203
10 Maroochydore $174
According to Flatmates.com.au, home sharing became very popular in 2015. Both Gold Coast and Brisbane users were noted to be increasing more than the national average. In 2015, the Gold Coast user base rose by 90 percent and Brisbane users rose by 78 percent while the national average is only 49 percent.
Chief executive officer Thomas Clement notes that the demand for beachside locations was driven by tourists who want to stay in Queensland longer. According to Domain, Clement said, "Travellers and those new to an area will generally start their searches with somewhere they know."
Clement has also said that the Gold Coast has limited suburbs with high density living that appeals to many home sharers. The home sharers, students attending nearby universities and long-term travelers altogether drive the Gold Coast to the top of the list. He also mentioned that the lower cost of rent and the extra flexibility make home sharing widely preferred by travelers.
On the other hand, according to Domain, Brisbane also has beachside spots to offer. In fact, it was said that it might be a better choice for beach-loving home sharers as rooms in Redcliffe and Sandgate on the average cost $174. Nevertheless, the Gold Coast's cheapest weekly rent can be found in Mermaid Beach for $182.
