- Costs of living in Australia for international students
Average living costs in Australian cities
Generally, students living in Australia would need between 1,500 and 2,500 AUD/month to cover all their living expenses, including accommodation, food and social activities.
Check the average budget you would need for each of the most popular student cities in Australia:
- Sydney: starting at 1,900 AUD/month
- Adelaide: starting at 1,300 AUD/month
- Brisbane: starting at 1,400 AUD/month
- Melbourne: starting at 1,500 AUD/month
- Canberra: starting at 1,400 AUD/month
Accommodation costs in Australia
Most universities only provide a small number of student dormitories for on-campus-accommodation in Australia. The majority of international students find housing in a homestay with a local family, a rental property or a guest house.
Most common accommodation options for students in Australia:
- Home stay: costs around 440 – 1,080 AUD/month
- Guest houses: prices are between 320 and 540 AUD/month
- Student halls of residence: rates start from cost 320 and lead up to 1,000 AUD/month
- Rent an apartment: average prices of 1,700 AUD/month
Prices also vary depending on the city; for instance, renting an apartment in Canberra can cost you between 1,400 and 1,700 AUD/month, while Sydney is the most expensive city, especially accommodation wise. Prices for rent for a single bedroom flat can reach up to 2,200 AUD/month.
Other costs associated with accommodation
Apart from rent, your accommodation requires some extra expenses, such as:
- utilities: up to 200 AUD/month
- internet pass: costs around 70 AUD/month
Food costs in Australia
Groceries are available in local supermarkets and usually require around 100 – 200 AUD/week. Save some money and do your shopping at the cheapest supermarkets, like Coles and Woolworths.
The average cost of a meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs 18 AUD while a three-course meal for two is 80 AUD.
Due to the fact that Australia counts a large number of Asian, Greek and Italian population, you can choose from plenty of Asian, Greek and Italian restaurants and taste the specific cuisine.
Transportation costs in Australia
Some universities have a private transport supplier that helps students who stay on campus or have to reach some difficult areas. The Australian government offers free transport to international students who enroll in the ACTION program.
- Depending on the area you are living in, you can benefit from other discounts from state programs such as QLD (Queensland), SA (South Australia) or VIC (Melbourne).
- Otherwise, a public transport pass for students would cost between 30 and 70 AUD/month, depending on the city.
- You can also get around the city using a bicycle and Melbourne is one of the most bike-friendly cities; you can rent a bicycle with around 40 AUD per day.
Extra costs
- Books, supplies, and other learning materials: from 500 to 1,000 AUD/year.
- Health insurance: rates start at 30 AUD/month
A-Z process at a glance
- Decide on the course and where you want to study. Here’s a list of Australian universities for you to get started. If you can’t make up your mind and need help, get in touch with us for free counseling.
- Submit your application and necessary documents to the institution.
- Receive and accept a Letter of Offer from the institution.
- Receive your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).
- Plan your travel to Australia.
- Applying for your student visa.
- Get student visa approval.
- Fly to Australia!