Cost of living

LIVING AND ACCOMMODATION IN AUSTRALIA

Plan for your everyday expenses and accommodation

How much does it cost and how can you budget to make the most of your time studying in Australia? It depends on the city you’ve chosen to study in (Sydney or Melbourne), where you live (in the city or suburbs), the type of place you want to live in (share house, private accommodation) and your lifestyle.

As a guide, a single student living away from home will need to budget $2,500 – $4,000 each month in addition to your course fees to cover general living expenses such as accommodation, food and clothing, transport and entertainment (according to Study Australia as at May 2024).

The Study Australia site is designed to help you think about how you spend money and to give you a broad estimate of potential costs in Australia. To get a better idea of the average living costs in your chosen city of study, check out the cost of living calculator.

We have listed some categories below to help you plan ahead.

Accommodation – choose from a variety of accommodation options including homestays with local families, managed student accommodation, share houses with friends or a private residence. Rent can vary from $300 to $900 per week depending on location and type of accommodation.
Food and groceries – a weekly grocery bill for one student can vary from $80–$250. You can save money by shopping for groceries at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi.
Public transport – You can access public transport with an opal (Sydney) or myki card (Melbourne) which can be ordered online or purchased from a registered retailer. Public transport costs are capped at $50 per week in Sydney, and $53 in Melbourne.
Entertainment & lifestyle – these expenses will vary depending on your preferences so allow for at least $100 per week. Lots of places offer student discounts so keep your student card with you and don’t forget to budget for other incidentals including mobile plan / sim card, eating out, clothes, health and beauty, and social activities.
Insurance – Overseas Student Health Cover (link for each brand) is compulsory for international students, and costs will depend on your insurance provider and your level of cover. You may have additional costs including fees for specialists and prescription medications.

The Department of Home Affairs requires international students to demonstrate that they have access to at least AUD $29,710 to cover living costs in Australia during the first year – this number increases if you are bringing a partner or dependants. See the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Income

How are you going to cover these expenses?

You may have some savings or receive money from family.

There may also be off-campus and on-campus opportunities to work part-time to help with additional spending money while you are studying. Whilst part-time work is a great way to bring in a little extra money (and work on your English language skills) you shouldn’t rely on it to cover your living costs.

Get support

We have a number of scholarships available for international students that can help cover some tuition fees

Our International Student Support Officers can also provide advice to help you manage your finances when studying in Australia.