collageThere are many things that determine the cost of living, but let’s focus on the student lifestyle. All students among other education-oriented individuals want to know how much is living cost in melbourne for international students and living cost in australia for students, what are the places to consider, what can they afford or not, etc.
The Australian Government specifies AU$20,290 as the minimum amount required to cover living costs for a 12-month period. This figure excludes tuition fees or the cost of travel to and from Australia. It is the minimum required to pay accommodation, commute to school or university, buy food, have fun, and pay for all the little extras that you need day-to-day.
So, how realistic is it for an international student to live on $20,290 per year while studying? If that is the minimum, how far will that go for the average international student?
Living Cost In Sydney For International Students
Australia has a relatively high cost of living; however, wages are much higher than most countries. For example, the average net salary in Shanghai is approximately AU$1,900 per month, while in Melbourne it’s almost $5,000 a month. This is countered by the cost of consumer goods in Australia being almost double, groceries being 30 per cent more expensive, restaurants being 90 per cent more expensive and rent being almost 10 per cent more than China’s largest city.
So, how does $20,290 a year break down?
Whether you choose to stay in a share house or on-campus student lodgings, accommodation will almost always be the largest and least negotiable expense for an international student (more on that below).
Power, gas, phone and internet are unavoidable expenses ) and your options for saving on these are limited (unless you choose to do without a mobile phone or the internet entirely. Additionally, public transport is unavoidable, unless you choose to buy a car, which will be an added expense.
This means that savings will have to be found elsewhere, perhaps by taking from your food or entertainment budget. With that in mind, the average budget might look something like this each week:
Rent $140
Groceries and eating out $130
Power and gas $25
Phone and internet $15
Public transport $40
Entertainment $40
Total for 52 weeks: $20,290
The cost of accommodation
At the higher end of accommodation costs, you’ll spend almost $16,000 for a full year’s rent, which will take most of the $20,290. This presumes you’ll sign a year-long lease and stay throughout the holidays; however, it might be possible to rent at the higher price during the semesters and find somewhere cheaper over the summer holidays. Either way, it’s safe to say that your biggest living expense will be your rent.
In Melbourne, rent for a share house can range anywhere from $150 to $300 per week. Generally, cheaper rent means being further away from the city, living with more people, and older or more run-down accommodation. In a suburb like Melbourne’s Bundoora where La Trobe University is located, the cost of a room in a shared house is roughly $150 a week. Prices will also vary depending on the city in which you choose to study, with Sydney being the most expensive city in Australia, followed by Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane then Adelaide.
In Australia, almost every residential tenancy agreement includes the payment of a ‘rental bond’. A rental bond is common for long-term leases and is usually required as a security deposit. This bond is needed to protect the owner against damage done to the property or cover any debt you owe to the landlord. Although not every accommodation needs a bond, it’s important to keep this in mind before signing a lease.
Sydney is Australia’s largest city, home to about 5.3 million people. This diverse and multicultural city is famous for its iconic landmarks the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, but has a lot more to offer. Sydney remains Australia’s most expensive city to live in, so planning ahead, setting financial habits and choosing realistic living options will set you up for success. We have compiled everything you need to know about budgeting for your big move, including average costs of accommodation, transport, health, admin, entertainment and phone charges in Sydney, Australia.
Sydney is home to five universities with global reputation, with two ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. Attracting over 35,000 international students to live and study, although this might be a more costly option, studying in Sydney could guarantee you a degree that is trusted.
Accommodation
Campus accommodation
The average cost of living on campus at a university in the Sydney area ranges between $665 – $1000 per week. Campus accommodation is by far the most expensive option, but comes with a lot of benefits and convenience. Living on campus means you not only wake up daily on the university’s doorstep but you save money on other expenses such as food and transport.
This convenient option means having your meals cooked for you everyday, utilities included and you will most likely be travelling less than you would be if you lived off campus. However, you will still need to budget for eating out, health costs, your phone bill and entertainment.
Weekly cost: $665 – $1000
Annual cost: $34,580 – $52,000
Student accommodation
Get a similar experience to living on campus but at a more budget price. Commercial accommodation for students is scattered across Sydney’s CBD. Student accommodation such as Scape, Iglu, UniLodge, Urbanest, StudentStayAustralia, and Link2 Student Living are great options if you want to stay somewhere in the city centre and near other like-minded students.
The cost will vary depending on the company and your room choice, however it’s important to remember this only includes your rent and utilities. Food, entertainment, eating out, phone and health costs will all need to be factored in.
Weekly cost: $195 – $500
Annual cost: $10,140 – $26,000
Sharehouse accommodation
Moving into a sharehouse (on average) will work out to be the cheapest option when you move to Australia.
Forecasting a budget for a sharehouse can be tricky, for example;
- Where is it located?
- How many tenants are you moving in with?
- How old is the house?
Your individual preference on the factors above will impact the price. On average you can expect to pay between $250 – $750 a week in Sydney, keeping in mind this does not include your utilities. Flatmates and Flatmate Finders are popular sites to find shared accommodation in Sydney and will help you fall on the cheaper end ($250) of the rental price.
To note: When signing a lease for a share house in Australia you are expected to pay an upfront security bond payment to the RTBA (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). The standard is 4 x your weekly rent payment, but could be more depending on the individual home. Once you have decided to move out of your sharehouse, you will receive your bond back (minus any damages or cleaning fees).
Weekly cost: $250 – $750
Annual cost: $13,000 – $39,000
Temporary accommodation
If you aren’t sold on any of the above options you can always book in something short-term when you first get to Australia and settle on a long-term option later. Having the option to fly over and check out the university and surrounding suburbs will give you the freedom to have a good look around and get a feel for the place so you can be sure of what will suit you best.
Because this is a short-term option, we suggest looking into short stay accommodation. YHA Australia has plenty of options or you can check out lower rate hotels on Wotif and Last Minute, which both offer advance and last-minute discounts.
Weekly cost: $242 – $560
Monthly cost: $1,024 – $2,240
Cost of being 100% sure of your accommodation choice before you commit: PRICELESS
Utilities
You can’t forget to factor in utilities. Utilities may or may not be included in your housing option. Electricity, water, gas and internet are generally split between tenants, but if you are planning on renting by yourself, this will be more costly. An average home in Sydney costs:
- Electricity: $500 per quarter
- Water: $300 per quarter
- Gas: $169 per quarter
- Internet: $120 per quarter
Depending if this is split between five people or just yourself the below budget is set.
Weekly cost: $15 – $80
Annual cost: $780 – $4,356
Accommodation annual range $9,100 – $56,360
Transport
Sydney locals regularly catch public transport, with trains, light rail, ferries and buses having easy access to the Sydney CBD and top tourist spots. As a student you may be eligible for travel concessions, visit Transport for NSW to learn more. On average a student Opal user (Sydney transport payment card) will spend about $1,250 a year travelling 6 days a week compared with $2,000 for an adult.
However, if you aren’t eligible for concession fees you can apply for a MyMulti 3 pass. This pass saves a third of an adult yearly cost coming in at $1,540 annually. Visit the Transport NSW website for more details.
Weekly cost: $24 – $38.46
Annual cost: $1,248 – $2000
Transport annual range $1,248 – $2000
Food & drinks
Food. This is where budgeting gets tricky. With the rise of UberEats and MenuLog in Australia, it is getting harder and harder to save our pennies and cook or prepare meals at home. However, buying groceries and meal prepping is the most cost-efficient method.
Groceries
Depending on your taste preferences and whether you are eating salmon or sticking with canned beans for dinner the average cook up at home will cost you:
- $2 a day for breakfast
- $5 a day for lunch
- $11 a day for dinner
Eating out
Eating out will cost you a significant amount more, with the average prices of meals in Sydney:
- $18 for breakfast
- $18 for lunch
- $30 per meal at dinner.
Drinking out
Coffee, Coffee, COFFEE. If you are a coffee drinker and you have an acquired taste for barista-made coffee, you will know we are looking at a budget killer here. An average cup of coffee in Australia is $4.20 per cup. Depending on your weekly threshold you could be looking to spend between $655 – $1528.80 a year just on that delicious liquid.
To save some money, you can make your own coffee at home – it’s FREE.
Other than coffee, the average Aussie loves a social glass of wine, beer or kombucha with their lunch. On average in Australia, a glass of wine, beer or cider ranges between $10-$12 each, with spirits being on the more expensive end costing around $12-$25.
If you were to eat all your meals at home for 6 out of the 7 days ($108) and indulge on Saturday ($60) you are looking at around $165 per week on food. Adding 3 coffees a week ($12.60) and 3 social drinks ($36), your weekly total would be around $220. This total will range significantly depending on individual habits and preferences.
Weekly cost: $200 – $365
Annual cost: $10,400 – $18,980
Food + drinks annual range $10,400 – $18,980
Admin & stationery
Assuming you are bringing a computer/iPad from home you will just need to worry about your admin/stationery. Officeworks and Kmart will be your best friends for budget-friendly stationery.
- Note books: $3 – $15
- Yearly diaries: $6 – $50
- Stationery accessories: $1 – $10
Weekly cost: $1 – $4
Annual cost: $60 – $200
Admin & stationery annual range $60 – $200
Health
Overseas student health cover is mandatory for your student visa when coming to Australia. Not only is it great for peace of mind, it covers doctors’ appointments, hospital costs, emergency, ambulance and prescription medicine.
Use the Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) tool to check the price and book your overseas health cover today.
Entertainment
Entertainment is another expense you will want to factor in while you are in Australia. Ranging from going to the gym, watching a movie, taking a trip to the beach or enjoying a comedy show. Below are a few different options you could add to your budget.
- Movies (student night): $7 – $9
- Fitness: $15 – $30
- Shows (comedy, plays etc): $50
Weekly Cost: $72 – $89
Annual Cost: $3,744 – $4,628
Entertainment annual range $3,744 – $4,628
Phone
A prepaid phone plan is the way to go when you are coming to Australia with a working phone. These will range in price but are the best value for money. Some options are:
- Optus My Plan Plus 12M SIM
- $35 per month
- 10GB of data
- Unlimited standard national calls and texts
- Telstra 4G Pre-Paid Max
- $30 per recharge
- 20 GB of data
- Unlimited standard national calls and texts
Weekly Cost: $7.5 – $15
Annual Cost: $360 – $780
Phone annual range $360 – $780
TOTAL Weekly Budget: $514.50 – $1,592
TOTAL Annual Budget: $24,912 – $82,888
living cost in melbourne for international students
Renowned for its culture and arts, Melbourne is one of Australia’s leading university cities. If you’re trying to determine the living cost in Melbourne for a student, we can help you create a realistic budget.
Adding up living expenses like rent, food and travel will help you figure out how much money you’ll need to live your best life as a student in the Victorian capital. Learn more about the cost of living in Melbourne for international students below.
OVERVIEW OF EXPENSES
This table offers a general overview of the cost of living in Melbourne. All figures are approximate and may vary depending on your location within the city.
| Weekly rent for an apartment | $430 |
| Monthly public transport ticket | $155 |
| Overseas Student Health Cover Minimum cost is around | $400 |
| Groceries average per household in (VIC) | $257 |
| Meal in a mid-range restaurant | $20 |
| Meal in a high-end restaurant | $50 |
Accommodation
Melbourne has the second-highest average rental prices in Australia after Sydney. According to the Victorian Government’s Department of Health and Human Services, the median weekly cost of rent in the Metro Melbourne region is $430.
However, it’s still possible to find affordable student accommodation in the city, especially if you opt for a studio or shared apartment. Choosing a place where the cost of utilities is included in the rent can help reduce your overall accommodation costs.
STUDY COSTS
Tuition fees at Australian universities are typically calculated per unit, so the cost of studying varies between courses. Study in Australia calculates that international students usually pay between $20,000 and $45,000 for a bachelor’s degree. On top of tuition fees, you’ll need to factor in study materials like textbooks and laptops.
TRANSPORT
Melbourne is a well-connected city, with a public transport network made up of buses, trains, and trams. To get around, all you’ll need is a myki card, the city’s reusable public transport ticket (full-time students are eligible for concession prices). Expatistan estimates that using public transport in Melbourne costs around $155 a month.
FOOD AND GROCERIES
Melbourne has a great dining scene with plenty of budget options. You can get a filling meal for as little as $20, although the city’s high-end restaurants are more expensive, with meals starting at around $50.
Cooking your own meals at home can help keep costs low. Budget Direct found that the average household in Victoria spends $257 on food each week, but as a student you probably won’t need to spend quite that much. In addition to major supermarket chains like Coles, Aldi, and Woolworths, try doing your grocery shopping at local produce markets to save money.
INSURANCE
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is one of the main costs you’ll need to consider as an international student. This type of insurance is designed to make sure you have an appropriate level of health cover in case you fall ill or get injured while studying in Australia. It can cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars and well over $1,000 dollars depending on the level of cover you take out and your personal circumstances.
LIFESTYLE
You’ll want to keep a little money aside for making the most of Melbourne’s exciting lifestyle. From visiting museums and art galleries to shopping for delicious local fare at the Queen Victoria Markets, there are endless things to see and do.
As little as $80 a week will let you experience some of the best attractions Melbourne has to offer, but there are also lots of free attractions to enjoy if you’re on a tight budget. You could see the sights of Federation Square, walk along the Yarra River, or soak up the natural scenery in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
living cost in australia for students
International students living in Australia need between 1,400 and 2,500 AUD/month to cover all their living expenses, including accommodation, food, and social activities. Keep in mind that when you apply for the student visa in Australia, you will need to prove you have the financial resources to live and study in the country.
Check the average budget you’ll need for some 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 provide a small number of student dormitories for on-campus-accommodation. That’s why many international students choose to rent a private property or live with a local family (homestay).
Average prices for common accommodation options:
- Homestay: 450 – 1,200 AUD/month
- Student halls of residence: 440 – 1,100 AUD/month
- Rent an apartment: 750 – 1,700 AUD/month
- Share a rented apartment/house: 380 – 850 AUD/month
You can find quality affordable student halls in Australia at BestStudentHalls.com
Other costs associated with accommodation
Apart from rent, your accommodation requires extra expenses, like:
- Utilities: around 200 AUD/month
- Internet: 70 – 120 AUD/month
Food costs in Australia
Groceries are available in local supermarkets and usually require around 500 – 1,000 AUD per month. You can save some money by shopping at the cheapest supermarkets, like Aldi, 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. You can also choose from various Asian, Greek and Italian restaurants if you enjoy their specific cuisine.
Transportation costs in Australia
Some universities have a private transport supplier that helps students who stay on campus or those who need to reach some remote areas.
Depending on the area you are living in, you can benefit from other discounts from state programmes such as QLD (Queensland), SA (South Australia), or VIC (Melbourne). Otherwise, a public transport pass for students costs between 30 and 70 AUD/month, depending on the city.
You can also get around using a bicycle. You can rent one for around 40 AUD per day.
Extra costs
- Books and other study materials: between 500 – 1,000 AUD/year
- Health insurance: rates start at 30 AUD/month
You can also use the Numbeo website to check out other prices and costs in Australia.
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