Cost of living for students in Australia
Living costs are the second half of the bill, and for a three-year degree they often rival the tuition. The Department of Home Affairs sets the benchmark you must be able to evidence for a Student visa — raised to A$29,710 for twelve months on 10 May 2024, and indexed periodically since. That works out at roughly A$2,475 a month, which is a fair guide to what a single student actually spends.
| Expense | Indicative monthly (A$) |
|---|---|
| Rent (sharehouse room through to student accommodation) | 800 – 2,200 |
| Groceries & eating out | 500 – 800 |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (spread over the year) | 45 – 75 |
| Public transport | 60 – 160 |
| Phone & internet | 40 – 90 |
| Study materials | 40 – 100 |
| Leisure, sport & personal | 200 – 400 |
| Total | ≈ A$1,685 – A$3,825 |
Indicative ranges for a single student, and rent is quoted per month here even though Australian listings advertise a weekly figure. Your own total depends overwhelmingly on the city and on whether you share.
What actually drives the difference
Rent is almost the whole story. Sydney is consistently the most expensive student city in the country, with Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth behind it, while Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra’s outer suburbs and the regional university towns cost dramatically less for the same qualification. Choosing where to study is the single largest lever you have over your total cost — larger than any scholarship most students will win.
The second lever is sharing. A room in a sharehouse is usually less than half the cost of a studio in purpose-built student accommodation, and it is what most domestic students do after first year.
Transport concessions — check before you assume
Concession fares are decided state by state, and international students are not treated the same everywhere. Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory generally extend concession fares to international students; New South Wales generally does not; Victoria offers a limited scheme. Over three years the difference runs into thousands of dollars, so factor it into a city comparison.
Working while you study
A Student visa allows up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session and unrestricted hours during scheduled breaks. Australia has a high minimum wage and casual loading on top of it, so part-time work genuinely covers a meaningful share of living costs.
Two cautions. First, the visa is assessed as if you will not work at all, so work can never form part of your financial evidence. Second, know your rights: minimum-wage and workplace protections apply to you regardless of visa status, and underpayment of international students is a well-documented problem.
Tips that actually move the number
- Apply for university accommodation early — see our accommodation guide. It costs more per week than a sharehouse but includes bills, and it is the safest first-year option from overseas.
- Move to a sharehouse after first semester, once you know the city and can inspect places in person.
- Consider a regional campus. Lower rent, and the Destination Australia scholarship is only available there.
- Compare OSHC providers rather than defaulting to the one bundled with your offer.
- Use the student union. Your SSAF already pays for its food relief, legal advice, clubs and sport — most students never claim any of it.
- Apply for funding — many Australian scholarships pay a living allowance rather than just a fee reduction.
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