The cost of living for a single international student is approximately AU$20,000 per year. This includes rent, food, transport and other essential living expenses. It does not include tuition fees, text books, the cost of running a car, or social activities.
The true cost of living depends on the sort of lifestyle you lead. Use the following guide to help you formulate a realistic budget.
The Department of Home Affairs advises that applicants for student visas require AU$20,290 per year for living expenses. For more information please visit the department's website.
Initial setup expenses
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|
| Temporary accommodation (2 weeks) | AU$500 |
|---|
| Food and transport (1 month) | AU$300 |
|---|
| Rent in advance | AU$300 |
|---|
| Bond (refundable after leaving) | AU$500 |
|---|
| Furniture, bedding and kitchenware | AU$1000 |
|---|
| Connection charges (for utilities) | AU$200 |
|---|
| Total | AU$2800 |
|---|
Ongoing expenses
Below is a list of weekly living expenses:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|
| Accommodation | AU$150-300+ |
|---|
| Food | AU$50-90+ |
|---|
| Transport | AU$15-40+ |
|---|
| Extras | AU$50-80+ |
|---|
| Total | AU$265-510 per week |
|---|
The average weekly expenses are AU$385 per person, which equates to AU$20,000 per year.
Cost of basic items
Below is a list of basic items and how much they cost:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|
| Litre of milk | AU$2-3 |
|---|
| Loaf of bread | AU$2-6 |
|---|
| Cup of coffee | AU$3-4.50 |
|---|
| Glass of wine at a bar | AU$5-15 |
|---|
| Lunch on campus | AU$6-12 |
|---|
| Fast food (McDonalds) | AU$8-15 |
|---|
| Dinner at a restaurant | AU$15-20 |
|---|
| Bus or train ticket (single trip) | AU$2-5 |
|---|
| Movie ticket | AU$10-19 |
|---|
| Haircut | AU$15-80 |
|---|
To help manage your money, view our tips for saving money and information about banking in Australia.
Read more about the cost of living, budgeting and shopping in Australia in our Pre-Departure Guide (pdf, 1.8mb).
Costs for students with families
If you are bringing your family, you will need to budget for additional living costs. You will need a minimum of AU$18,000 per year for your spouse and AU$10,000 per year for each child.
If your children are of school age, you must also budget for school fees and uniforms.
