How Much It Costs to Live and Study in Australia

We’re crunching the numbers for international students.

If you’ve always dreamed of living and studying in Australia but aren’t sure if your budget will cover all the costs, we’ve broken down the living and education costs so that you can make the right choices for you and your bank account.

Before you pack your bags, it is important to note that the Department of Home Affairs has financial requirements you must meet in order to receive a student visa for Australia, as international students must prove that they can be self-sufficient.

As of 2019 the 12-month living costs are:

• Students or guardians: $21,041.
• Partners: $7,362.
• Children or dependents: $3,152.

You can find out exactly how much money you may need to set aside on the Home Affairs website and estimate your costs using the cost of living calculator.

Travel costs

Flights

Flying to Australia will likely be one of the more expensive costs that you will need to account for when moving to Australia. There are however a lot of different options available and at a wide range of upfront costs.

Flights will depend on where you’re coming from but can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand. To find out exactly how much flights will cost you, check with your local travel agent, search for flights online and don't forget the the deals section on our website for discounts.

Some common low-cost airlines that fly to Australia include Jet Star and Air Asia, whereas airlines like Qantas and Virgin are a bit pricier.

Cars

Once you get to Australia, you will still need to consider transport, but of the more local kind. If you choose to buy a car, there are several costs involved in purchasing, driving and maintaining your vehicle.

Initial purchasing costs, fuel, servicing, insurance, registration, road tolls and roadside assistance costs all add up and can really make your wallet hurt. The price of a car will obviously depend on the make, model, age and kilometers of the cars that you’re looking at so check with your local dealers or on Carsales.

Registering your car with your state government is a cost you just can’t avoid. This will of course vary depending on your states pricing, car make and model. You can choose to pay less upfront, but more long-term, by choosing a 3- or 6-month registration, but on average registration will set you back anywhere between $600 and $1200 per year. Check with your state government’s department of transport to enquire about exact costs.

Comprehensive car insurance is kind of a must just in case you have an accident. The average weekly cost for a two-car household in a major city is $24.87 but this will vary depending on your car, your age and your suburb. You can compare car insurance providers on Compare the Market, iselect, Canstar and Choosi.

Servicing your car is recommended either at every 12 months or every 10,000 – 15,000 kilometers, so this cost will be less frequent, but depending on whether it is a major or minor service, and the kind of car you own, the cost can skyrocket. The average weekly cost for a two-car household in a major city is $29.41.

The cost of fuel is constantly going up and down but as of 2019 the average weekly cost of fuel in a major city was $76.23 which will also depend on your car, type of fuel and how often you need to fill up. You can check for the cheapest fuel near you on Compare the Market.

Road tolls will only affect you in some cities in Australia, so you may not need to stress about this one. The most common cities where you will have to fork out road tolls are Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane which will set you back on average between $50 – $85 per week.

Something else to consider (but not all that big of a cost) is roadside assistance. While not necessary, this service can definitely come in handy if you flatten a tyre or break down in the middle of nowhere and can’t afford a tow truck. The national average for roadside assistance in 2019 was $2.08 a week. Check with some local insurance providers to see what they offer at what price.

You can also find deals for servicing and roadside assistance right here at Student Edge.

Public transport

Public transport is a much more cost-effective way to get around if you plan on moving to Australia. While public transport is a cheaper option, it may take you slightly longer to arrive at your destination and will almost always include a little walking.

Depending on your city or town, the public transport system will include trains and busses. You may also have access ferries and trams.

The cost of public transport will vary from state to state but in general, a short trip should only cost you between $1 – $5 or on average $30 – $60 per week.

In some states, students are offered discounts on public transport fees. Western Australia, for example, offers students a 40 per cent discount when you register your smart rider with your university.

You can find out how each public transport system works in each state on the Studies In Australia website.

Check online to see what public transport membership service is offered in your state and what discounts students are eligible for.

Taxis and rideshare services

If you can’t stand the idea of catching the bus and don’t want to commit to the long-term costs of owning a car, you can always rely on taxi and ridesharing services.

While this isn’t the best economic option long term, if you don’t travel very often or very far, it may wind up working for you.

Taxi costs work on a tariff rate. They will depend on each state and city but on average the taxi start tariff is between $3 – $6 which will go up at a rate between $1.50 – $3 per 1 kilometer.

The slightly more cost effective option is using rideshare services like Uber, Ola, DiDi and Shebah.

These services work like taxis but because they use private vehicles rather than registered taxi cabs, they can often cost a little less.

The fare for a ridesharing service will depend on your location, the time of day and the demand at the time of order but in general the base rate is determined by the time and distance of a trip.

Its hard to put an exact cost on these services but as an example, most 10 – 30-minute trips would cost anywhere between $17 and $50.

To save a few extra dollars, you can find discounts and deals on some ridesharing services on the Student Edge website.

Accommodation costs

The next big and long-term cost will be your accommodation, which is why it’s so important to figure out what type of accommodation will work best for your lifestyle and budget.

On campus accommodation

Living on campus can be one of the best ways to save money while you study but will vary depending on the university you attend and the amenities your accommodation provides.

Most on campus accommodation will set you back between $110 – $280 per week but you can search on campus accommodation on the Uni Lodge website and check with your education provider to see what your options are.

Share housing

Sharing a rental with friends or roommates is another great way to save money on your accommodation. You can search for rooms or shared rental properties on the Flatmates website.

Depending on whether you can score a room with bills and internet included in your rent, you may pay anywhere between $95 – $215 per week.

Renting alone or with a partner

If you’re not keen on a share house and can afford to spend a little bit more on your accommodation, you can look for a private rental for yourself, or yourself and your family. If you’re not sure where to start, you can filter searches based on your budget and preferred suburb on websites like realestate, Domain and reiwa.

A rental property in Australia will likely cost you somewhere between $185 – $440 per week depending on the suburb and type of property you’re looking at.

Buying a house

If you’re planning to stay in Australia as a permanent resident, you may want to live somewhere a little more permanent. If you can afford to, buying a private residential property is always another option you can consider.

Average property costs in Australia greatly vary between states because of the higher demand in places like Sydney and Melbourne. But in general, the average price of houses in Australia (as of 2019) are:

• Hobart, TAS: $450,000.
• Adelaide, SA: $465,000.
• Perth, WA: $500,000.
• Brisbane QLD: $530,000.
• Canberra ACT: $670,000.
• Melbourne, VIC: $737,000.
• Sydney, NSW: $955,000.

Bills and everyday living expenses

Another unavoidable cost that you can’t forget about will obviously be your everyday living expenses like electricity, gas, internet, phone, groceries and entertainment.

These, like everything else, will depend on a lot of different variables like the amount you use and the base rate of your provider but there are average costs and ways to save a few dollars. Here is what you might expect to pay:

• Gas and electricity: $10 – $20 per week.
• Water bills: $18 – $28 per week
• Groceries and eating out: $140 – $280 per week.
• Phone and internet: $15 – $30 per week.
• Entertainment: $80 – $150 per week.

You can save money on your amenities by searching for cheaper plans online and looking for more environmentally friendly fixtures, that will save you money and the environment, like a water-saving shower head for example.

You can also shop for your groceries at slightly more affordable grocery stores like Spudshed and Aldi or even get discounts on takaway and restaurant food from Student Edge.

Education Costs

Now is the cost you’re likely most worried about: the tuition, amenities and any extra costs from your education provider.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees will vary depending on what type of education course you undertake and the qualification you choose to study. In general, these are the yearly costs for the different types of qualifications you can achieve:

• Primary and High School: $7,800 – $30,000.
• English language studies: About $300 per week depending on course length.
• Vocational Education and Training: $4,000 – $22,000.
• Undergraduate Bachelor Degree: $22,000 – $50,000.
• Postgraduate Masters Degree: $22,000 – $50,000
• Doctoral Degree: $18,000 – $42,000.

Have a look on your university's website to find out the exact cost of your course and what financial help you may be eligible for.

Amenities fees

At most Australian universities, students will be required to pay an extra Student Services and Amenities Fee which covers amenities and services of a non-academic nature including recreational activities, sporting, childcare, career advice and so on.

As of 2020, the SSA fee will cost up to $308 per student each year. Each university will indicate the maximum charge each year.

Students may be eligible for a SA-HELP loan to cover the cost of this fee until they are able to pay it following the end of their studies. You can learn more about the SA-HELP loan here.

Parking fees

If you choose to drive to classes, you will have to fit the cost of parking into your budget.

University parking fees are very different at each university, as some campuses use a permit method, charging students and staff per semester or year, and others use a by-the-hour ticketing service.

In general, you should expect to pay a few dollars per hour of parking or several hundred dollars per semester or year. Contact your university or check out their website to find out the exact fees.

Textbooks, devices and stationery

When it comes to studying, you will need to set a side a little extra cash to buy yourself textbooks, devices like laptops or tablets and even stationery.

Textbooks can often be several hundred dollars, but you can avoid paying that much by borrowing from your university library or buying second hand textbooks from university book stores or on websites like Student VIP.

If you don’t already have a laptop, tablet or specialised device necessary for your studies, instead of purchasing them brand new for several hundred, or potentially thousands of dollars, you can always find refurbished devices from trusted retailers or second hand products on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay or Gumtree, which will not just save your wallet, but also help save the environment.

You can also find discounts and deals on the Student Edge website.

Stationary can also get expensive. If you don’t already have some, be sure to shop around instead of just buying everything from the big suppliers.

Extra tips to save money

If all these numbers are stressing you out, there are some ways to save a few dollars here and there. Take a look at our tips.

• Cook your own meals at home. Spending money on groceries and batch cooking will always be cheaper than eating out or ordering Uber Eats, so follow some tutorials online and upgrade your chef skills.
• Seek out free internet. Your university will likely offer internet on campus to all students so if you want to avoid that cost at home, head to campus or try some local cafes, as a lot of places will offer free internet to patrons.
• Car share. If you live with roommates, sharing a single car and splitting the total cost of driving and maintaining it will definitely save you money long term.
• Use a coffee machine or instant coffee at home. You don’t need a barista-made latte every morning. Your wallet will thank you for it.
• Choose to eat meat-free one or several days a week. Meat can often get expensive. If you can, learn to include some vegetarian dishes into your repertoire.
• Shop for clothes or furniture from op shops or on secondhand marketplaces like Gumtree. Most items are usually still of decent quality and will likely last you a long time.

You can also find heaps more tips about saving money and budgeting right here at Student Edge.

Header Image: LPETTET via Getty Images