Cost of Living in Australia for International Students in 2024

Cost of Living in Australia: The average living expenses in Australia for international students range from AUD 20,000 to AUD 39,000. Adding to the expense head, the quality of life, the various entertainment options, and a higher student income by means of a relaxed international student work permit have added to the popularity of Australia as a study abroad destination.

So, what is life really like in Australia? Why is Australia a good option for study? What’s the cost of living and studying in Australia? What are the rules for working while studying to support living? We attempt to answer the same here and more so read on for more information about the cost of living in Australia for Indian students.

What is the Cost of Living in Australia?

The cost of living in Australia is a calculation of a set of expenses which finally conclude with the cost of living. The cost of living is calculated weekly, monthly or even annually in Australia. The estimated cost of living in Australia for an Indian student is AUD 5,000 - AUD 6,000 a month if living alone. In case the Indian applicants are living with their family can gradually increase. There are different finances for studying abroad types which are together calculated and have been elaborated in this article for reference. 

Read: Understanding the Cost of Living Index for Students

Cost of Living in Australia Per Month City Wise

When beginning to shortlist Australian universities, applicants must check out the Australian cities and their living expenses. While some Australian cities will be expensive, others may be inexpensive. Check out the table below to understand the city-wise living expense head in Australia for Indian students: 

Australian Cities	Cost of Living in Australia Per Month (AUD)	Cost of Living in Australia Per Month (INR)
Canberra	AUD 4,310	₹2,44,593
Sydney	AUD 3,982	₹2,25,979
Melbourne	AUD 3,778	₹2,14,402
Perth	AUD 3,774	₹2,14,175
Brisbane	AUD 3,726	₹2,11,451
Hobart	AUD 3,614	₹2,05,095
Adelaide	AUD 3,502	₹1,98,739
Darwin	AUD 3,486	₹1,97,831

As given above, Canberra the capital city of Australia is the most expensive, and Darwin is the most inexpensive city in Australia. So applicants who do not wish to spend much on living expenses can shortlist universities accordingly. Since Australia has some of the maximum footfall in its Melbourne and Sydney universities, here is an analysis of the two major cities of Australia for students. 

Cost of Living in Sydney & Melbourne

The cost of living in Sydney is expensive in comparison to the cost of living in Melbourne. As per the recent July 2022 data for the average costs of living, it can be noted that those who are living or earning in Sydney tend to pay more than those living in Melbourne. The cost comparisons for living in Sydney and Melbourne are tabulated below for reference:

Expenses	Cost of Living in Sydney	Cost of Living in Melbourne
Housing and Utilities	AUD 3,224	AUD 2,300
Public Transport	AUD 193	AUD 156
Private Transport*	AUD 32,000	AUD 30,000
Food and Drink	AUD 20 - AUD 40	AUD 15 - AUD 25
Clothes and Shoes	AUD 150 - AUD 200	AUD 200
Entertainment	AUD 41	AUD 40
Personal Care and Hygiene	AUD 63	AUD 69
Insurance	AUD 250	AUD 200
Total Cost	AUD 7,428 (Public Transport) or, AUD 39,235 (Private Transport)	AUD 2,990 (Public Transport) or, AUD 32,834 (Private Transport)

*Private Transport: These expenses are counted since the purchase of the vehicle plus the cost of fuel and the cost of maintenance. Thus, the costs may also vary depending on the vehicle choice.

The average monthly cost of living in Sydney for an individual is approximately AUD 4,100 on average while the cost of living in Melbourne is AUD 2,000 on average. Yet, Melbourne is less expensive in comparison to Sydney.

Check:

• List of Top 10 Universities in Melbourne
• Top Universities in Sydney

How Living Expenses in Australia for International Students is Calculated?

Now that you know where to begin, here is how to deep-dive into the cost of living in Australia. When discussing the cost of living in Australia for international students, different expenses make up the cost of living in Australia. These expenses form an important part of the cost of living in Australia and they are as follows:

• Tuition costs 
• Accommodation costs
• Travel costs
• Health insurance costs
• Utility costs
• Entertainment costs
• Personal expenses
• Food and groceries

As an Indian student, Let us discuss in detail each element of the living expenses in Australia. These elements together make up the cost of living in Australia and each of them have a different significance altogether. 

1. Cost of Studying in Australia

The island country Australia attracts more and more international students from all around the globe. Some of the top universities and colleges in the world are located in Australia and thus, Australia is becoming the new favourite among students. The Australian education system is another factor that adds to its attractiveness. But how much does education in Australia cost? Here is the tuition fee breakup cost to study in Australia for Indian students after 12th:

Australian Institutions	Cost of Studying
Australian Universities	UG Courses: ₹4 L to ₹2 Cr PG Courses: ₹3 L to ₹2 Cr Doctorate: ₹83 L
TAFE Institutions	₹2.21 Lakhs - ₹12.18 Lakhs
ELICOS Offering Institutions	₹16,650 (per week)

Overall, the tuition costs for studying in Australia can vary university or institution-wise the applicants are applying for. Also based on the course level, the cost of studying can vary. 

Read the Cost of Studying in Australia to know more. The tuition fee differs from university to university as well as the type of programme and course you opt for.

2. Accommodation Costs in Australia

Accommodation can be of different types in Australia and the costs may vary per type. Here is a table for the types of accommodations available in Australia for international students:

Types of Accommodations in Australia	Monthly Living Expenses in Australia
On-campus dormitory	AUD 800 - AUD 1,400
Shared apartment	AUD 600 - AUD 1,200
Homestay	AUD 1,000 - AUD 1,400
Studio apartment	AUD 1,200 - AUD 2,000

Since a lot of students hail to Melbourne for higher education, they can check out Student Accommodation in Melbourne.

3. Cost of Travelling in Australia

The cost of travelling is also an integral part of computing the cost of living in Australia. Here is how much it can cost students to travel in Australia:

• Single bus/train ticket (city): AUD 10
• Monthly public transport pass: AUD 100 - AUD 200
• Domestic flight (one-way): AUD 200 - AUD 300
• Car rental (per day): AUD 50 - AUD 100

On average, students would at least need AUD 300 - AUD 400 to travel in Australia or to other adjoining cities in Australia. 

4. Health Insurance and Medical Expenses in Australia Cost

While international students stay and study in Australia, they require health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay. In Australia health insurance is called OHSC or Overseas Student Health Cover. Here are some of the OHSC providers in the table below:

OHSC Providers in Australia	Cost of OHSC (Annual)
CBHS	AUD 1,160.70
AHM OHSC	AUD 1,214
NIB	AUD 1,305.16
Medi Bank	AUD 1,319
Allianz Care	AUD 1,324
Bupa	AUD 1,405

You can log on to the official website of Australia, and find OHSC option, based on your study duration a list of providers will be prompted. Choose any one, buy and submit the details in your student visa forms. 

5. Utility Costs in Australia 

The cost of utility in Australia is another major aspect of the cost of living in Australia. The utilities are your phone bills, electricity bills and even your internet bills. Here is how much you'd ideally spend on utilities in Australia:

Utilities in Australia for Indian Students	Cost of Utilities in Australia (Monthly)
Electricity	AUD 80 - AUD 150
Gas	AUD 50 - AUD 100
Water	AUD 50 - AUD 80
Internet	AUD 60 - AUD 100
Mobile Phone	AUD 30 - AUD 60

6. Entertainment Expenses in Australia

Now that we have covered the expense and the income options as a student, we might as well talk about the many things you can do while being in Australia.

An island continent, Australia has beautiful beaches. You would often find people spending leisurely hours at the beaches not that far from your university. And if your tastes run on the wilder side, you have a host of water sports activities to keep you busy. From surfing to deep sea diving, the options are aplenty.

Another thing that Australia has in abundance is a variety of wildlife. If you are an adventurer, Australia offers you beautiful wild terrains that will simply take your breath away.

But all need not be wild, urban life has its zing as well. There are clubs, lounges, bars and speciality restaurants. And not to forget the famous Opera House in Sydney. If you are a connoisseur or simply wish to have an experience unlike any other, a visit to the Opera House in Sydney is sure to make your stay in Australia worthwhile. Overall, you'd spend around AUD 100 - AUD 120 on entertainment. 

7. Personal Expenses in Australia

Personal Expenses is very subjective and vary from person to person. Thus, based on the spending capacity of the applicant and spending based on need of the applicants, the personal expenses are calculated. For instance, an applicant should ideally spend AUD 70 - AUD 80 weekly. This is just an estimate, thus, add up your expenses based on your needs and requirements. 

8. Food and Groceries Cost in Australia

Here is how much you will ideally spend on food and groceries while you are living and studying in Australia:

Food and Grocery Items in Australia	Cost of Food/Groceries in Australia
Milk (1 liter)	AUD 1.5 - AUD 2.5
Bread (loaf)	AUD 2.5 - AUD 4
Rice (1kg)	AUD 2 - AUD 4
Eggs (dozen)	AUD 4 - AUD 6
Chicken (1kg)	AUD 9 - AUD 12
Apples (1kg)	AUD 4 - AUD 6
Bananas (1kg)	AUD 3 - AUD 5
Tomatoes (1kg)	AUD 4 - AUD 7
Cheese (500g)	AUD 5 - AUD 8
Coffee (200g)	AUD 5 - AUD 8
Restaurant meal (inexpensive)	AUD 15 - AUD 2.5
Fast food combo meal	AUD 10 - AUD 15

On average the applicants will have to spend AUD 65 - AUD 103 on food and grocery items in Australia. 

Cost of Living in Australia: Final Calculation

Australia ranks amongst the top 10 in the Human Development Index as well as the Quality of Life Index. In simple words, a developed nation, Australia is amongst the top countries of the world in terms of its education system, GDP and purchasing power parity indexes. With a high level of income, people living and working there also enjoy a high level of health awareness, an excellent medical system as well as a politically stable economy.

But as a student, these are hardly the indices you would wish to worry about. What matters is how much it would cost to stay in Australia. So, here’s the above jargon simplified to numbers per month for Australian living costs:

Cost of Living in Australia	Monthly Expenses (In AUD)
Accommodation	AUD 800 - AUD 2,000
Travel	AUD 300 - AUD 400
OHSC Cover	AUD 118
Utility Cost	AUD 270 - 490
Entertainment	AUD 100 - AUD 120
Personal/Miscellaneous Expenses	AUD 80 - AUD 90
Groceries & Food	AUD 65 - AUD 103
Total = AUD 1,733 - 3,202 (INR 96,576 - INR 1,78,441)

So on an annual basis, students will spend around AUD 20,796 - AUD 38,424 as part of their cost of living while studying in Australia. 

These figures, however, talk about the basics and would vary from university to university as well as the style of living you wish to maintain. If you would rather wish to stay in independent accommodation or your university does not have a hostel facility (though rare), then you would end up spending anywhere between AUD 1,000 – AUD 1,750 for a single room unit. Also, the level of expense may vary considerably for entertainment. If you are an exploring kind and would rather spend your weekend exploring the magnificent outback, the monthly expenses can roughly denote your weekly expenses as well.

So in all, it depends on how you wish to live. There’s a lot to spend in Australia…but you need not despair. You can always earn that extra amount to make your stay worthwhile.

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Money Saving Tips While Living in Australia

There are various ways of money-saving tips while living in Australia, these include part-time jobs in Australia or applying for lower-rate education loans. Check out in detail about them in the following section. 

Working While Studying in Australia

Australian Immigration Laws are comparatively easy when it comes to working while studying. A slight request would often make you eligible to work in Australia as an international student. Though the rules might vary, generally students are allowed to work for up to 48 hours a fortnight. This is one way to cater to living expenses in Australia by working on part-time jobs in Australia. 

The other aspect if the availability of jobs and there is no dearth of the same either. Companies, local businesses, and retail shops often hire students (both domestic and international). As an international student, you are protected by the same labour laws as the domestic student populace which also means the minimum wages. As a student, you can expect around $17 per hour.

The kinds of jobs are also varied. There are both on-campus jobs as well as local jobs available and often universities have an office which would help you find the right one for you. The kinds of industry students are employed in vary from retail to hospitality to administrative/ teaching jobs. It is important to note excellent post-study work options in Australia for International students is available. To support the living expenses, AUD 30,000 - AUD 40,000 should be the minimum salary to live in Australia from India.

Education Loans in Australia

To apply for international education, one must start planning as soon as possible and the most important step towards this dream is preparing your financials. However, not everyone is lucky to have a strong financial background. But one should not lose hope to achieve their dreams. Financial institutions and banks like HDFC Credila, SBI, etc offer student education loans at minimum interest. One can easily apply for an education loan and get approval within days. However, for loan approval, all your loan documents should be precise and unerring. Read our article Step-by-Step Guide for Bank Loans to learn more about the procedure for an Education Loan for Studying in Australia.

Related Read: Tips to Repay Education Loan Early

We conclude thus that Australia promises an experience unlike any other. For your intellectual appetite, it has enough to keep you on your toes. But there are much more things that add to your experience as a student…and Australia promises you both the options and the opportunities to go exploring!