Australia has been one of the most popular destinations for international students in recent years. There is no surprise there though, because the beautiful island country has universities ranking among the World’s Top 100. Australia provides students with a safe environment, a high standard of living and numerous job opportunities after graduation.
The only con to living in Australia, is the cost of living when compared to other countries. This can be managed if you carefully plan your budget and spending and we are here to help you do just that!
The first thing you need to note is that the cost of living in Australia really comes down to what you study, where you live in Australia, and your style of living.
Please note that all prices stated below are in Australian Dollars. If you wish to convert it to your currency you can use www.xe.com.
Average Living Costs in Australia
On average, students living in Australia will need approximately AUD$1,400 and 2500 per month to cover all of their living expenses, including accommodation, food and transportation depending on the city they live in. In fact, when you apply for a student visa, you are required to prove you have the financial capability to pursue your studies and live in Australia.
Here’s a breakdown of the the minimum average cost of living in different cities of Australia:
- Sydney, NSW – AUD $1900/month
- Melbourne, VIC – AUD $1500/month
- Adelaide, South Australia – AUD $ 1300/month
- Canberra, NSW – AUD $1400/month
- Brisbane, Queensland – AUD $1400/month
- Perth, Western Australia – AUD$1500/month
- Hobart, Tasmania -AUD$1400/month
- Darwin, Northern Territory – AUD$1500/month
A cost of living calculator could also help you figure out a more personalized and accurate calculation of the budget you would need to live in Australia.
For more assistance on the average living costs in Australia, you can contact Excel Education.
Accommodation Costs in Australia
Accommodation is one of the first and most important things students have to decide on before leaving for their study venture in Australia. You have a diverse range of options when it comes to accommodation, ranging from on campus residence to off campus apartments and even living with a host local family. Most students prefer to live off campus through homestay programs or rental properties.
Average prices for the various options of accommodation are down below:
- On campus residence – AUD $750/month
- Homestay – AUD $940/month
- Shared Rental – AUD$ 500/month
- Rent an apartment – AUD$ 1400/month
Your accommodation costs also largely depend on the city and area you live in. For more assistance on accommodation in Australia, you can contact Excel Education.
Food Costs in Australia
It is important that you set aside weekly money for food, social activities and emergency situations. There are many cheap supermarkets in Australia where you can do your grocery shopping such as Woolworths, Coles and Costo. Grocery shopping at these supermarkets should cost you approximately AUD$ 500-1000 per month.
You can obviously also order from UberEats if you are not a fan of cooking or even go to a restaurant if you are feeling fancy. However, this will cost you more. The average cost of an affordable restaurant is around AUD$ 18 while a three course meal might cost you AUD $80. In Australia, you can choose from a variety of Cuisines when it comes to food, ranging from Asian to even Italian or Indian.
Please keep in mind that when living in a foreign country, it is important for you to watch your spending and keep it at a minimum.
Transportation Costs in Australia
There are several universities with private transportation facilities such as buses and even ferries for their students. Nevertheless, if you are someone who likes to go out a lot to enjoy the city, it will be smart to keep aside some money for transportation purposes.
Good news is that in most of the cities of Australia you can get a monthly transportation card that will give you access to unlimited rides around the city including buses, trains and even ferries. Students can get a public transport pass for between AUD$30 to AUD$70/month, depending on the city. The monthly price might look over the top at first glance, but it is way cheaper than spending on transportation everyday.
Scholarships in Australia for International Students
Applying for a scholarship or getting a part-time job will definitely prove to be highly beneficial for any international student fending for themselves in a foreign country, especially a country such as Australia. There are a number of scholarship opportunities open from the Australian government, higher education institutions or other public/private organizations that you international students could apply for.
Each scholarship will have its own criteria of requirements that you have to fit into for application. You can explore the many scholarship opportunities you might be able to try your luck with on the Study in Australia website.
Some of the common scholarships awarded to international students include:
- Australia Awards funded by the Australian government covering full tuition fees, part of the living expenses and travel fees as well.
- Destination Australia Program (DAP) is another scholarship program by the Australian Government for domestic and international students to study in regional Australia.
- Provider Scholarships are scholarships granted by Australian education providers for their students based on academic merit.
For further assistance on scholarship opportunities in Australia, please contact Excel Education.
Top Universities in Australia for International Students
Here, we have a general list of the top universities for international universities in the most popular cities to live in Australia.
Sydney, NSW
The University of Sydney
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Western Sydney University
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Melbourne, VIC
University of Melbourne
Monash University
RMIT University
Deakin University
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Adelaide, South Australia
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
Kaplan Business School Australia
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Canberra, NSW
Australian National University
University of Canberra
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Brisbane, Queensland
The University of Queensland
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Griffith University
James Cook University
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Perth, Western Australia
University of Western Australia
Curtin University of Technology
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Hobart, Tasmania
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
Darwin, Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University
For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
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For more information regarding tuition fees, intakes, entry requirements, application process and scholarship assessment, contact Excel Education.
