Cost of Living in Australia
Cost of Living in Australia – Australia is home to some of the best universities around the world and is one of the major countries for students seeking education abroad on an international level. In fact, Australia also boasts of a number of highly ranked cities for students seeking education in Australia according to the QS Best Student Cities ranking. Ranging from Melbourne and Sydney to Adelaide and Gold Coast, there are many popular destinations for students who want to study in Australia.
For students who want to study in Australia, the cost of living is a major aspect for consideration. As compared to India, the cost of living in Australia is nearly two times greater and the cost for rent and accommodation is nearly four times higher than that in India. Sydney proves to be the most expensive cities with the average cost of living in Australia for Sydney being around AUD $1,308 which is equivalent to approximately INR 66,000 per month for one person! On the other hand, cost of living in Australia in cheaper cities like Gold Coast is lower, but still significantly higher than that in India.
Top Universities for Education in Australia
The major reason why Australia is increasingly growing popular amongst students is the high quality of education provided at Australian institutions. Australian institutions like The University of Melbourne and The Australian National University are some of the most highly ranked universities in the world. Some of the top Australian universities for students who want to study in Australia as well as the best domains to opt for are given below.
Top Australian Institutions
Domain | Institution | QS World Rank | QS Subject Rank | City |
Arts and Humanities | The University of Melbourne | 39 | 15 | Melbourne |
The Australian National University | 24 | 16 | Canberra | |
The University of Sydney | 42 | 17 | Sydney | |
Engineering and Technology | The University of Melbourne | 39 | 27 | Melbourne |
The University of New South Wales | 45 | 27 | Sydney | |
Monash University | 59 | 36 | Melbourne | |
Life Sciences and Medicine | The University of Melbourne | 39 | 14 | Melbourne |
The University of Sydney | 42 | 15 | Sydney | |
Monash University | 59 | 28 | Melbourne | |
Natural Sciences | The Australian National University | 24 | 28 | Canberra |
The University of Melbourne | 39 | 28 | Melbourne | |
The University of Sydney | 42 | 43 | Sydney | |
Social Sciences and Management | The University of Melbourne | 39 | 8 | Melbourne |
The Australian National University | 24 | 14 | Canberra | |
The University of Sydney | 42 | 14 | Sydney |
Top Student Cities for Education in Australia
Apart from the high quality of education in Australia, the second reason why Australia is popular amongst international students is due to the incomparable student lifestyle. With Melbourne being the 3rd best city in the world for students, Australian institutions are leading both the academic and social aspects of higher education. The best Australian student cities are also ranked under 100 in the QS Best Student Cities ranking and are home to some of the top universities as well. The cost of living in Australia in these cities and notable top universities are given below.
Top Australian Student Cities
City | Notable Australian Institutions | Ave Expense |
Melbourne | The University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University | AUD $1,210 |
Sydney | The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney | AUD $1,308 |
Brisbane | The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University | AUD $1,165 |
Canberra | The Australian National University, University of Canberra | AUD $1,130 |
Perth | The University of Western Australia, Curtin University | AUD $1,235 |
Adelaide | The University of Adelaide, University of South Australia | AUD $1,185 |
Gold Coast | Bond University | AUD $1,109 |
Cost of Living in Australia for Students
The cost of living in Australia for students is much higher than the cost of living in India and many other countries. In fact, Sydney is even one of the most expensive cities in the entire world. The average cost of living in Australia for a single person is in the range of AUD $1,100 – 1,300 per month and lands in the expensive category for students who want to study in Australia.
In order for a student to be applicable for a student visa for Australia, he or she must show proof for supporting finances for approximately AUD $20,290 per year. The various categories which constitute the cost of living in Australia for prospective students includes:
1. Rent and Residential costs
Accommodation in Australia is nearly four times greater than the cost of accommodation in India. Single bedroom apartment rentals in the top Australian student cities can be in the range of AUD $800 – 2000 per month. On the other hand, students can find cheaper accommodation for the duration of their study in Australia through shared flats which can be rented at around AUD $165 – 440 per week. Campus accommodations further reduce the cost of living in Australia with a weekly charge of AUD $90 – 280 for campus residency and AUD $90 – 150 for hostels and guesthouses.
In addition to the monthly rental, students who choose individual accommodations also have to pay basic utility charges for gas, electricity, heating etc. The average cost of living in Australia for utilities in a single bedroom apartment is around AUD $35 – 140 per week. Furthermore, phone and internet costs also amount to approximately AUD $20 – 55 per week.
2. Food and Drink
The cost of living in Australia for food and drink follows similar trends in all the top student cities. Like most places, eating out is nearly always more expensive than buying groceries and eating at home, therefore making it a more viable option for students who want to study in Australia. The average living expenses in Australia for groceries and eating out is around AUD $80 – 280 per week with a slight variation with the city of study in Australia.
Living Expenses in Australia for Food and Drink
Type of Expense | City | ||||
Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Perth | Gold Coast | |
Meal (inexpensive restaurant) | AUD $16 | AUD $16 | AUD $19.25 | AUD $20 | AUD $15 |
Meal (mid-range restaurant) | AUD $80 | AUD $80 | AUD $75 | AUD $85 | AUD $70 |
McDonald’s meal | AUD $10 | AUD $10.25 | AUD $10.75 | AUD $10.95 | AUD $10 |
Domestic Beer (0.5 l) | AUD $8 | AUD $8 | AUD $8 | AUD $9.50 | AUD $6 |
Imported Beer (0.33 l) | AUD $9 | AUD $8.50 | AUD $9 | AUD $8 | AUD $8 |
Cappuccino | AUD $4.13 | AUD $4 | AUD $4.34 | AUD $4.43 | AUD $4.40 |
Soft Drink (0.33 l) | AUD $3.10 | AUD $3.21 | AUD $3.14 | AUD $3.10 | AUD $2.75 |
Water (0.33 l) | AUD $2.75 | AUD $2.52 | AUD $2.66 | AUD $2.77 | AUD $2.21 |
3. Clothing
The clothing costs in Australia are staggeringly high as compared to many other countries. Taking products from chain stores into consideration, clothing prices in Australia are the highest in larger cities like Melbourne and Sydney. Although the variation in clothing prices is not great, the average prices for some of the top Australian student cities are given below.
Living Expenses in Australia for Clothing
Type of Expense | City | ||||
Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Perth | Gold Coast | |
Jeans | AUD $99.81 | AUD $99.29 | AUD $92.18 | AUD $96.59 | AUD $100 |
Summer Dress | AUD $60.95 | AUD $61.46 | AUD $55.65 | AUD $62.31 | AUD $69 |
Running Shoes | AUD $135.20 | AUD $129.37 | AUD $130.10 | AUD $132.71 | AUD $128.18 |
4. Car and public transport
The cost of living in Australia for public transportation is also comparatively higher than public transportation in other countries. For students who want to study in Australia, an average of AUD $15 – 55 per week can be spent on public transportation alone. The average prices associated with public transportation for some of the top Australian student cities are:
Living Expenses in Australia for Public Transportation
Type of Expense | City | ||||
Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Perth | Gold Coast | |
One-way ticket (public transport) | AUD $4.30 | AUD $4 | AUD $3.85 | AUD $4.20 | AUD $3.30 |
Monthly pass (public transport) | AUD $146.50 | AUD $217.39 | AUD $150 | AUD $147.82 | AUD $80 |
Taxi (1km) | AUD $1.62 | AUD $2.19 | AUD $2.17 | AUD $1.72 | AUD $3.50 |
Gasoline (1 l) | AUD $1.42 | AUD $1.40 | 1.45 | AUD $1.42 | AUD $1.38 |
5. Medical Expenses
Medical expenses greatly affect the cost of living in Australia. Basic medicine for 6 days such as cold medicine like Tylenol cost around AUD $9 and a pack of 12 antibiotics cost a whopping AUD $12. But even more astoundingly high are the doctors’ fees in Australia. Even a short visit to the doctor will cost a student around AUD $73 for just 15 minutes making healthcare related expenses a heavy burden on the cost of living in Australia.
6. Entertainment
Like all other expenses, the cost of living in Australia for entertainment is also in the expensive category. On an average, a student tends to spend around AUD $80 – 150 per week on entertainment. Larger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne have the most expensive rates for entertainment as can be seen below:
Living Expenses in Australia for Entertainment
Type of Expense | City | ||||
Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | Perth | Gold Coast | |
Public Cinema | AUD $20 | AUD $20 | AUD $15 | AUD $18 | AUD $14.50 |
Fitness Club Membership | AUD $63.22 | AUD $73.88 | AUD $55.97 | AUD $59.58 | AUD $65.20
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