Cost of Living in Australia for Indian and International Students 2024

On an average the cost of living in Australia for an International student is around AUD 2500 per month (i.e. 1.37 lakh). These living expenses in Australia for international students are high when compared with India, however, the cost of living in Australia 2024 is almost the same or lower if we compare it to the cost of living in USA and UK. In this article, We have provided a complete list of the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, and other expenses that are usually required while staying in Australia.

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Recommended: Top Universities in Australia

This Story also Contains

1. Cost of Living in Australia
2. Cost of Essentials in Australia for Indian Students
3. Accommodation Cost in Australia
4. Food Expenses in Australia
5. Clothing Cost in Australia
6. Transportation Cost in Australia
7. Health Insurance Cost in Australia
8. Mobile & Wifi Cost in Australia
9. Miscellaneous Expenses in Australia
10. Cost of living in Melbourne and Sydney
11. Working While Studying in Australia

Many Indian students choose Australia to study at its world-class universities, hoping for better career growth. Along with good education quality, the country offers a great quality of life.

Australia has some of the best student cities in the world like Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, etc. with attractive locations, student safety, quality education etc. Indian students who are interested in planning their study in Australia can know the monthly expenses required to live in this country. Going further, this article will detail the cost of necessary living expenses in Australia for international students.

In many cities like Melbourne, the cost of living depends whether you live in a city or a suburb. Usually, living in the suburbs is more affordable, however, accommodation rents are high in the city.

Cost of Living in Australia

The living cost in Australia for international students depends on the location where they choose to live. Cities like Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne are some of the most expensive cities in Australia. If your university is located in these cities, then you need to prepare for a bit higher expenditure than the cheaper locations like Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, etc.

On average the monthly cost of living in Australia for an Indian student ranges from a minimum AUD 2000 to a moderate of AUD 3000 (i.e. Rs. 1.08 to 1.6 lakh per month). The Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government states that every international student who is applying for an Australian student visa needs to show minimum required funds of AUD 29,710 per annum to meet the financial capacity requirement. These changes were announced recently and the Australian government is planning more strategies to manage the increasing count of international students in Australia.

Cost of Essentials in Australia for Indian Students

As of now, you have known the monthly and annual living costs in Australia for international students. Let us break down every individual expense that has made this whole cost.

Accommodation Cost in Australia

As an international student, you can either prefer on-campus accommodation or off-campus accommodation in Australia. The on-campus accommodation costs range from moderate to high whereas the off-campus costs range from cheap to high. So, depending on your requirements you can choose your suitable ones. On average the accommodation costs for

• On-campus can range from AUD 1300 to 3500 per month.

• Off-campus can range from AUD 1000 to 2500 per month.

Most of the on-campus accommodations in Australia include utility charges like electricity, gas, wifi within the rent itself. Whereas for off-campus it can be charged separately ranging from AUD 170 to 215 per month.

Food Expenses in Australia

Most of the on-campus accommodations in Australia include the food costs of 3 times a day within the rent itself. Welcoming the international students in Australia, the universities are equipped with Global cuisines like Chinese, Italian, Malaysian, Mexican, etc.

If you are found to cook your own meal, then shop vegetables and fruits at your nearest supermarket or local store. For your understanding purposes, here are the cost of groceries to get a basic overview of the prices in Australia.

Grocery costs in Australia

Clothing Cost in Australia

Students are suggested to wear climate-appropriate clothing while studying in Australia. A pair of jeans and T-shirts are preferred during the summer and for winter, it includes jackets, sweaters, winter coats, etc. Here the cost of clothing in Australia is high when compared with the Asian countries. The basic apparel costs around AUD 20 to 40 per item like tops, pants, t-shirts etc.

Transportation Cost in Australia

International students can avail of many discounts if they use public transportation with a student card. The cities and towns are equipped with facilities like rail line, and intra-city trams. Students can also choose e-bikes to travel daily or shorter distances.

Transportation Costs in Australia

Health Insurance Cost in Australia

Any international students or their dependents have to take health insurance during their stay period in Australia. The insurance can be purchased from only registered health insurers in Australia.

Mobile & Wifi Cost in Australia

Few universities and many on-campus accommodations offer wifi facilities for students. With an international passport, you can apply for a sim card and mobile plans in Australia.

Miscellaneous Expenses in Australia

Other than the above-mentioned things, there are many other expenses that are to be included in the cost of living in Australia. These can include the costs of books, initial settling costs, household items, entertainment, personal health care items, toiletries, etc.

Miscellaneous Expenses in Australia

We have given the cost of monthly expenses of essentials in Australia.

Cost of living in Melbourne and Sydney

Melbourne and Sydney are big and popular cities in Australia. Below we have given the list of monthly expenses for staying in a city in Melbourne and Sydney as of May 2024.

Working While Studying in Australia

International students are allowed to work part time jobs in Australia for up to 48 hours a fortnight along with regular studies. The labour laws here protect both domestic and international students, so you can at least get minimum wages. Part-time jobs in Australia for international students may earn you around $17 per hour.

Money Saving Tips for International Students in Australia

If you feel your cost of living in Australia is higher, then check these money-saving tips for the international students mentioned below.

• Choose affordable university and accommodation: The two major expenses while studying in Australia are the tuition fees and accommodation. Students can look for the best and cheapest universities in Australia.

For accommodation, you can prefer the shared rooms on campus, which come along with 3 time meals and 24/7 wifi. However, living on-campus reduces your transportation costs in your monthly expenses in Australia.

• Check for available scholarships: There is a wide range of scholarships in Australia offered by the universities, government and other private organisations. Based on the scholarship you achieve you can either cover your tuition fees or living expenses in Australia.

• Work for Part-time jobs: As an International student, you will be able to work for 48 hours a week for part-time jobs in Australia.

• Get the ISIC Card for accessing discounts: The ISIC card is a student status card endorsed by UNESCO. Using this ISIC card you can get access to thousands of student discounts on shopping, transportation, food, etc.

• Limit your weekend activities to weekdays: Usually on weekends and public holidays, the dining places, and amusement activities charge 10 to 20 %5 extra, increasing expenditure. So try to plan your outings on weekdays.

• Prefer the local markets: These local farmer markets often provide you with cheaper and fresher fruits and vegetables, saving you money.