Cost of Living in Australia for Indian and International Students 2025

Many Indian students choose Australia to study at its world-class universities, hoping for better career growth. Along with good education quality, the country also offers a high-quality life. Australia has some of the best student cities in the world like Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, etc. that are home to some of the top universities in Australia and consider student safety the topmost priority. In 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 costs are higher in the city. Indian students who are interested in planning their study in Australia should know the monthly expenses required to live in this country. On average, the cost of living in Australia for an International student monthly is around INR 91,075 (AUD 1,610), excluding rent. These living expenses in Australia for international students are high when compared with India, however, the cost of living in Australia 2025 is almost the same or lower if we compare it to the cost of living in USA and UK. The Australia study visa fees has been increased to AUD 2,000 and Australia will raise its cap on foreign students by 9% to 295,000 in 2026. 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.

This Story also Contains

1. How Living Expenses in Australia for International Students is Calculated?
2. Cost of Living in Australia Per Month
3. Annual Cost of Living in Australia for International Students
4. Accommodation Cost in Australia for International Students
5. Clothing Cost in Australia
6. Transportation Cost in Australia
7. Miscellaneous Expenses in Australia
8. Healthcare Costs in Australia (OSHC)
9. Average Cost of Living in Australia (Monthly) : City-Wise
10. Cost of living in smaller Australian Cities for International Students
11. Which is the cheapest Australian city for international students?
12. Tips to Save Money in Australia

Read More: Student life in Australia

How Living Expenses in Australia for International Students is Calculated?

The cost of living in Australia is calculated by considering several parameters and the prices that international students have to pay for them. Following are the costs that combine to make the overall living costs for an international student in Australia.

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

Cost of Living in Australia Per Month

If we exclude the rent, the average, the cost of living in Australia for an International student monthly is around INR 91,073.7 (1,619 AUD). This includes a number of things like food, clothing, transportation, health insurance, WiFi, utilities, and other miscellaneous costs. Depending on which Australian city you live, the cost of living can vary significantly.

Living Expenses in Australia Per Month

Note: The current exchange rate is 1 AUD= INR 56.37

Accommodation Cost in Australia for International Students

The cost of accommodation varies significantly depending on the type of accommodation chosen and the location. 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. 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.

So, depending on your requirements you can choose your suitable ones. On average the accommodation costs for on-campus accommodations range from AUD 480- AUD 1,950 per month, while the average monthly costs for off-campus accommodation options cost between AUD 412- AUD 1,900, depending on what you choose. The below table gives a major breakdown of the estimated accommodation costs for international students in Australia.

Accommodation Cost in Australia

Food and Grocery 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 fond of cooking your own meal, rather than eating out, it would be much more economical and save a lot of money. The cost of groceries in Australia is given below:

Groceries Cost in Australia

The total food expenses include the cost of groceries, eating out, going to restaurants, and having tea/coffee/bottled water. It depends and varies person to person.For your understanding purposes, here is a major breakdown of the total estimated food costs for international students in Australia.

Cost of Food for International Students 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.

Cost of Clothing for International Students in Australia

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.

Average Transportation Cost in Australia

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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.

Here is a major cost breakdown of the miscellaneous expenses in Australia:

Miscellaneous Costs for International Students in Australia

Average Cost of Living in Australia (Monthly) : City-Wise

The cost of living for international students in Australia greatly depend on the place of stay. For example-places like St. Kilda West, South Brisbane, Spring Hill etc are comparatively much cheaper than popular Australian cities like Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.

Below we have given the city-wise cost of living in Australia in 2025.

City Wise Cost of Living in Australia

Tips to Save Money 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: You should look for the best and cheapest universities in Australia. This will help you cut down on the cost of study.
• Working While Studying in Australia: There are multiple part-time jobs in Australia to help students manage their finances effectively. As an International student, you will be able to work for 48 hours a fortnight with regular studies. The labour laws here protect both domestic and international students, so you can at least get minimum wages.
• Choose on-campus accommodation options: For accommodation, you can prefer the shared rooms on campus, which come along with 3 time meals and 24/7 WiFi. Living on-campus also reduces your transportation costs per month.
• 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.
• 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% 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.
• Use public mode of transportation: In case you need to go out, always choose public transports as they are much economical and affordable.
• Apply for education loans: Start planning early if you wish to apply for international education and start preparing your financials. Several financial institutions and banks like HDFC Credila, SBI, etc offer low interest education loans to students, only if all the documents are proper.

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