AUSTRALIA STUDY COSTS 2025–26
Australia Cost of Living
Calculator for International Students
Estimate your weekly, monthly, or annual living costs as an international student in Australia — in AUD, INR, or 10 other currencies. Plan smarter before you pack your bags.
FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR AUSTRALIA
Know Your Numbers Before You Land
Australia is a world-class study destination — and it is also a genuinely expensive country to live in. For families in Kerala and the GCC sending children to study in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, understanding real living costs is critical for visa approval, family budgeting, and student wellbeing.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum annual living cost requirement for student visa holders. But the actual cost of living — depending on your city, accommodation, and lifestyle — is often significantly higher than that minimum.
This interactive calculator, built by Guide to Heights QEAC-certified counsellors, helps you estimate a personalised cost of living across 8 Australian cities, in the currency that makes most sense to your family.
🧮 Open the CalculatorINTERACTIVE COST CALCULATOR
Your Personalised Australia Cost of Living Estimate
Answer 8 quick questions about your lifestyle preferences. We'll calculate your estimated weekly, monthly, or annual living costs across all major Australian student cities.
Which city will you be studying in?
Your city significantly affects your accommodation and transport costs. Major cities like Sydney cost more, while Adelaide or Hobart offer more affordable living.
All costs are based on market data as of November 2025. Smaller cities like Hobart and Darwin are significantly more affordable but have fewer job opportunities and student communities.
What type of accommodation are you interested in?
Accommodation is typically your largest living expense in Australia. Homestay offers a supportive environment for new arrivals; shared housing is the most popular choice among students.
Homestay includes meals and is great for the first few months. Shared housing gives you more independence. A managed apartment typically includes bills and is fully furnished. One-bedroom units are popular for couples.
How often will you use these forms of transport?
Australia's cities have good public transport networks. Most students rely on buses, trains, or trams. Owning a car is expensive but useful in suburban areas or smaller cities.
Student concession cards significantly reduce public transport costs. Many universities in city centres are walk/cycle distance from affordable shared accommodation. Driving a car includes fuel, registration, and insurance costs.
How many times a week will you be eating out?
Cooking at home is significantly cheaper than eating out in Australia. Even reducing one meal per day from a café to home cooking can save A$200–400 per month.
Apps like Half Price and Cheapskate let you find discounted meals. Indian grocery stores in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane make home cooking affordable. Most university campuses have subsidised food options.
What price range does your food fit into?
Indian students can often find affordable South Asian grocery options in major cities. Food courts and markets offer good value for eating out on a budget.
Cheap home: shopping at ALDI, Woolworths home brands, and Indian grocery stores. Moderate: mix of brands and fresh produce. Expensive: specialty stores and organic produce. Similar pricing tiers apply when dining out.
What level of services or products do you require?
These personal expenses vary widely. You may want to start at the minimum and adjust over time once you understand the Australian cost of living firsthand.
Most universities have subsidised gym memberships for students. Prepaid mobile plans from Kogan, ALDI Mobile, or Belong offer good value from A$10–20/month. Cosmetics and personal care products are available at Chemist Warehouse at competitive prices.
What price range do your clothing purchases fit into?
Australian winters (particularly in Melbourne, Canberra, and Hobart) require warm clothing. Budget for at least one initial investment in warm clothes when you arrive.
Big W, Target, Kmart, and op-shops (thrift stores) offer very affordable clothing. H&M and Zara are moderate. Outlet shopping centres in each city offer brand-name clothing at discounted prices.
How often will you do these activities?
Entertainment is an important part of the student experience. Australia has world-class cinemas, live music venues, parks, beaches and sporting events. Most are affordable as a student.
Hoyts and Event Cinemas offer student discounts from A$12–15/ticket. Many universities have student clubs for sport and social activities with discounted or free membership. Night out costs include transport, food, and entry fees.
| City | Cost | Difference |
|---|
CITY-BY-CITY COST GUIDE
Average Weekly Living Costs in Australia
These ranges are based on a typical international student lifestyle — shared accommodation, public transport, and moderate food spending. Actual costs depend heavily on your personal choices.
| City / State | Accommodation (weekly) | Transport (weekly) | Food (weekly) | Total Est. Range | Annual Est. (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏙️ Sydney, NSW | A$340 – A$650 | A$50 – A$120 | A$120 – A$300 | A$700 – A$1,500/wk | A$36K – A$78K |
| ☕ Melbourne, VIC | A$274 – A$520 | A$45 – A$115 | A$100 – A$280 | A$600 – A$1,350/wk | A$31K – A$70K |
| 🌞 Brisbane, QLD | A$265 – A$490 | A$40 – A$110 | A$100 – A$270 | A$560 – A$1,280/wk | A$29K – A$67K |
| 🦘 Perth, WA | A$255 – A$470 | A$38 – A$105 | A$100 – A$260 | A$540 – A$1,230/wk | A$28K – A$64K |
| 🍷 Adelaide, SA | A$230 – A$430 | A$35 – A$100 | A$95 – A$250 | A$500 – A$1,100/wk | A$26K – A$57K |
| 🏛️ Canberra, ACT | A$248 – A$465 | A$38 – A$102 | A$95 – A$255 | A$520 – A$1,150/wk | A$27K – A$60K |
| 🏔️ Hobart, TAS | A$218 – A$420 | A$32 – A$90 | A$90 – A$240 | A$480 – A$1,050/wk | A$25K – A$55K |
| 🌿 Darwin, NT | A$215 – A$415 | A$30 – A$85 | A$90 – A$240 | A$475 – A$1,040/wk | A$25K – A$54K |
* Ranges are estimates based on market data as of November 2025. All amounts are in Australian Dollars (AUD). 1 AUD ≈ ₹52–55 INR (check current rates before planning). Check minimum visa funds requirements →
PLAN AHEAD WITH G2H
Two Important Next Steps After Using This Calculator
Check Your Visa Funds Requirement
The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires international students to demonstrate a minimum level of financial support when applying for a Subclass 500 student visa. Use our dedicated calculator to check exactly what you need to show.
Check Visa Funds RequirementBook Your Pre-Departure Session
Our QEAC-certified counsellors run personalised pre-departure sessions for students heading to Australia — covering accommodation setup, banking, transport cards, university orientation, and what to pack for the climate in your city.
Book a Pre-Departure SessionFREE COUNSELLING · KOCHI · SHARJAH · MELBOURNE
Not Sure Where to Start? Talk to Our Certified Counsellors
Guide to Heights is one of Kerala's leading QEAC-certified study abroad consultancies, specialising in Australia, UK, and New Zealand admissions. Abin Mathew Varghese, our Founder and QEAC Certified Counsellor #10439, personally guides each student through their study abroad journey — including financial planning and visa preparation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Australia Living Costs — Student FAQs
The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires student visa applicants to demonstrate a minimum of A$29,710 per year (2025–26) for living costs, plus A$14,210 for a spouse and A$4,449 per dependent child. However, in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, realistic annual living costs for an international student — including accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses — typically range from A$35,000 to A$55,000 per year. Students in smaller cities like Adelaide, Hobart, or Darwin may manage on A$28,000–A$38,000 per year.
Hobart (Tasmania), Darwin (Northern Territory), and Adelaide (South Australia) consistently rank as the most affordable cities for international students in Australia. Shared accommodation in these cities can cost A$215–A$230 per week, compared to A$340+ in Sydney. However, these cities have fewer part-time job opportunities for students and smaller Indian student communities. Many students from Kerala choose Melbourne or Brisbane for a balance of affordability and employment opportunities.
Indian students who cook most meals at home can manage on A$80–130 per week on groceries. Indian grocery stores in Melbourne (Dandenong), Sydney (Parramatta, Harris Park), and Brisbane (Sunnybank) stock familiar ingredients at affordable prices. If you eat out 3–5 times per week at moderate restaurants, your total food budget could range from A$150–280 per week. Many Indian students report spending approximately A$120–200 per week total on food in their first year.
Yes. Guide to Heights is a QEAC-certified (#10439) and British Council-recognised (#49805) study abroad consultancy. Our counsellors help students and families from Kerala and the GCC understand the financial requirements of the Australian Subclass 500 student visa — including how much to show in bank statements, which documents to provide, and how to plan for the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement. We offer free initial career counselling. You can book a session at our online calendar or visit our Kochi office.
International students on a Subclass 500 visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during university breaks. At Australia's minimum wage of A$24.10/hour (July 2024), 48 hours per fortnight equates to approximately A$1,156 per month before tax. This can meaningfully offset living costs, particularly for students in shared accommodation. However, your visa application must demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself without relying on part-time work — income from employment cannot be counted toward the financial requirement at the time of application.
This calculator uses approximate exchange rates that are updated periodically. As of early 2026, 1 AUD is approximately ₹52–55 INR. You can select INR (Indian Rupee) from the currency dropdown to see all costs in rupees. You can also toggle between weekly, monthly, and annual views. For the most accurate INR conversion at the time of your visa application, always check the live exchange rate from the Reserve Bank of India or a reliable forex provider. The AUD/INR rate can fluctuate significantly over a year.