LIVING IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is a great place to live – a safe, friendly, multicultural environment which welcomes international students and visitors from around the world.

You can make the most of your study experience by immersing yourself in Australian life. Enjoy the culture, the food, the sights and the people!

In addition to your Australian qualification, you will gain from your exposure to a different society. International students say that it has increased their confidence, independence, resourcefulness and developed other personal attributes.

On the following pages, you’ll find some details on the essentials of living in Australia.

Living costs

The cost of living for international students is significantly lower in Australia than in countries like the USA and the UK.

The average international student in Australia will spend around $300 to $360 on living costs including accommodation, food, transport, telephone and entertainment.

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs advises students to have $A12,000 per year.

Where you choose to study and how you choose to live in Australia will affect your costs. For example, living in a regional area or in an outer suburb is usually cheaper than in the main city centre. Your choice of transport is also important in terms of costs – riding a bike or using public transport is cheaper than buying and running your own car.

Accommodation

You can choose where you live in Australia. PROGRESS can provide information and help you find accommodation. Your choice may depend on your level of education, personality, study style and financial situation.

The accommodation options for international students are:

on-campus residences
school boarding houses
homestay
rented accommodation

When you first arrive, you may stay in a hostel or guest house while you are working out your accommodation. Institutions often have links with local hostels which may provide discounts to students. Hostels and guest houses are about $80 to $135 a week and hotels are $50 to $100 a night.

On-campus residences or colleges

These are offered at universities and some vocational institutions. Depending on the level of services, they cost between $100 to $400 a week. You’ll usually have a separate bedroom but share other facilities such as the bathroom, recreation area and laundry. Some residential colleges provide three meals a day in a common dining room, while others have a shared kitchen where students cook their own meals. Some are single-sex, while others are co-educational. Some have a religious affiliation.

School boarding houses

Most primary and high school international students live in boarding houses on the school grounds. You're likely to share a room with other students. Bathroom, dining and recreation areas are shared. You’re provided with three meals a day. Students are supervised at all times. Boarding fees range from $10,000 to $20,000 a year.

Homestay with a local family

Homestay means living with an Australian family and immersing yourself in the Australian way of life. Homestay can be either a “room only” arrangement or “full board” where the host family provides meals. For many parents of international students, homestay means security as their children are living at home with responsible adults. Homestay is often arranged through the education institution to ensure that students are placed with an appropriate family. This is often a good option for younger students including high school students and English language students. Homestay fees are from around $110 to $270 a week.

Rented apartments and houses

In Australia, students often share an apartment or house with others. There are usually two to four students in a share house. You have your own bedroom but share living areas, kitchen and laundry. Rent, electricity, gas and telephone costs are shared. You can live alone if you prefer. This is also a great option for students with families. Universities often have an accommodation office to help with finding a rental home. Rental costs depend on the area, city or regional location and style of house or apartment. For a single person in a shared house, costs are from $70 to $250 a week. To rent out an entire apartment or house can cost from $100 to $600 depending on the size and location.