According to the reports of International Students.com, Australia holds the position of the third most preferred country by overseas students for pursuing their higher education. If we look at the statistics, Australia’s 7 universities come in the list of top 100 universities of the world. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere, beautiful landscape, cultural diversity, manageable cost of living, and academic excellence are reasons behind its popularity among international students. After reading this, if you have made up your mind to study in Australia, then you must first consider the overall cost of living in Australia. Let us have a look.
The accommodation cost will vary from city to city. Sydney and Melbourne are the most expensive cities in Australia and cost 20 percent more than any other city in Australia. You may consider living near the coast because 80 percent of the population of Australia chose to live near the coast. Remember that the cost of accommodation is entirely dependent on the location and the type of accommodation you have chosen.
If you want to rent an apartment in the city center, then on average, 1 bedroom apartment will cost $ 1665 to $1800 per month while an apartment in the suburbs will cost you $1276 to $1500 per month. The average pricing of other types of accommodation are as following.
| TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION | AVERAGE PRICING |
| BOARDING SCHOOL | $10,000 to $20,000 per year |
| HOSTEL | $80 to $155 per week |
| SHARED FLAT | $95 to $215 per week |
| UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION | $80 to $250 per week |
| HOMESTAY | $235 to $330 per week |
While your stay in Australia, you can either use public transport or avail the transport facilities provided by your respective university. On average, public transport will cost you $ 40 to $55 weekly. If you plan for renting a car, then its cost may vary from $600 to $110 monthly. Renting a bicycle will cost you $10 a week.
Australia has introduced a great transport policy in Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Australian Capital Territory. Under this policy, international students can avail full or half concession while using public transport.
3) FOOD AND OTHER UTILITIES COST
Apart from accommodation and transport, you have to look after food, and other utilities cost also. On average, food and groceries expenses will range from $140 to $280 weekly. This includes the cost of eating out or cooking at home. If you want to save some extra money, buy groceries from cheap stores like Coles and Aldi.
The phone and internet cost $30 to $80 weekly. Furthermore, the cost of electricity, water and gas will be from $100 to $300 per month. The cost of other utilities is dependent upon your usage.
4) TUITION FEES
Tuition fees is the most important aspect you need to consider while you plan to study in Australia. Australia has introduced the options of studying at expensive as well as affordable universities. The cost is dependent on your degree level, courses, and the university you chose.
Affordable universities in Australia
| UNIVERSITIES | STARTING TUITION COST |
| University of North England | $11,743 per year |
| Flinders University | $6,397 per year |
| IPAG Business Schools | $8,035 per year |
Expensive universities in Australia
| Universities | TUITION FEES PER YEAR |
| University of Sydney | Vary from $2,251 to $35,231 |
| University of Queensland | Vary from $15,452 to $28,432 |
Tuition cost of different qualifications
| Qualifications | TUTION FEES PER YEAR |
| Bachelor degree | $6,397 to $35,231 |
| Post graduate Master degree | $22,000 to $50,000 |
| Doctoral degree | $18,000 to $50,000 |
| School | $78,00 to $30,000 |
In Australia, you can avail health insurance packages from different companies. The lowest cost of health coverage for a single person is $438 per year. If you are bringing your spouse with you, then the lowest cost of health insurance will be $2658 per year.
6) OVERALL COST OF LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
On average, if you are going alone to study in Australia, then you will require $20,000 per year to fulfill your expenses. With a family, the cost can go up to $50,000 per year. This cost doesn’t include tuition fees. For getting further advice related to the cost of living in Australia, you can contact the Numbeo and Home affairs website.
