The cost of living as a student in Australia is much lower than in many other places – the US and the UK included. It is hard to gauge everyday expenses, as it of course depends entirely on the individual. However, an average of AUD$9306 per year, or $174 per week, has been calculated as the amount a student may spend by universities.
o put this in terms of other currencies, this means that students in Australia spend on average £112, USD$181, CND$179 or €137 per week – including their rent.
The rules for overseas students studying in Australia say that you must be able to prove that you can support yourself while you are in the country. This is as much for your own protection as anything else – you don’t want to find yourself miles from home and facing the prospect of running out of money. It also means that you can avoid having to rely on part-time work as much as you may have done otherwise – although this is still allowed if you need to supplement your bank balance.
The balance you need is currently $18,000, and you must be able to prove that this money will be available to you whilst you are in Australia.
Although it is of course difficult to predict how much money you will spend whilst you are a student in Australia, there are of course average prices for every day essentials that you will need. A few are listed below:
- Loaf of bread – $3
- Bottle of shampoo – $2.50-$4.50
- Box of cereal – $3-$4
- Banana – 60-90 cents
- Soft drink – $1.50-$3
- Haircut (females) – $20-$100
- Haircut (males) – $16-$40
You also need to remember to factor in your food and rent costs – you will pay a lot more for campus accommodation than for private rooms elsewhere, but you will also need to weigh up your travel costs and the time it will take you to get to and from classes. You may decide that the extra cost is worth it, for the convenience it brings.
Other expenses will include study materials, books clothes, socialising and travel – the lattermost will be an especially important if you plan to travel home at all during your time as a student in Australia.