Homepage News Ultimate Guide to Living in Australia Study in Australia 2026–27: Cities and Living Costs Compared
Nov 12, 2026
Ultimate Guide to Living in Australia

Study in Australia 2026–27: Cities and Living Costs Compared

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If you are comparing Australian study cities and living costs for 2026–27, start with two official numbers. The Department of Home Affairs currently sets the student visa living-cost benchmark at AUD 29,710 a year for the student. And the Australian Government's Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator (data as of November 2025) puts a room in a share house anywhere from AUD 239 a week in suburban Hobart to AUD 667 a week in central Sydney. Housing, more than anything else, is what separates one city's budget from another's.

This guide looks at Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart and the Gold Coast side by side: main universities, climate and industries, official accommodation estimates, what each state's transport authority offers international students, and how the Home Affairs designated regional area categories relate to the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. No city is better than another across the board; the right choice depends on your course, budget and lifestyle.

All amounts are in Australian dollars and come from government or university websites, each linked below. Where we could not find an official figure, we describe the difference in words. Exchange rates move daily, so we do not convert to other currencies. Information current as at 2026-11-13.

Contents

1. The official benchmark: AUD 29,710 a year

Student visa (subclass 500) applicants must show enough money for travel, course fees and living costs. The 12-month living-cost amounts on the current Home Affairs page are:

Who 12-month living costs (AUD)
Student 29,710
Partner coming with you 10,394
Each child coming with you 4,449

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13

This is a visa threshold. It is the same nationwide and does not change by city. Divided by 52 weeks, it works out to about AUD 571 a week (our own calculation). Your real spending may sit above or below it depending on where and how you live. Home Affairs is also consulting on changes to the student visa financial capacity framework, with submissions closing on 23 November 2026; as at 2026-11-13 the amounts on the current page are unchanged. See our summary of the 2026 student visa reform consultation for background.

2. Accommodation in eight cities (official calculator)

The most consistent official dataset for comparing cities is the Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator. The calculator states that its accommodation figures are based on a sample of market rental data as of November 2025, and that the share-house and one-bedroom figures factor in utility costs. Weekly amounts in AUD:

City Room in a share house (city / suburbs) One-bedroom unit (city / suburbs)
Melbourne 384 / 300 622 / 514
Sydney 667 / 403 876 / 724
Brisbane 432 / 297 687 / 568
Adelaide 275 / 261 674 / 524
Perth 353 / 294 659 / 626
Canberra 342 / 274 625 / 584
Hobart 309 / 239 458 / 476
Gold Coast 453 / 311 706 / 701

Source: Australian Government Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator (data as of November 2025), accessed 2026-11-13

The same dataset gives weekly figures for managed student accommodation and homestay. The student accommodation figure is based on the rates of one provider (UniLodge), and the homestay figure on the Australian Homestay Network fee structure, which covers utilities and some or all meals:

City Managed student accommodation (weekly) Homestay (weekly)
Melbourne 480 440
Sydney 670 445
Brisbane 489 410
Adelaide 460 400
Perth 375 410
Canberra 482 405
Hobart 358 405
Gold Coast 356 420

Source: as above, accessed 2026-11-13

Three things stand out. Sydney has the highest accommodation figures of the eight cities, in the city and in the suburbs. Suburban share-house figures are lowest in Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra. And central Brisbane and the Gold Coast both come out above central Melbourne for a share-house room. These are sample-based estimates, not quotes, so check current listings before you sign a lease.

3. What universities estimate

Universities and state study bodies publish their own estimates. Methods and years differ, so these figures are not directly comparable with each other. Use them as a cross-check against the calculator:

City Source (year shown on page) Published estimate (AUD)
Sydney UNSW (May 2025) Share-house accommodation 290 a week; share-house weekly total 590–780
Brisbane The University of Queensland Off-campus monthly total 1,326–3,739; from 345 a week per person in a 3-bedroom share
Canberra ANU (2026) About 33,000–39,000 a year living on your own; share accommodation 312 a week
Perth StudyPerth Renting a room 294–659 a week
Adelaide Flinders University (updated October 2025) Student accommodation 150–600 a week; groceries 60–100 a week
Hobart University of Tasmania (2027 rates) University residences 316–396 a week (Jane College 588)

For Melbourne and the Gold Coast, the university pages we checked do not show the year of their data, so we have not quoted them; rely on the calculator figures above for those two cities. On food, the calculator uses almost identical meal-cost assumptions for every city (for example, around AUD 18 for a budget lunch out and AUD 20 for a budget dinner out). In other words, the gap between cities comes mainly from housing and transport, not groceries. Cooking at home is usually the cheapest option; for budget eating in Melbourne, see our Melbourne food map for students.

4. City snapshots: universities, climate, industries

These are factual snapshots, not a ranking.

Melbourne (Victoria)

Home to the University of Melbourne, Monash, RMIT, Deakin, La Trobe and Swinburne, among others. Four distinct seasons with changeable weather and cool, damp winters. Large education, health, professional services, hospitality and retail sectors mean a wide range of part-time work. Suits students who want a broad choice of courses and a busy cultural and sporting calendar.

Sydney (New South Wales)

Main universities include the University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS, Macquarie and Western Sydney. Mild climate with warm, humid summers. A concentration of finance, technology and professional services employers. Accommodation figures are the highest of the eight cities, so it suits students who value industry access and have a larger budget.

Brisbane (Queensland)

Main universities are The University of Queensland, QUT and Griffith. Subtropical climate with warm winters and hot, humid summers. The city will host the 2032 Olympic Games; health, education, construction and tourism jobs are common. Public transport costs 50 cents a trip across the state, which keeps commuting costs low.

Adelaide (South Australia)

Main universities are Adelaide University, which began teaching in 2026 after the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia combined, and Flinders University. Hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Defence, health, wine and food are local strengths. A smaller city with a relaxed pace and share-house figures at the lower end of the calculator.

Perth (Western Australia)

Main universities are UWA, Curtin, Murdoch and Edith Cowan. Hot, dry summers, mild wet winters and long hours of sunshine. Mining and energy drive the state economy, with good placement opportunities in related engineering and technical fields. It is a long way from the east coast, so city life is more self-contained.

Canberra (Australian Capital Territory)

Main universities are the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. An inland city: ANU describes summers with average daily maximums above 27°C and winters with average daily maximums below 13°C. Federal government departments and research bodies are concentrated here, which suits public policy, international relations and research-focused students. A compact, quiet city.

Hobart (Tasmania)

The main university is the University of Tasmania. The southernmost and coolest of the eight cities, with cold winters. Tourism, agriculture and fishing, and marine and Antarctic research are local features. It is the smallest city here and has the lowest suburban share-house figure in the calculator. Suits students who like nature and a small-city pace.

Gold Coast (Queensland)

Main universities are Griffith University's Gold Coast campus, Bond University and Southern Cross University's Gold Coast campus. Subtropical and warm most of the year. Tourism, hospitality and health provide many jobs, with strong seasonal demand for casual staff. The 50-cent Queensland fare applies here too, although the calculator's city share-house figure is second only to Sydney.

Tuition is outside the scope of this article; see our comparison of affordable Australian universities for 2027.

5. Public transport: rules for international students

Much of the difference in transport costs comes down to whether a state extends student fares to international students. The table lists only what we could confirm on each transport authority or state study website:

City Card / authority Current rule for international students
Sydney Opal / Transport for NSW The tertiary concession card is for full-time students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. International students qualify only on certain scholarships (such as Australia Awards); others pay adult fares.
Melbourne myki / Transport Victoria Full-time international students in a bachelor, associate degree, diploma or advanced diploma at a participating institution can buy the International Student Travel Pass and save 50%: state-wide pass AUD 154 for 90 days, 308 for 180 days, 556 for 365 days. Separately, Transport Victoria has announced half-price fares for everyone on trains, trams, buses and regional trains and coaches from 1 June 2026 until 1 January 2027 (SkyBus, ferries and non-subsidised regional buses are excluded), with a full-fare daily cap of AUD 5.70. That announcement does not say how international students or the Travel Pass above are priced.
Brisbane, Gold Coast go card / Translink A flat 50 cents a journey for everyone on all Translink services (Airtrain excluded). The Queensland Government has made the fare permanent.
Adelaide metroCARD / Adelaide Metro Concession fares apply to full-time tertiary and university students with proof of eligibility. The page does not distinguish between domestic and international students. The city centre also has a free tram zone and the free City Connector bus.
Perth SmartRider / Transperth Full-time students at a Western Australian university or TAFE can apply for a Tertiary SmartRider. StudyPerth says international students are eligible and pay more than 50% less than the standard fare.
Canberra MyWay+ / Transport Canberra A tertiary student fare applies to full-time CIT and university students. The page does not distinguish between domestic and international students.
Hobart Greencard / Metro Tasmania Full-time students aged 19 or older at any university or TasTAFE get the adult concession fare. The page does not distinguish between domestic and international students.

Rules and prices change, and most concessions are arranged through your institution, so confirm with your school after you enrol.

6. Regional categories, the 485 visa and points

Many students also think about life after graduation when choosing a city. This section covers only what the current Home Affairs pages state. Home Affairs groups locations into three types:

Category Cities in this guide What the current pages say
Major cities (not regional) Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Not designated regional areas.
Category 2: Cities and Major Regional Centres Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart Designated regional areas. Eligible graduates can apply for a second 485 visa with a 1-year stay (exceptions apply for Tasmania).
Category 3: Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas None of the eight cities The second 485 visa stay is 2 years for eligible graduates.

Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13

  • First 485 (Post-Higher Education Work stream): the stay depends on your qualification: 2 years for a bachelor degree or coursework masters, 3 years for a research masters or doctorate. Applicants must generally be 35 or under (exceptions apply). This does not vary by city.
  • Second 485: the degree behind your first 485 must come from an institution in a designated regional area, and you must have lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately before applying.
  • Skilled migration points: the current Home Affairs points calculator gives 5 points for study in regional Australia, where the qualification meets the Australian study requirement and was obtained while living and studying at a campus in a designated regional area.

Please note: the skilled migration points test is under reform, so rely on official announcements. We do not cover anything that has not been finalised, and extra points alone are not a sound reason to pick a city. For the full 485 requirements, see our 485 visa guide.

You can apply for a visa yourself through ImmiAccount. If you want someone else to give immigration assistance (assessing your eligibility, preparing or lodging an application, or dealing with Home Affairs for you), the Migration Act allows only a registered migration agent (with a MARN) or an Australian legal practitioner to do so. You can search the register at mara.gov.au. Level Up Studies can help with course planning and school applications. This article is general information, not immigration advice.

7. How to build your own budget

  1. Confirm the visa threshold: AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs for the student, plus first-year course fees and travel.
  2. Open the Study Australia calculator, choose your city, accommodation type and habits, and note the weekly, monthly and annual estimates. The calculator can display results in several currencies, including USD and BRL, but plan in Australian dollars because conversions move with the exchange rate.
  3. Check your target university's accommodation rates and cost-of-living page against the calculator.
  4. Look up the state transport authority's rules for international students and estimate your commute.
  5. Set aside money for bond, rent in advance and household items. As an example, ANU estimates initial set-up costs in Canberra at about AUD 2,496–5,854.

Part-time work can cover some of your costs: student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session (research masters and doctoral students have no limit). Study load and rosters vary, though, so do not treat wages as your main source of funds when you budget.

FAQ

Q1: How much money do I need for living costs to study in Australia?

The current Home Affairs student visa page sets 12-month living costs at AUD 29,710 for the student, AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for each child, on top of course fees and travel. This is a visa threshold. Actual spending depends on your city and accommodation, and you can test scenarios in the Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator.

Q2: Which Australian city has the lowest rent for students?

In the Study Australia calculator (data as of November 2025), a suburban share-house room is lowest in Hobart at AUD 239 a week, then Adelaide at AUD 261 and Canberra at AUD 274, and highest in Sydney at AUD 403. In the city centre, Sydney is highest at AUD 667. These are sample-based estimates and not a ranking of overall living costs.

Q3: Do international students get public transport discounts in Australia?

It depends on the state. Queensland's Translink charges everyone 50 cents a journey. In Victoria, some full-time international students at participating institutions can buy the International Student Travel Pass and save 50%. In Western Australia, full-time students can apply for a Tertiary SmartRider. In New South Wales, the tertiary concession card is generally not open to international students. Check eligibility with the transport authority and your school.

Q4: Does studying in a regional city change my 485 visa or migration options?

On the current Home Affairs pages, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Hobart are Category 2 designated regional areas. Eligible graduates can apply for a second 485 visa, and the current points calculator gives 5 points for study in regional Australia. The points test is under reform, so rely on official announcements.

Q5: Can I pay my living costs by working part-time?

Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session, and wages can cover part of your costs. You must still show the funds Home Affairs requires when you apply for the visa, and it is unwise to treat wages as your main source of funds when you budget.

Still comparing cities and schools in Australia? Level Up Studies offers free study and course counselling:

  • Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com | 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  • LINE: add our official account

Level Up Studies Melbourne LINE QR code

Related reading

Sources

Disclaimer: 1. This article is general information only and is not immigration or legal advice. 2. We have a qualified education agent counsellor (QEAC #2822) who can help with study planning, but visa decisions rest with the Australian Government. 3. Figures and rules reflect the official pages as accessed on 2026-11-13. 4. Course details, fees, start dates, and migration policies are subject to change. Please check the latest announcements from the school and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
For personalised study or migration planning, please contact our professional advisory team.
Registered Migration Agent MARA: 2519162
Qualified Education Agent Counsellor QEAC: 2822

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