Cost of Living for International Students in Australia

Australia has some of the least expensive cities in the world. The economy is somewhat influenced by Western culture but the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) when it comes to the purchasing power of the country is higher compared to the United Kingdom.

It’s difficult to calculate an average cost of living, as it depends on an individual’s circumstances and lifestyle.

Manufactured goods tend to be expensive in Australia, particularly imported goods, including automobiles, clothes and other manufactured items, which are generally more expensive than in Europe or North America. If you do a lot of travelling, transport costs are high owing to the large distances involved, although petrol is much cheaper than in Europe.

The price of food is similar to the US and around 25 per cent less than most European countries. Approximately $400 should be sufficient to feed two adults for a month in most areas (excluding alcohol, caviar and fillet steak). The prices of staple foods in Australia’s capital cities are listed in the monthly British newspaper Australian Outlook and a free Property Value Guide is published annually by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The approximate minimum monthly major expenses for an average person or family in an average town or suburb are shown in the table below (the figures in brackets refer to the notes below). When calculating your cost of living, deduct the appropriate percentage for income tax and other deductions from your gross salary.

Item	Single	Couple
Housing(1)	700	1000
Food	350	450
Utilities(2)	150	200
Leisure(3)	150	200
Car/Travel(4)	200	250
Insurance(5)	75	150
Clothing	150	250
Rates	50	75
Total	1,825	2,575

Rental or mortgage on a modern apartment or semi-detached house in an ‘average’ small town or outer city suburb. The cost for a single person is for a bedsitter or sharing accommodation. Other costs are for a two (couple) and three-bedroom property (family). They don’t include subsidized housing.

2. Includes electricity, gas, telephone and water, plus heating bills.

3. Includes all entertainment, holiday and sports expenses, plus newspapers and magazines (which could of course be much higher than the figure given).

4. Includes running costs for an average family car, plus petrol, road tax, servicing and third party insurance, but not depreciation or credit costs.

5. Includes all ‘voluntary’ insurance, except for comprehensive car insurance and expensive private health insurance.

Here are some estimates of common expenses (in Australian dollars):

$15            Cinema/movie ticket
$25 - $35+ Dinner (restaurant)
$8 -$12      Lunch (cafe)
$3 - $4       Coffee
$5 - $8       DVD hire
$1.50         Newspaper (local)
$4 - $7       Newspaper (international)
$5 - $8       Magazine