Cost of living in Australia for Indian Students in 2026: Here is What to Budget

Article Summary

• Australian Immigration requires international students to demonstrate a minimum of AUD 29,710 (INR 20.3 lakh) per year in living expenses — separate from tuition fees — with actual monthly costs ranging from AUD 1,500–2,800 depending on city, lifestyle, and accommodation choice, plus a mandatory study visa fee of AUD 2,000 and OSHC health insurance of AUD 630–850 per year.
• Accommodation is the largest expense, with shared apartments costing AUD 600–1,400/month and purpose-built student accommodation AUD 1,120–2,000/month, while Hobart (AUD 51,701/year) and Perth (AUD 52,585/year) are the most affordable cities compared to Sydney (AUD 3,000–4,200/month) and Melbourne (AUD 2,800–3,500/month).
• International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semesters and unlimited hours during official course breaks, with Brisbane offering the cheapest public transport (50 cents flat fare) and Adelaide/Perth offering full student concession fares. Cooking at home, using UNiDAYS discounts, and choosing shared housing are the most effective ways to reduce living costs.

Budgeting is one of the major parts if you want to study in Australia in 2026, as the country has moved India into the highest-risk category and has laid out stringent requirements for Indian students in 2026-27. Understanding what you should expect as your living expenses in Australia is, hereby, a crucial aspect to budget accordingly. Officially, the Australian Department of Home Affairs suggests you have at least AUD 29,710 or INR 20.3 L as the average cost of living in Australia. This means the average living expenses in Australia for international students are expected to be around AUD 2,475 per month. 

This is just the minimum amount you need to live in Australia; the exact cost depends on your location, accommodation preferences, eating choices, and many more. Also, if you go to a cheaper city in Australia, like Adelaide or Perth, you can have an affordable living; on the other hand, big cities such as Sydney or Melbourne can cost you a little more than the average. Read the complete blog to check what you can expect according to your university city and other criteria for the living expenses in Australia in 2026-27.  

What Is the Total Cost of Living in Australia for Indian Students in 2026?

Your cost of living in Australia for Indian students in 2026-27 includes different aspects, from rent, food, transportation, utilities, and personal expenses to miscellaneous expenses. The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires all international students to demonstrate a financial capacity of at least AUD 29,710 per year. This is to cover just the living expenses alone and not the tuition fees, which are separate from it. 

According to Numbeo Reports in 2026, the average cost of living in Australia for a single person, say international students, is around AUD 1,577.10 without rent. The accommodation can differ according to the state, with a budget of around AUD 250 to AUD 400 per week for big cities and from AUD 180 for affordable cities in Australia. Here is the table with the average living expenses in Australia for Indian students per year for 2026-27: 

Expense List	Average Costs (AUD)	Average Cost (INR)
Minimum Total Living Expenses (visa requirement)	AUD 29,710	INR 20,29,787
Accommodation (shared, major city)	AUD 12,000 to 18,000	INR 8,19,840 to 12,29,760
Food & Groceries	AUD 4,200 to 6,000	INR 2,86,944 to 4,09,920
Transport	AUD 1,200 to 2,400	INR 81,984 to 1,63,968
OSHC	AUD 630 to 850	INR 43,042 to 58,072
Books and Study Materials	AUD 500 to 1,500	INR 34,160 to 1,02,480
Mobile, Internet, Utilities	AUD 1,500 to 2,400	INR 1,02,480 to 1,63,968
Entertainment and Personal	AUD 1,000 to 3,000	INR 68,320 to 2,04,960

It is also advisable for international students that their total costs of living in Australia can significantly vary, where the majority of students spend around AUD 1,500 and AUD 2,800 per month. It can go beyond in cases where they live in Sydney and Melbourne, or it can go lower in cases where they live in cities such as Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart. 

City-Wise Cost of Living in Australia for Indian Students 

Before checking which university to go to in Australia for higher studies, you can also understand the living expenses according to the city, because these aspects can help you to choose a university according to your budget. Some of the Australian cities are quite expensive, whereas some of them are affordable. In the table below, we have mentioned some of the student-friendly cities in Australia along with their average cost of living in 2026: 

Australian City	Average Cost of Living	Minimum Budget
Sydney	AUD 3,000 to 4,200	AUD 2,500
Melbourne	AUD 2,800 to 3,500	AUD 2,000
Canberra	AUD 2,500 to 3,200	AUD 1,900
Brisbane	AUD 2,400 to 3,000	AUD 1,800
Perth	AUD 2,400 to 3,000	AUD 1,800
Adelaide	AUD 2,200 to 2,800	AUD 1,600
Hobart	AUD 2,000 to 2,500	AUD 1,500

Also Read: Cost of Living in Sydney

Accommodation Costs in Australia for Indian Students 2026

Arranging accommodation for students is the biggest part, and the cost of rent, housing fees, or a lease significantly makes up the total living expenses in Australia. Once you understand what you need for rent, everything else becomes manageable. As per Numbeo 2026, here is the table for Indian students with the average rent in Australia if they do not choose to get the university housing option. 

Apartment Type	Average Monthly Rent (AUD)	Average Rent Range
1 Bedroom (City Centre)	AUD 2,179	AUD 1,470 to AUD 3,495
1 Bedroom (Outside City Centre)	AUD 1,730	AUD 1,200 to AUD 2,476
3 Bedroom (City Centre)	AUD 3,646	AUD 2,250 to AUD 6,631
3 Bedroom (Outside City Centre)	AUD 2,756	AUD 2,000 to AUD 4,015

Note: These are generally the market rents, what a working professional or family pays. As a student, you will almost never rent a full apartment by yourself. What you are actually doing is taking one room in a shared house or PBSA, and the numbers shift significantly when you look at it that way.

Cost of Accommodation in Australia for Indian Students: Different Options 

International students have different accommodation options in Australia, which can be on-campus housing, homestays, sharing a room, shared apartments, private studios, or more. Here, check the accommodation costs on average for you in Australia as an international student in 2026: 

Accommodation Type	Monthly Cost (AUD)
On-Campus (University Dorm / Residential College)	AUD 800 to 1,600
Homestay	AUD 440 to 1,080
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation	AUD 1,120 to 2,000
Shared Apartment	AUD 600 to 1,400
Private Studio / 1-BHK	AUD 1,480 to 2,600

Also Read: Cost of Living in Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide on Cuba’s Expenses

Monthly Food, Transport & Utility Expenses in Australia

Not as prominent as accommodation, but small expenses for transportation, utility, food, and more can contribute to the total cost of living in Australia for you. 

Average Food & Groceries Costs in Australia 

As per the reports given by the Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker recently in March 2026, the grocery costs in Australia are around AUD 207 to AUD 226 per person. If students plan to cook at home and save money, they can expect approximately AUD 300 to AUD 500 per month for food costs in Australia. For reference, check this table with the estimated cost of food and groceries in Australia for Indian students, which is as follows:

Expense	Average Costs Per Month
Groceries (cooking at home)	AUD 250 to 350
Eating out (occasional)	AUD 150 to 300
Coffee or Takeaway	AUD 50 to 100
Total Food Budget	AUD 450 to 750

Average Transport Costs in Australia

For transportation costs, the costs vary depending on the city. There are also different concessions for you as a student. International students in NSW are not generally entitled to travel concessions; they may get a discount on yearly or quarterly passes only. In Victoria, international students are not eligible for standard concession fares but may get 50% off an annual pass (iUSEpass) if enrolled full-time at a participating institution. 

In Western Australia and Adelaide, international students are eligible for full concession fares. Also, Brisbane is easily the cheapest city for public transport after the government reduced all fares to a flat rate of 50 cents. Here is the table with the average cost of transport in Australia for Indian students: 

Australian City	Average Costs Per Month
Sydney	AUD 160 to 250
Melbourne	AUD 80 to 150
Brisbane	AUD 20 to 50
Adelaide	AUD 40 to 70
Perth	AUD 55 to 100

Average Utilities Costs in Australia

Utility bills have jumped 37% in the year to February 2026, according to the ABS. Off-campus students in Melbourne spend around AUD 150 to 250 per month on utilities, including electricity, gas, and water. Here is the table with the average cost of utilities in Australia for Indian students: 

Utility	Average Costs Per Month
Electricity & Gas (share)	AUD 80 to 160
Internet (NBN, split)	AUD 30 to 60
Mobile Phone Plan	AUD 20 to 45
Water (share)	AUD 0 to 30
Total Utilities	AUD 130 to 295

Also Read: Cost of Living in Dubai

Australia Student Visa Fees & OSHC (Health Insurance) Costs in 2026

Before going to Australia, you also need to pay for the study visa and health insurance. These are the mandatory requirements for international students to study there. Here are the costs associated with the visa and health insurance fees for Australia in 2026: 

Australia Student Visa Fees for Indian Students

Check the table for the breakdown of what you need to pay to Australian Immigration for applying for the study visa in 2026: 

Type of Costs	Fees (AUD)	Fees (INR)
Australia Study Visa Application Fees	AUD 2,000	INR 1,36,640
Additional Fee (Those who are 18 or above)	AUD 1,225	INR 83,692
Additional Fee (Those who are below 18)	AUD 400	INR 27,328
Subsequent Temporary Visa Fee (Dependent)	AUD 700	INR 47,824

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Costs in Australia 

International students need to have health insurance coverage for the full time of the course they are studying in Australia. So, if you are studying an undergraduate degree, you need to budget for health insurance for 3 to 4 years, and if you are planning for a master’s, you need to budget for 2 years. 

On average, you can expect your health insurance or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) to be around AUD 630 to AUD 850 or above per year. It can vary as well, according to the health insurance provider chosen by you. 

Also Read: MBA Fees in Australia 2026

Cost of Living in Australia Compared to India

On comparison, the living expenses in Australia are generally 312.9% higher than in India, as per the reports by Numbeo in March 2026. If rent is compared between the two countries, rent in Australian cities is generally 816.9% higher than in India, according to the same reports. Here is the table with the average cost of living in Australia per year, as compared to India.  

Expense List	Living Expenses in Australia	Living Expenses in India
Accommodation	AUD 12,000 to 18,000	INR 72,000 to 1,80,000
Food & Groceries	AUD 4,200 to 6,000	INR 36,000 to 60,000
Transport	AUD 1,200 to 2,400	INR 6,000 to 24,000
OSHC	AUD 630 to 850	INR 3,500 to 10,000
Books and Study Materials	AUD 500 to 1,500	INR 3,000 to 12,000
Mobile, Internet, Utilities	AUD 1,500 to 2,400	INR 18,000 to 36,000
Entertainment and Personal	AUD 1,000 to 3,000	INR 12,000 to 30,000

How Many Hours Can Indian Students Work in Australia?

Working part-time while studying in Australia is possible for international students, and the maximum hours you can work without any restrictions is 48 hours per fortnight. This means that every 14 days, you can work for 48 hours without breaching your Australian study visa requirements. It is for the academic semester. However, you can work without any hour restriction full-time during your breaks and holidays. 

It is also crucial to understand that you cannot work before your course officially starts, even if you’ve already arrived in Australia. Early arrival doesn’t mean early work rights. Also, there is an exception for this. If you’re doing a Master’s by Research or a PhD, you’re exempt from the 48-hour cap entirely in Australia. Here is the number of hours allowed for Indian students to work in Australia in 2026: 

During the academic course in session: Up to 48 hours per fortnight. During official course break: No hour restriction. Before the start of the course: No work rights. If you start your studies at the Master’s by Research / PhD level: No hour restriction

Cheapest Cities in Australia for Indian Students to Study

If you want to study in Australia on a budget, you can choose one of the cheap cities in the country. Here is a list of these affordable cities in Australia for international students in 2026: 

Most Affordable Australian Cities to Live and Study

City	Average Annual Cost (AUD)
Hobart	AUD 51,701
Darwin	AUD 52,481
Perth	AUD 52,585

Mid-Range Cities in Australia 

City	Annual Cost (AUD)
Adelaide	AUD 56,797
Brisbane	AUD 58,305
Canberra	AUD 58,981
Melbourne	AUD 59,137

Tips to Reduce Living Costs in Australia in 2026

There are different ways to decrease your total cost of living in Australia as an international student. Here are some of the tips for you that can help you to reduce your expenses: 

• Choose a relatively affordable city rather than selecting the expensive one. 
• You can opt for shared accommodation, which can reduce the rent significantly for you. 
• Instead of eating out, you can cook at home. 
• You can use public transportation and take student concessions wherever possible. 
• You can work part-time jobs in Australia for a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight. 
• You can search for student discounts through apps such as UNiDAYS and Student Edge.

One of the first things you need to do is make a budget according to your standing, and then check the living expenses as well as tuition fees in Australia to make informed decisions to plan your higher studies there. The minimum funds required to cover the living expenses in Australia per year are at least AUD 29,710 (INR 20.3 L approx.) as compulsory requirements by Australian Immigration. So, plan accordingly. 

Also Read: Cost of Living in Adelaide

FAQs

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Cost of Living in the UK	Cost of Living in Canada
Cost of Living in Ireland	Cost of Living in Spain: Comprehensive Guide

We hope this blog helps you understand everything related to the cost of living in Australia for Indian students in 2026. If you need help with the study abroad process, you can contact Leverage Edu.