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The cost of living in Melbourne for international students can be quite high, with expenses such as accommodation, food, and transportation being the main contributors. The average cost of living in Melbourne for a person ranges around AUD 1,655 per month, excluding rent. The living expenses can vary depending on the type of housing and location students choose to live in Melbourne can vary according to living standards.
Melbourne is a popular destination for international students. But in 2024, how much will it cost to live in Melbourne as an expat? In this blog post, we will show the various aspects of Melbourne’s expenses, such as education, housing, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and many others. So, let’s begin our discussion without any further delay.
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What is the Cost of Living in Melbourne?
The average monthly cost of living in Melbourne for a family of four members is approx AUD 5,872 excluding rent, while for a single person, it is AUD 1,655 excluding rent. This Cost of living includes apartment costs, grocery costs, entertainment costs, Clothes costs, utility costs, monthly public transport costs, and a few others.
Here, we have given the general breakdown of the average cost of living in Melbourne in different categories. Let’s understand in detail:
| Categories | Approx Cost |
| Transportation (monthly pass) | AUD 1,655 |
| Food in inexpensive restaurant | AUD 25 |
| Utilities | AUD 291 |
| Entertainment | AUD 90 |
| Groceries | AUD 170 |
| Clothes | AUD 200 |
| Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation | AUD 2000 |
| Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation | AUD 3,156 |
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Cost of Housing Rent in Melbourne
This cost of living in Melbourne for a single person comes to around AUD 2,532 per month in city area. There are various accommodation options available for expat students depending on their budget and lifestyle too. Some of the costs of housing in Melbourne are as follows:
| Apartment Location | Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | AUD 2,532 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | AUD 2,025 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | AUD 4,801 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | AUD 3,001 |
Cost of Accommodation in University Campus
Now, Accommodation for students in Melbourne is considered the most expensive option, but it also comes with many benefits and conveniences for them. Staying on a university campus not only means you’re staying close to the University but also saves money on various expenses such as food and transport. It will not add extra expense to your cost of living in Melbourne.
The average cost of living on campus at a university in the Melbourne area is around AUD 3,156 per month. Keep in mind that you will have your meals cooked for you every day, so utilities are included and you will most likely be travelling less than you would be if you lived off-campus. However, you will still need to budget for eating out, health costs, your phone bill, and entertainment.
Student Accommodation
Living in student accommodation is getting a similar experience and culture to living on campus that too at an affordable price. There are numerous commercial accommodations for students scattered across Melbourne’s CBD. You can check UniAcco for the best and most affordable student accommodation options. The monthly cost of good off-campus accommodation in Melbourne ranges somewhere around AUD 2,292 per month.
There can be variations in cost depending on the room choice, however, you need to remember this only includes your rent and utilities. You need to take care of food, entertainment, eating out, phone, and health costs. You can also find accommodations very close to the University, within walking distance so that you don’t need to spend any money on travel.
Moving into a shared house is considered the cheapest accommodation option when you shift to Melbourne. The rent of the sharehouse depends on several factors such as where is the sharehouse located, how old is the house, how many people are you moving in with, etc. Your individual preference for the factors above will impact the price.
When signing a lease for a shared student accommodation in Melbourne you are expected to pay an upfront security bond payment to the residential tenancies bond authority. The standard amount is 4 x your weekly rent payment but could be more depending on the individual home. Once you have decided to move out of your sharehouse, you receive your amount back.
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Travelling Cost in Melbourne
Public transportation in Melbourne is relatively affordable and efficient, with a range of options including buses, trains, and trams. Transportation contributes to around AUD 194 per month in the overall cost of living in Perth. Here are various different modes of transportation costs every month on can be required:
- One-way Ticket (Local Transport): This ticket, which costs around AUD 5.30, grants a single journey on Melbourne’s extensive public transport network, including trains, trams, and buses.
- Monthly Pass (Regular Price): At a competitive rate of approximately AUD 194, this pass unlocks unlimited travel on Melbourne’s public transportation system for a month, offering significant savings and unmatched convenience for regular commuters.
- Taxi Start (Normal Tariff): Melbourne taxis offer convenient door-to-door transportation starting at AUD 6.50, with fares based on distance travelled and time spent in the vehicle.
- Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff): For the ultimate in flexibility, each kilometre travelled in a Melbourne taxi costs around AUD 3, making taxis a versatile option for short to medium-distance trips within the city.
- Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff): With a waiting charge of AUD 65 per hour, Melbourne taxis allow passengers to retain the vehicle for extended periods, ideal for longer journeys or multiple stops.
- Gasoline (1 litre): At AUD 1.93 per litre, gasoline prices in Melbourne influence the overall cost of private transportation, impacting the decision-making process for individuals considering driving their vehicles.
Travelling Cost for Students
Victoria offers International Students an iUSEpass that gives them a 50% discount on the annual price of Myki(reloadable smart card). On average, the traveling cost is around AUD 159 per month. Depending on which accommodation option you settle on will influence your need for an iUSEpass.
Cost of Food in Melbourne
If you are looking at student accommodation you need to take care of your meals. You can either order your meals from Uber Eats and MenuLog or can also prepare meals at home. If you prefer to go out and eat in a restaurant, it will cost you a significant amount more, as the average cost of meals in Melbourne are around AUD 1,200 per month. It may affect your cost of living in Melbourne. In the table below, we have demonstrated the average restaurant costs you can expect to bear in the country:
| Type of Restaurant | Approx Cost of Meal in Restaurant |
| Meal for 2 person at an Inexpensive Restaurant | AUD 25 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | USD 120 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | AUD 15 |
If your budget is tight, buying groceries and meal prepping at home is the most cost-efficient option. Healthy eating practices will not affect your cost of living in Melbourne. For your reference, a brief about grocery costs in Melbourne is below.
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Cost of Grocery in Melbourne
The average cost of groceries in Melbourne is around AUD 170 per month, including food, milk, water and other items. Groceries costs can affect the cost of living in Melbourne because groceries are everyday expenses for all. So here below is the list of grocery items and their prices available in the country:
| Grocery Item | Approx costs |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | AUD 2.17 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | AUD 3.98 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | AUD 3.38 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | AUD 5.77 |
| Apples (1kg) | AUD 4.58 |
| Banana (1kg) | AUD 3.84 |
| Oranges (1kg) | AUD 3.97 |
| Tomato (1kg) | AUD 5.40 |
| Potato (1kg) | AUD 3.35 |
| Onion (1kg) | AUD 3.27 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | AUD 3.24 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | AUD 2.03 |
| Meat, Egg, Drinks and Other items | AUD 125 |
Cost of Health care in Melbourne
Most treatment in public hospitals is free for all Australian citizens and most permanent residents. However, as an overseas student, health coverage is essential for your student visa when coming to Australia. It covers all your doctors’ appointments, hospital costs, emergency ambulance, and prescriptions. In the table below, we have demonstrated the average healthcare costs you can expect to bear in the country for medicine and doctor visits:
| Health Care Type | Approx Cost |
| Cold medicine (known brands) for 6 days | AUD 10 |
| A box of antibiotics (contain 12 doses) | AUD 19 |
| Short visit to private doctor (for 15 minutes) | AUD 105 |
Cost of Entertainment in Melbourne
Entertainment is another expense in the cost of living in Melbourne. Starting from going to the gym, movie nights, beach trips, live events, concerts, and much more. A expat can expect to pay around AUD 90 per month for different entertainment activities. Here are various different types of entertainment costs every month on can bear:
| Type of Entertainment | Approx Costs |
| Basic dinner in pub (for 2) | AUD 58 |
| 2 tickets to the movies | AUD 44 |
| 2 tickets to the theatre | AUD 484 |
| Cappuccino in the city | AUD 5.21 |
| Gym membership (business district for One month) | AUD 88 |
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FAQs on Cost of Living in Melbourne
Ans. The average cost of living in Melbourne without rent is AUD 1,655, whereas, for a family of four members, it is AUD 5,872 without rent. However, it can vary according to a person’s living standard and location.
Ans. The cost of housing rent in Melbourne, Australia, is around AUD 2,532 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre and around AUD 4,801 for a three-bedroom apartment. Housing rent is a major part of the cost of living in Melbourne.
A. Melbourne is the most inexpensive capital city in Australia for rental housing, followed by Adelaide. According to the most recent data, Melbourne has surpassed Adelaide as Australia’s cheapest city for renting accommodation.
ANs. Along with the affordable cost of living in Melbourne, It is one of the top ten safest cities in the world. The city has scored highly for cybersecurity, health security, infrastructure security, and personal security, and it has had very few natural disasters in the past few years.
A. Over the years, Melbourne has come to be touted as among the world’s most expensive cities to live in. Topped only by Sydney, it comes second in the list of Australia’s most expensive cities. suggesting that Melbourne is one of the cheapest locations among other global cities.
That concludes the information regarding the cost of living in Melbourne. If you have any additional inquiries or require assistance with your study abroad endeavors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experts at Leverage Edu.
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