{"id":32295,"date":"2024-07-19T19:00:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T13:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/?p=32295"},"modified":"2026-05-09T12:31:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T07:01:40","slug":"cost-of-living-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of living in Australia for Indian Students in 2026: Here is What to Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<details class=\"wp-block-details has-gray-200-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" open><summary><strong>Article Summary<\/strong><\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Australian Immigration requires international students to demonstrate a minimum of AUD 29,710 (INR 20.3 lakh) per year in living expenses \u2014 separate from tuition fees \u2014 with actual monthly costs ranging from AUD 1,500\u20132,800 depending on city, lifestyle, and accommodation choice, plus a mandatory study visa fee of AUD 2,000 and OSHC health insurance of AUD 630\u2013850 per year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accommodation is the largest expense, with shared apartments costing AUD 600\u20131,400\/month and purpose-built student accommodation AUD 1,120\u20132,000\/month, while Hobart (AUD 51,701\/year) and Perth (AUD 52,585\/year) are the most affordable cities compared to Sydney (AUD 3,000\u20134,200\/month) and Melbourne (AUD 2,800\u20133,500\/month).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-total-cost-of-living-in-australia-for-indian-students-in-2026\"><span id=\"what-is-the-total-cost-of-living-in-australia-for-indian-students-in-2026\">What Is the Total Cost of Living in Australia for Indian Students in 2026?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Expense List\u00a0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Costs (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Cost (INR)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Minimum Total Living Expenses (visa requirement)<\/td><td>AUD 29,710<\/td><td>INR 20,29,787<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accommodation (shared, major city)<\/td><td>AUD 12,000 to 18,000<\/td><td>INR 8,19,840 to 12,29,760<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Food & Groceries<\/td><td>AUD 4,200 to 6,000<\/td><td>INR 2,86,944 to 4,09,920<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transport<\/td><td>AUD 1,200 to 2,400<\/td><td>INR 81,984 to 1,63,968<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>OSHC\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 630 to 850<\/td><td>INR 43,042 to 58,072<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Books and Study Materials<\/td><td>AUD 500 to 1,500<\/td><td>INR 34,160 to 1,02,480<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mobile, Internet, Utilities<\/td><td>AUD 1,500 to 2,400<\/td><td>INR 1,02,480 to 1,63,968<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Entertainment and Personal<\/td><td>AUD 1,000 to 3,000<\/td><td>INR 68,320 to 2,04,960<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-city-wise-cost-of-living-in-australia-for-indian-students-nbsp\"><span id=\"city-wise-cost-of-living-in-australia-for-indian-students\">City-Wise Cost of Living in Australia for Indian Students\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Australian City<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Cost of Living<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Minimum Budget<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sydney<\/td><td>AUD 3,000 to 4,200<\/td><td>AUD 2,500<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Melbourne<\/td><td>AUD 2,800 to 3,500<\/td><td>AUD 2,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Canberra<\/td><td>AUD 2,500 to 3,200<\/td><td>AUD 1,900<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brisbane<\/td><td>AUD 2,400 to 3,000<\/td><td>AUD 1,800<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Perth<\/td><td>AUD 2,400 to 3,000<\/td><td>AUD 1,800<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adelaide<\/td><td>AUD 2,200 to 2,800<\/td><td>AUD 1,600<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hobart<\/td><td>AUD 2,000 to 2,500<\/td><td>AUD 1,500<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: Checked multiple sources and then estimated for 2026-27<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-sydney\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Sydney<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-accommodation-costs-in-australia-for-indian-students-2026\"><span id=\"accommodation-costs-in-australia-for-indian-students-2026\">Accommodation Costs in Australia for Indian Students 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Apartment Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Monthly Rent (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Rent Range<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 Bedroom (City Centre)<\/td><td>AUD 2,179<\/td><td>AUD 1,470 to AUD 3,495<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 Bedroom (Outside City Centre)<\/td><td>AUD 1,730<\/td><td>AUD 1,200 to AUD 2,476<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3 Bedroom (City Centre)<\/td><td>AUD 3,646<\/td><td>AUD 2,250 to AUD 6,631<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3 Bedroom (Outside City Centre)<\/td><td>AUD 2,756<\/td><td>AUD 2,000 to AUD 4,015<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cost-of-accommodation-in-australia-for-indian-students-different-options-nbsp\"><span id=\"cost-of-accommodation-in-australia-for-indian-students-different-options\">Cost of Accommodation in Australia for Indian Students: Different Options\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Accommodation Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Monthly Cost (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>On-Campus (University Dorm \/ Residential College)<\/td><td>AUD 800 to 1,600<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Homestay\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 440 to 1,080<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Purpose-Built Student Accommodation\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 1,120 to 2,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shared Apartment\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 600 to 1,400<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Private Studio \/ 1-BHK\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 1,480 to 2,600<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Note: studyaustralia.gov.au and other sites.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-cuba\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide on Cuba\u2019s Expenses<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-monthly-food-transport-amp-utility-expenses-in-australia\"><span id=\"monthly-food-transport-utility-expenses-in-australia\">Monthly Food, Transport & Utility Expenses in Australia<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-average-food-amp-groceries-costs-in-australia-nbsp\"><span id=\"average-food-groceries-costs-in-australia\">Average Food & Groceries Costs in Australia\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As per the reports given by the Finder\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Expense<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Costs Per Month<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Groceries (cooking at home)<\/td><td>AUD 250 to 350<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eating out (occasional)<\/td><td>AUD 150 to 300<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coffee or Takeaway<\/td><td>AUD 50 to 100<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Food Budget<\/td><td>AUD 450 to 750<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-average-transport-costs-in-australia\"><span id=\"average-transport-costs-in-australia\">Average Transport Costs in Australia<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Australian City<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Costs Per Month<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sydney<\/td><td>AUD 160 to 250<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Melbourne<\/td><td>AUD 80 to 150<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brisbane<\/td><td>AUD 20 to 50<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adelaide<\/td><td>AUD 40 to 70<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Perth<\/td><td>AUD 55 to 100<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-average-utilities-costs-in-australia\"><span id=\"average-utilities-costs-in-australia\">Average Utilities Costs in Australia<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Utility<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Costs Per Month<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Electricity & Gas (share)<\/td><td>AUD 80 to 160<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Internet (NBN, split)<\/td><td>AUD 30 to 60<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mobile Phone Plan<\/td><td>AUD 20 to 45<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Water (share)<\/td><td>AUD 0 to 30<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Utilities<\/td><td>AUD 130 to 295<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-dubai\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Dubai<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-student-visa-fees-amp-oshc-health-insurance-costs-in-2026\"><span id=\"australia-student-visa-fees-oshc-health-insurance-costs-in-2026\">Australia Student Visa Fees & OSHC (Health Insurance) Costs in 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-student-visa-fees-for-indian-students\"><span id=\"australia-student-visa-fees-for-indian-students\">Australia Student Visa Fees for Indian Students<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Check the table for the breakdown of what you need to pay to Australian Immigration for applying for the study visa in 2026:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Type of Costs\u00a0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Fees (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Fees (INR)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Australia Study Visa Application Fees<\/td><td>AUD 2,000<\/td><td>INR 1,36,640<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Additional Fee (Those who are 18 or above)<\/td><td>AUD 1,225<\/td><td>INR 83,692<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Additional Fee (Those who are below 18)<\/td><td>AUD 400<\/td><td>INR 27,328<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Subsequent Temporary Visa Fee (Dependent)<\/td><td>AUD 700<\/td><td>INR 47,824<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-overseas-student-health-cover-oshc-costs-in-australia-nbsp\"><span id=\"overseas-student-health-cover-oshc-costs-in-australia\">Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Costs in Australia\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s, you need to budget for 2 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/mba-fees-in-australia\/\"><strong>MBA Fees in Australia 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cost-of-living-in-australia-compared-to-india\"><span id=\"cost-of-living-in-australia-compared-to-india\">Cost of Living in Australia Compared to India<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Expense List\u00a0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Living Expenses in Australia\u00a0<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Living Expenses in India<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accommodation\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 12,000 to 18,000<\/td><td>INR 72,000 to 1,80,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Food & Groceries<\/td><td>AUD 4,200 to 6,000<\/td><td>INR 36,000 to 60,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transport<\/td><td>AUD 1,200 to 2,400<\/td><td>INR 6,000 to 24,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>OSHC\u00a0<\/td><td>AUD 630 to 850<\/td><td>INR 3,500 to 10,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Books and Study Materials<\/td><td>AUD 500 to 1,500<\/td><td>INR 3,000 to 12,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mobile, Internet, Utilities<\/td><td>AUD 1,500 to 2,400<\/td><td>INR 18,000 to 36,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Entertainment and Personal<\/td><td>AUD 1,000 to 3,000<\/td><td>INR 12,000 to 30,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-many-hours-can-indian-students-work-in-australia\"><span id=\"how-many-hours-can-indian-students-work-in-australia\">How Many Hours Can Indian Students Work in Australia?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also crucial to understand that you cannot work before your course officially starts, even if you\u2019ve already arrived in Australia. Early arrival doesn\u2019t mean early work rights. Also, there is an exception for this. If you\u2019re doing a Master\u2019s by Research or a PhD, you\u2019re 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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbdee5\"><tbody><tr><td>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.\u00a0If you start your studies at the Master\u2019s by Research \/ PhD level: No hour restriction<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: Official Australia Immigration Website\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cheapest-cities-in-australia-for-indian-students-to-study\"><span id=\"cheapest-cities-in-australia-for-indian-students-to-study\">Cheapest Cities in Australia for Indian Students to Study<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/study-locations\/study-in-australia\/\"><strong>study in Australia<\/strong><\/a> 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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most Affordable Australian Cities to Live and Study<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>City<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Average Annual Cost (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hobart<\/td><td>AUD 51,701<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Darwin<\/td><td>AUD 52,481<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Perth<\/td><td>AUD 52,585<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mid-Range Cities in Australia\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>City<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Annual Cost (AUD)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adelaide<\/td><td>AUD 56,797<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brisbane<\/td><td>AUD 58,305<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Canberra<\/td><td>AUD 58,981<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Melbourne<\/td><td>AUD 59,137<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tips-to-reduce-living-costs-in-australia-in-2026\"><span id=\"tips-to-reduce-living-costs-in-australia-in-2026\">Tips to Reduce Living Costs in Australia in 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose a relatively affordable city rather than selecting the expensive one.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can opt for shared accommodation, which can reduce the rent significantly for you.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instead of eating out, you can cook at home.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can use public transportation and take student concessions wherever possible.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can work part-time jobs in Australia for a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can search for student discounts through apps such as UNiDAYS and Student Edge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-adelaide\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Adelaide<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778309993087\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the cost of living in Australia for international students in 2026?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The average cost of living you must expect as an international student in Australia in 2026 is around AUD 29,710, which is a recommended amount as per the Australian government. However, first note that this is just for the living expenses and not tuition fees. Second, it is the minimum requirements, which means that you can also expect higher costs for some cities.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778310003875\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it worth moving to Australia in 2026?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, it is 100% worth it for you if you want to move to Australia. However, it is important for you to do it with proper planning and a budget. You need to budget the living expenses in Australia as the first aspect, followed by others such as climate, preferences, life choices, and more.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778310013050\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I get PR in Australia in 3 years?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, you cannot get a PR in Australia in 3 years. The complete process takes at least 5 to 8 years of time. It requires proper eligibility and residence in Australia to apply for permanent residency there.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778310026297\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the cost of Health Insurance (OSHC) in Australia?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on the health insurance provider you have chosen for Australia. On average, you can expect around AUD 630 to AUD 850 per year for OSHC in Australia. Also, you need to get it renewed every year for the entire course of study.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Reads:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background\"><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-wellington\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Wellington: Overall Expenses Guide<\/strong><\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-usa\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in the USA<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-uk\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in the UK<\/strong><\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-canada\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Canada<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-ireland\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Ireland<\/strong><\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-spain\/\"><strong>Cost of Living in Spain: Comprehensive Guide<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/\"><strong>Leverage Edu<\/strong><\/a><strong>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Budgeting is one of the major parts if you want to study in Australia in 2026, as the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":46960,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,63,37],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-32295","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cost-of-living","8":"category-destinations","9":"category-study-abroad"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cost of living in 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Kaur","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/936cd0a890a2fa0ddf3170d204855cad13455f34dbc016e71eea8e20ba11c589?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/936cd0a890a2fa0ddf3170d204855cad13455f34dbc016e71eea8e20ba11c589?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/936cd0a890a2fa0ddf3170d204855cad13455f34dbc016e71eea8e20ba11c589?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Prabhjyot Kaur"},"description":"Prabhjyot Kaur is a Content Writer at Leverage Edu with 4 years of experience specialising exclusively in the study abroad domain, including stints at Careers360, one of India's leading education platforms, before joining Leverage Edu. Her work, that spans over 750 articles, covers university admissions, scholarships, visa processes, and career outcomes across top destinations including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Prabhjyot brings authentic first-hand experience to her content, she has appeared for IELTS and achieved a Band 8 score, giving her a genuine understanding of what students go through during exam preparation. She is also an active voice in the study abroad community on Quora, where her answers to student queries have crossed 1 million views.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/prabhjyot-kaur7979"],"url":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/author\/prabhjyot\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778309993087","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778309993087","name":"What is the cost of living in Australia for international students in 2026?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The average cost of living you must expect as an international student in Australia in 2026 is around AUD 29,710, which is a recommended amount as per the Australian government. However, first note that this is just for the living expenses and not tuition fees. Second, it is the minimum requirements, which means that you can also expect higher costs for some cities.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310003875","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310003875","name":"Is it worth moving to Australia in 2026?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, it is 100% worth it for you if you want to move to Australia. However, it is important for you to do it with proper planning and a budget. You need to budget the living expenses in Australia as the first aspect, followed by others such as climate, preferences, life choices, and more.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310013050","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310013050","name":"Can I get PR in Australia in 3 years?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, you cannot get a PR in Australia in 3 years. The complete process takes at least 5 to 8 years of time. It requires proper eligibility and residence in Australia to apply for permanent residency there.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310026297","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/cost-of-living-in-australia\/#faq-question-1778310026297","name":"What is the cost of Health Insurance (OSHC) in Australia?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on the health insurance provider you have chosen for Australia. On average, you can expect around AUD 630 to AUD 850 per year for OSHC in Australia. Also, you need to get it renewed every year for the entire course of study.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32295"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86416,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32295\/revisions\/86416"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}