Cost Of Living
Melbourne is a reasonably priced city providing good quality affordable living and abundant accommodation. Students will need about A$18,000 per year (excluding tuition) to cover living expenses. According to the Government Website, Study in Australia, Australia is a sophisticated, friendly and affordable country which enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. The average international student in Australia spends about $360 per week on accommodation; food; clothing; entertainment; transport; international and domestic travel; telephone; incidental costs.
The cost of living depends a lot on the kind of accommodation a student chooses. A married student with dependents will need approximately an additional A$4,000 per year for each dependent.
The lifestyle in Australia is safe and friendly. Australians have a high standard of living. The climate is pleasant, there is plenty of food and the vast natural resources in Australia enable most people to live well.
Fruit, vegetables and meat are available fresh and at reasonable prices. Clothing and personal effects are usually good quality and available at a wide variety of prices.
Below is a price table of typical daily items. This is only a guide. Remember that you can shop around for items such as clothing and shoes to find a cheaper source.
| Food |
Personal Effects/Services |
| Milk 1 litre $1.80 |
Shoes 1 pair $70.00 |
| Bread 1 loaf $2.50 |
Jeans 1 pair $80.00 |
| Apples 1 kg $4.00 |
Toothpaste 140g $2.50 |
| Potatoes 1 kg $1.00 |
Shampoo 500ml $3.00 |
| Beefsteak 1 kg $15.00 |
T-shirt $20.00 |
| Eggs 1 dozen $4.00 |
Hairdresser $20.00 to $40.00 |
| Cereal 1kg $3.00 |
Newspaper $2.00 |
| Fruit Juice 2 litres $4.00 |
Cinema ticket $15.00 |
| Rice 1 kg $2.00 |
Public transport city inner suburbs $7.00 for a day pass |
Accommodation
The following types of accommodation are available for International students:-
| Accommodation Type |
Indicative cost |
| 1. Full Board (Home stay) |
A$150.00 - A$170.00 per week |
| 2. Student house |
A$80.00 - A$100.00 per week |
| 3. Half Board |
A$ 70.00 - A$ 100.00 per week (plus expenses) |
| 4. Leasing a House/Flat |
A$200.00 - A$300.00 per week (unfurnished) |
This accommodation can be booked prior to arrival. Two weeks advance notice is required before you depart for Australia. Further details can be obtained from the Student Support Officer or by by visiting following websites.
Some useful internet sites for housing are:
http://www.s-h-a.com.au/
http://www.find-studentaccommodation.com/?gclid=CI2th4T7iJACFSK9YAoddlzqrw
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=13&languageId=1&contentId=-1&ref=neo
http://studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/Accommodation
Weather
Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons in the year - spring, summer, winter and autumn. Below is a guide to the average daily temperatures.
| Spring |
September - November |
12-22 degrees |
| Summer |
December to February |
28-32 degrees |
| Autumn |
March to May |
12 - 20 degrees |
| Winter |
June to August |
10 - 15 degrees |
Melbourne does not have a specific wet season - it can rain at any time of the year.
Budgeting
You should work out a budget covering accommodation, food, transport, clothing and entertainment. Childcare, if applicable, should also be taken into account.
The average international student in Australia spends about $360 per week on accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, transport, international and domestic travel, telephone and incidental costs. School students in Australia typically spend a little less - about $265 a week - on accommodation and food, entertainment, transport and associated items. While this is a realistic guide, it is important to remember that individual circumstances will vary by location, course and lifestyle.
Credit cards
Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners International, MasterCard, Visa and their affiliates.
School-aged Dependents
There are requirements for compulsory school attendance for or dependants of international students. In Victoria it is compulsory for children to attend school
until the age of 16.The choice of schools includes public schools,private schools and religious schools.People over the age of 16 can continue to attend school until they have completed
year 12. Dependants of persons holding a student visa may be required to pay full fees in any school,Institute or university that they enrol in whilst in Australia.
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