Living Expenses

Living expenses and costs of living in Sydney, Australia

How much will it cost to live in Sydney? Australian Education International estimates that an international student living in Sydney will require on average $18,000 – $21,000 annually to cover their living expenses. Learn more about the costs associated with living in Sydney.

When living independently, students should also consider the following additional expenses:

• Internet: $20 – $30 per month
• Mobile phone: $30 – $80 per month
• Electricity/Gas: $20 – $50 per month

Here are a couple of scenarios:

• Raul has arrived in Australia to improve his English so he can continue to travel. During his 6 months in Sydney, he decides to share a room in an apartment with 5 other students for $120 per week. Raul gets his RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificate and finds a job working twice a week at a bar. He likes to spend his weekends going out with his friends and prefers to eat out as he’s a bad cook. On average, Raul will spend about $120 a week on meals at cafes and takeaway food. Other costs include his mobile ($40/month), public transport ($150/month) and going out to clubs and bars with his friends ($150/month).

• Kim has arrived in Australia on a student visa for one year and intends to enrol in university. Kim really wants to improve her English and rents a small studio apartment for $280 a week near the school so she can focus on her studies without the distractions of sharing accommodation. She prefers to cook at home instead of going out and spends about $80/wk on shopping for groceries. When she’s not studying or working at her part time job, Kim likes to go to the movies or explore Sydney’s attractions with her friends, including many of the free events available in the city. She budgets about $40 on social activities per week. Her other expenses include a mobile phone ($30/month), public transport ($80/month) and wireless broadband internet ($30/month).