Budget
Living in Australia is affordable. We recommend that you set aside AUD$350-$400 per week for living expenses.
Cost of Living
Your living costs in Australia will vary depending on where you're living and your lifestyle. If you cook your own food at home its far cheaper than eating takeaway or eating out in restaurants. There are many ways to make the most of your budget and save money.
Here is an estimate of costs for some everyday expenses
| Bus or train ticket | $20 - $35 per week (depending on how far from campus you live) |
| For more information on public transport please visit Sydney Transport Infoline website | |
| Movie ticket | $11 (Student Price - It can be cheaper on Tuesday nights) |
| Cup of coffee | $3 |
| Pre-paid Overseas phone card | $10-$20 per week |
| Take away food | $10-$15 |
| Lunch in a cafe | $8-$15 |
| Fast food (McDonald, KFC etc) | $5-$10 |
Shopping
Australian cities offer a wide range of shopping facilities. Supermarkets stock a huge range of products and are reasonably competitive in price. Supermarket 'home brands' are usually cheapest. It pays to shop around and buy fruit and vegetables that are in season as they're cheaper. Most stores offer a wide range of ingredients for International as well as Australian cuisines, and most have a large Asian and imported food section.
Other expenses
From time to time you'll incur other expenses such as postal charges, gifts and haircuts.
- Post charges: for more information visit www.post.com.au
- Hairdresser: range from $20 to $60 for a basic haircut.
Telephone
Expenses for phone communications depends on whether you're using a home phone, mobile or both. For mobile connections we'd recommend you look for a pre-paid card or plan that best suits your needs. Pre-paid international phone cards can be very inexpensive and are available at most convenience stores and newsagents.
School Aged Dependents
If you have a school aged dependent, you will be required to pay full fees if enrolled in either a government or non-government school.
