If you’re pondering all these questions, you’ve come to the right place
Our experience living in these lands will help clarify your main doubts about the cost of living in Australia.
4 Factors That Will Determine Your Cost of Living in Australia
You’ll need to keep these four elements in mind when calculating your cost of living in Australia:
The City You Live In
As in all countries, the big capitals tend to be more expensive than the rest. In general, the cost of living in Madrid is going to be higher than in Almería, as is the case between Sydney and the Gold Coast. Above all, you will notice the difference in the cost of accommodation and transport (not because it has to be more expensive, but because due to the greater distances you will use it more).
Does this mean that you can forget about living in Sydney? Well, in principle not, because just as it happens between Almería and Madrid, you may also earn more per hour in Sydney and have more jobs to choose from. Therefore, when choosing a city, the cost of living does not have to be a determining factor, and other factors must be taken into account.
Your Location Within the City
In addition to this, in principle, the closer you live to the centre of a city, the more expensive the rents will be. But, in addition, there are neighbourhoods that are cheaper than others and within the neighbourhoods, an apartment on the beachfront or with great views of a park will always cost more.
Type of Accommodation You Choose
The cheapest option is always going to be to share a room in an apartment with another student. After that, renting a room will be cheaper than living in a student residence, for example.
Availability of Services Nearby
If you have low-cost supermarkets near your home, your shopping will always be cheaper. These are not usually in the city centre, so your food may cost more or less depending on your access to cheaper shops.
On the other hand, if you can travel for free, on foot or by bike, you will save a lot of money. That is why it is important to carefully evaluate the decisions that make you save.
What Will My Initial Investment Be to Live in Australia?
A few months ago, we published an article about the savings needed to start your Australian adventure. In short, we estimated you’d need $6,640 AUD (about €4,100). Here’s the breakdown:
- $1,600 AUD for a student visa
- $1,500 AUD for tuition
- $1,500 AUD for flights
The rest to cover your first month’s expenses, such as accommodation, food, etc.
Cost of Living in Australia by City
As we mentioned, the cost of living varies by city. To give you an idea, let’s explore some key cities, focusing mainly on accommodation, which tends to create the most significant differences.
Cost of Living in Sydney
Accommodation in Sydney is usually more expensive than in other parts of Australia, although it depends on the neighborhood. For instance: Northern Sydney is quite upscale, and this reflects in rents, sometimes even higher than in the city center. On the outskirts, a room can cost around $280 AUD per week, while in trendy areas like Eastern Suburbs (Bondi) or the city center, prices can easily reach $500–550 AUD per week.
For groceries, you won’t notice much difference between cities. At major supermarkets, you can spend around $100–120 AUD per week for a basic diet (no luxuries).
Transportation in Sydney is pricey, but there are ways to save, such as traveling off-peak and using the Opal Card.
When it comes to entertainment, Sydney offers so much that you’ll always find something that suits your budget. There are expensive restaurants and pubs where a pint could cost a fortune, but also more reasonably priced options.
Cost of Living in Melbourne
Living in Melbourne is generally cheaper than in Sydney, mainly due to lower accommodation costs and savings on transportation (thanks to free tram zones and a high prevalence of cycling). Near the center, renting a private room might cost around $450 AUD per week, but you can find good options farther out for $250 AUD per week. If you share a room, you could live in the city center for around $200–240 AUD per week.
Melbourne’s cultural scene is a big plus—there are countless free events, so you can save a lot on entertainment.
Here are some Melbourne neighborhoods that are great places to live.
Cost of Living in Perth
As you can see, we go from most to least expensive, although in the case of Perth, the cost of living can be very close to that of Melbourne. In the center, a room can easily cost you $375 AUD. What differentiates it from Sydney or Melbourne is that if you go to a more remote neighborhood you can find much cheaper options ($240 AUD). If you are thinking of living in Perth, do not miss this article about its main neighborhoods.
Regarding leisure, Perth has fewer options than other cities, but you will still find quite a lot of variability in prices, it will only be a matter of having found your favorite places that adapt to your budget over time.
Cost of Living in Brisbane
Accommodation in Brisbane is usually cheaper than in the three previous cities. In the centre, as in all of them, we could be talking about $300 AUD per week, but if we go further away we can find options for about $225 AUD per week.
For public transport, the card that works in Brisbane is the Go Card, which saves you 30% compared to the single ticket and if you travel outside of rush hour, 20% more. In addition, you can rent public bikes, which are free for the first half hour if you have the Go Card in subscription mode.
Cost of living in Gold Coast
Gold Coast is cheaper than the previous ones. For rent, you can find rooms in apartments or houses in very good locations for around $350-400 AUD per week, and further away from the center for around $250 AUD.
Regarding leisure, keep in mind that it is a very touristy city. This means that there will be a lot of price variability and that there are bars and restaurants in the most famous areas that are better not to frequent (not only because of the prices, but because of the quality/price ratio). Don’t worry because we dingoos are great guides and we will guide you perfectly so that you don’t fall into the scam box.
Regarding transportation, the Go Card also works here. Something very good about Gold Coast, compared to other larger cities, is that you will be able to get around a lot by bike, with all the savings that this entails.
Cost of living in Byron Bay
In Byron Bay you will save on transport, as you can almost do all the travelling on foot or by bike. As for accommodation, there is a big difference in price between high and low season. In low season you can rent a room for between $250-$350 AUD or even less. But in high season things get complicated, and if you haven’t lived there for a while, have contacts and a good eye, it can be quite difficult to find something decent and affordable.
Tips for saving money in Australia
Here are some tips that will help you save a lot:
- Don’t rule out sharing a room, keep in mind that you can always look for a single if you’re not feeling well.
- Make a shopping list and go to the cheapest supermarkets, like Aldi, once a month or a week. That way you won’t end up buying little by little in small stores, which tend to be more expensive.
- If you’re not very agile on a bike, get your act together, because in many cities it’s the best means of transport.
- Be careful with unfurnished rooms. Think carefully about how much it will cost you to furnish it before you say “I do”.
- In most cities they offer a lot of free cultural events: visits to museums, workshops, screenings, etc. When you arrive, look for them, because they will make you enjoy without spending a penny.
- At Dingoos we also offer many for our students: yoga classes, excursions, parties, etc. Keep an eye out and don’t miss any of them.
And… keep in mind that in any city working part-time will be able to support you without problems in Australia. So, if you have your initial savings, jump like a kangaroo because here we will welcome you with open arms. Look at everything we can do for you.
