Gold Coast, also known as Australia’s Gold Coast, is a city located on the east coast of the country, within the state of Queensland.

When you visit the city for the first time, you will be quite surprised by the contrast of tall skyscrapers and kilometers of white sandy beaches.

Summer is the high season in Gold Coast. Many young people decide to visit attracted by its beaches and lively nightlife. That is why tourism grows considerably during this time of year, also increasing job opportunities in the service sector. This is a great advantage if your intention is to live in Gold Coast while studying and working.

Tranquility reigns throughout the year on the Gold Coast, so if you are looking to live in a larger city, you can decide to live in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.

If you want to receive more information about the city of Gold Coast, write to us or keep reading!

The most popular neighborhoods are Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach (which we could consider the downtown). They are also the neighborhoods with the most tourist offer in terms of restaurants, shops, and hotels in Gold Coast.

Other neighborhoods not to be missed are Burleigh Heads or Mermaid Beach. Burleigh Heads has a bohemian atmosphere, an exceptional surfing beach, and its own natural park. Mermaid Beach is a charming neighborhood inhabited by many locals and students who have been living in Gold Coast for a while. This neighborhood also offers you a variety of leisure plans due to its proximity to Nobbys Beach, where you will find many of the city’s restaurants, cafes, and trendy places.

Other neighborhoods worth visiting are Paradise Point with many green areas or Runaway Bay with its canal system, marina, and reefs.

Weekly accommodation prices in Gold Coast based on location are:

• Single room between $250 – $350 AUD/week.
• Shared room between $200 – $250 AUD/week.

Price range between a more peripheral and central area.

For your first days in Gold Coast, you won’t have to worry about anything because your Dingoos Integration Coordinator will manage accommodation for your first days. Where, in addition, you will meet other students and Work & Holidays, because we know how worried you come when you embark on this great adventure. Remember that you will always have us and our great community so you never feel alone.

Best areas to live in Gold Coast

Here we review the best neighborhoods to live in the city. Choose yours!

The most used means of transportation is the tram. It has a 13 km line that connects the most populated neighborhoods although it is true that it does not reach all points of the city. Also, since life in Gold Coast is lived in a very relaxed way, it usually takes a while between trips. Buses are also a good means of public transportation in Gold Coast, operating 24 hours a day and reaching the main points of the city. With the “Translink” system, you can use the same ticket to travel both by bus and tram.

Upon your arrival in Gold Coast with Dingoos, your integrator will accompany you personally to get your transport card and explain how it works. Our Gold Coast team will make it super easy for you to adapt as soon as possible.

Another way to get around in Gold Coast is by bike. You have the option to buy a second-hand one or you can also rent it. In addition, the city council is building bike lanes. There is already a completed section which is the Ocean way that runs 36 km parallel to the coast.

Still, the quintessential means of transportation among our students is the motorcycle or car. In Gold Coast, the prices of these vehicles in the second-hand market are very affordable. Thus, they can move more comfortably around the city and even help them look for work in a much more effective way. If you want to know how to buy a car in Australia, here is a post where we explain everything about it.

The price of an average weekly shopping basket in Gold Coast is not as expensive as in other Australian cities. If you shop smart and brands are not your priority, you can do your weekly shopping for $80 – $100 AUD.

As advice to save money on your weekly shopping, we recommend that you do not buy fruits and vegetables at supermarkets. In Gold Coast, there are many greengrocers where you will find much cheaper prices. The best known is in the Pacific Fair shopping center.

The price of leisure is quite permissive in this city. For example, on Tuesdays, you can go to the movies for about $16.5 AUD, a coffee can cost you $4.70 AUD, and you can eat at a fast food restaurant for $13 – $20 AUD.

If you enjoy partying, you’ll find it in Gold Coast, and if you prefer daytime activities and sports, it’s also the place for you. This Australian tourist city combines a multitude of leisure activities, parties, outdoor events, surfing, and markets.

There are very popular activities in Gold Coast such as beach or green area yoga, outdoor picnics, or having a good barbecue with friends. At Dingoos, we organize meetups every week to keep you active and make sure you enjoy the adventure to the fullest. You won’t be short of plans!

Gold Coast has a very international character. Proof of this are the different Facebook groups of foreigners where they also inform about parties, plans, and interesting getaways.

Living in Gold Coast means being able to enjoy pleasant weather almost all year round. With its subtropical climate, you can have around 245 sunny days a year. The average temperature in summer (from December to February) is 25ºC. The atmosphere is somewhat humid but balanced by the cool sea breeze. In winter (from June to August), the average temperature is around 16ºC, with a cool and dry atmosphere.

Thanks to this ideal climate for outdoor activities, at Dingoos, we host a bunch of events that are also free: barbecues, surf lessons, yoga, soccer, and much more. With so many weekly plans, you won’t have time to get bored. Check our Facebook page if you want to see all our monthly events in advance.

Its temperate climate, multicultural environment, low cost of living, and endless leisure options, combined with the quality of schools to study English and VET courses, make Gold Coast a great destination to study and live a unique experience in Australia. Also, with the student visa, you can work part-time (24 hours/week) during classes and full-time (48 hours/week) during holidays.

To study in Gold Coast, you will have to meet some requirements, such as enrolling in a course approved by the Australian Government or applying for your student visa. At Dingoos, we help you in all phases of your experience, not only before your arrival but also throughout your stay in Gold Coast.

Write to us, and a Dingoos Guide will contact you to advise you and help you plan your Australian adventure.

Gold Coast offers a high and constant job offer throughout the year, especially in the service sector. If you manage well, it’s possible to cover your expenses with an average salary of $480 AUD per week working part-time with an average salary. So, if you’ve decided to live in Gold Coast with a student visa, you can work 24 hours a week with an average salary of $480 AUD.

To be able to work in Gold Coast, in addition to having your student visa, you will have to apply for the Tax File Number before starting to work. It’s a simple procedure, and you can do it once you have arrived in the city, but don’t worry because if you travel to Gold Coast with Dingoos, your integrator will help you apply for your TFN.

If you finally decide to live in Gold Coast, here are some places you shouldn’t miss:

Learn about Adrian Ramirez’s experience studying English in Gold Coast to discover the Australian golden coast before arriving.

• Gold Coast has more canals than Venice and Amsterdam combined. Over 500 km of navigable canals. In fact, the city is built among the canals. However, we don’t recommend taking a dip in the canals as bull sharks inhabit them.
• In Gold Coast, you can see whales from the coast. The whale watching season is very long, starting in June and lasting until November. If you want to take an excursion to see them in the wild, take advantage of this discount for being a Dingoos student.

Many of our Dingoos choose Gold Coast to study and work because there are plenty of educational options and many opportunities to find seasonal jobs in the service sector.

If you feel like starting your Australian experience in Gold Coast, don’t hesitate to contact us, we will advise you and accompany you on this wonderful journey.

If you’re thinking about living for a while in Gold Coast, take a look at the following video and discover what it would be like to do it in 2024. Because the moment is now or too late. We’re waiting for you!

Since we know it’s very difficult to choose a destination in Australia, we want to help you by sharing the advantages and disadvantages of living in each city.