Groceries

Depending on your taste preferences and whether you are eating salmon or sticking with canned beans for dinner the average home cooked meal will cost you:

• $2 a day for breakfast
• $5 a day for lunch
• $11 a day for dinner

Eating Out

Eating out will cost you a significant amount more, with the average prices of meals in Melbourne:

• $18 for breakfast
• $17 for lunch
• $25 per meal at dinner

Drinking Out

Coffee, Coffee, COFFEE. If you are a coffee drinker and you have an acquired taste for barista-made coffee, you will know we are looking at a budget increase here. An average cup of coffee in Australia is $4.20 per cup.

To save some money, you can make your own coffee at home – it is FREE!

Other than coffee, the average Aussie loves a social glass of beer or wine with their lunch. On average in Australia, a glass of wine, beer or cider ranges between $10 to $12 each, with spirits being on the more expensive end costing around $12 to $25. 

If you were to eat all your meals at home for 6 out of the 7 days ($108) and indulge on Saturday ($60) you are looking at around $165 per week on food. Adding on 3 coffees per week ($12.60) and 3 social drinks ($36), your weekly total would be around $220. This total will range significantly depending on individual habits and preferences. 

When signing a lease for a rental property in Australia you are expected to pay an upfront security bond payment to the RTBA (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority). The standard is 4 x your weekly rent payment, however this could be more depending on the individual home or apartment. Once you have decided to move out of your rental property, you will receive your bond back (minus any damages or cleaning fees).

Campus accommodation (for students only)

This is by far the most expensive option, but comes with its benefits and convenience. Living on campus means that you not only wake up daily on the university’s doorstep but you save money on other expenses such as food and transport. 

The average cost of living on campus at a university in the Melbourne area ranges between $660 to $820 per week. Keeping in mind you will have your meals cooked for you every day, utilities are included and you will most likely be travelling less than you would be if you lived off campus. However, you will still need to budget for eating out, health costs, your phone bill and entertainment.

Student Accommodation

Want a similar experience and culture to living on campus but at a more affordable price? Commercial accommodation for students is scattered across Melbourne’s CBD. Student accommodation such as Scape, Iglu, UniLodge, Urbanest, Journal, The Student Housing Company and Atira are great options if you want to stay somewhere convenient and near other students.  

The cost will vary depending on the company and your room choice, however, it is important to remember this only includes your rent and utilities. Food, entertainment, eating out, phone and health costs will all need to be factored in.

Weekly cost: $270 to $325

Annual cost: $14,040 to $16,900

Private Lease or Sharehouse Accommodation

Moving into a sharehouse (on average) will work out to be the cheapest option when you move to Australia. 

Forecasting a budget for a sharehouse can be tricky, for example: your individual preference on the factors above will impact the price. On average you can expect to pay between $175 – $400 per week, keeping in mind this does not include utilities. 

Weekly cost: $100 to $350

Monthly cost: $400 to $1,400

The most trusted and most popular search engines for rental (and sale) or properties in Australia are www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au. 

On average a Myki costs over $2,000 a year travelling 6 days per week, however an iUSEpass costs just $861.25 per year between Zone 1 + 2. To learn more about zones visit the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) website here. Depending on which accommodation option you settle on will influence your need for an iUSEpass. To learn more information on the benefits of the pass visit the PTV page for international students here.