The official figure
For a student visa, Home Affairs asks for ₹20 lakh (A$29,710) for twelve months of living costs, plus a year's tuition (pro rata for shorter courses), travel of about A$2,000 from India, and A$10,394 for a partner or A$4,449 for each child where family members are allowed. Instead of savings, parents can show a personal annual income of at least A$87,856, proved with tax assessments less than twelve months old.
Free counselling
Get a monthly budget for Australia in rupees
Expect a call or a WhatsApp message from an Edumapple adviser within one working day. You pay nothing for that first consultation.
- Courses your marks and degree qualify for
- Tuition and the visa living funds, counted in rupees
- GS answers, visa timing and your 485 plan
Rent by city
| City | What official sources show |
|---|---|
| Melbourne | Median rent for new lettings A$595 a week (Homes Victoria, June quarter 2026) |
| Brisbane | One-bedroom flat A$590, all dwellings A$650 a week (RTA Queensland, September quarter 2026) |
| Gold Coast | One-bedroom flat A$615, all dwellings A$820 a week (RTA Queensland, September quarter 2026) |
| Perth | A room A$294–659 a week; on-campus housing A$225–740 (StudyPerth) |
| Adelaide | A room A$150–300 a week, typically A$200; student accommodation typically A$350 (StudyAdelaide) |
| Sydney | University housing from A$335 a week (University of Sydney) and A$365 (UNSW); a share-house room near UNSW about A$290 |
| Canberra | ANU residences from about A$319 a week |
| Wollongong | University of Wollongong catered single room A$356 a week in 2027 |
Most Indian students share a house or flat with three or four others in their first year, which brings a room close to the low end of these ranges. City-by-city detail is on cities.
A sample month
The Western Australian government's Perth budget for a student in a shared city flat: rent A$350 a week, shared utilities A$40, groceries A$80, phone and internet A$30, public transport A$15 and entertainment A$80, a total of A$595 a week. Swap the rent for A$450–500 and the same budget fits Sydney or Melbourne.
Transport
- Melbourne: the International Student Travel Pass halves fares for eligible bachelor's, diploma and advanced diploma students; a 365-day state-wide pass costs A$556.
- Brisbane and the Gold Coast: every journey costs 50 cents, for everyone.
- Perth: a Tertiary SmartRider gives international students more than half off; CAT buses are free, and public transport is free on Sundays.
- Darwin: all public buses are free.
- Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong: no tertiary concession for most international students.
Work and tax
The visa allows up to 48 hours of work a fortnight while classes run, and any number of hours in scheduled course breaks. A student who stays more than six months is usually a tax resident and pays no income tax on the first A$18,200 a year; employers also pay superannuation on top of wages, which you can claim when you leave Australia for good. See working while studying.