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Cost of Living in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth for Indian Students: Rent, Transport and Weekly Budgets

The visa asks you to show A$29,710 a year for living costs wherever you study, but the real cost differs a lot by city. Adelaide's state government puts a room at about A$200 a week; Perth's sample budget is A$595 a week in total; Sydney and Melbourne cost more, mainly because of rent.

Leonid Kurza, co-founder of EdumappleBy Leonid Kurza · co-founder of Edumapple · checked

  • ₹13,400typical room in Adelaide a week
  • ₹39,800Perth sample weekly budget
  • A$595Melbourne median new rent, a dwelling
  • 50%Victorian student travel discount

Four cities side by side

CityRentStudent transport485 category
SydneyUniversity rooms A$335–580 a weekFull fares for most1
MelbourneMedian new rent A$595 a dwelling50% travel pass1
AdelaideRoom A$150–300, typically A$200Concession metroCARD2
PerthRoom A$294–659Tertiary SmartRider2

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Where the money goes

Rent is the biggest difference between cities. Sharing a house rather than renting a studio, living one or two train stops from campus, and using student transport concessions where they exist bring most budgets down by a third. Indian groceries are easiest to find where the community is largest: Harris Park and Parramatta in Sydney, Tarneit and Dandenong in Melbourne.

Perth's sample budget

StudyPerth breaks down a week at ₹39,800 (A$595): rent A$350, utilities A$40, groceries A$80, phone and internet A$30, transport A$15 and entertainment A$80. Use it as a template and swap in the rent for your city.

Questions from Indian students: Living costs by city

Which is cheapest: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth?
Adelaide, where a room typically costs A$200 a week and total living costs run A$350–700 a week. Perth is next; Sydney is the most expensive.
How much is a room in Sydney?
University housing costs about A$335–515 a week at the University of Sydney and A$365–580 at UNSW; UNSW quotes about A$290 for a room in a share house.
Do international students get transport discounts?
In Melbourne, 50% for eligible students; in Perth, a Tertiary SmartRider; in Adelaide, a concession metroCARD for full-time students. In Sydney, generally no.
Is A$29,710 enough for a year?
It is the visa figure. In Adelaide or Perth sharing a room it can be enough; in Sydney or Melbourne most students need part-time income on top.
What else should I budget for?
Overseas Student Health Cover, a rental bond of about four weeks' rent, phone and internet, and textbooks.

Sources we checked