The figures below act as a guide to compare the cost of living for a single student in a rooming house, homestay, or renting a private property.
When comparing costs, please bear in mind:
- all figures are in Australian dollars
- costs will vary depending on location, lifestyle and preferences
- rooming house and homestay arrangements are calculated on a 44-week basis
- apartments are calculated on a 52-week basis
- all costs are subject to an additional 10% Goods and Service Tax (GST).
Living expenses comparison
| Establishment Costs |
Rooming House |
Homestay |
Apartment |
Bond/deposit calculation (refundable).
Further details can be found here: Consumer Affairs |
weekly rent x 4.333 |
No Bond |
weekly rent x 4.333 |
| Utility connection (electricity & gas) |
|
|
150 - 200 |
| Furniture & household goods (not whitegoods) |
|
|
1,200 |
| Books, stationery, equipment |
600 |
600 |
600 |
| Clothes |
700 |
700 |
700 |
| Accommodation fee |
13,200 - 20,240 |
13,860 |
15,080 - 23,920 |
| Food (includes snacks) |
60 |
60 |
100 |
| Travel (does not apply to students in walking distance) |
41 |
41 |
41 |
| Gas, electricity, water |
|
|
35-45 |
| Mobile Telephone |
30 - 70 pm |
30 - 70 pm |
30 - 70 pm |
| Internet (may be included in the rent, check with the acommodation) |
from 40 pm |
40 pm |
from 40 pm |
| Miscellaneous expenses (medical, movies etc) |
65 |
65 |
65 |
For more information on the cost of living in Australia and price summaries, please visit Living in Victoria.