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Cost of Living


Introduction

Some students are unprepared for the cost of living while studying and find themselves in financial difficulties. It is important to be aware that the ANU has extremely limited financial assistance available to students, so you must plan your budget carefully.

Your cost of living will depend on your choice of lifestyle. As a student in Australia, a number of factors will affect your expenses:

  • Living on or off-campus - if you decide to live off campus, you will face considerable costs when you first arrive. You will be required to pay rent in advance, along with a security bond (usually the amount of four weeks' rent). If your house is unfurnished, as most rental properties in Canberra are, you will need to buy furniture and kitchen items.
  • Transport - owning a car or using public transport is obviously more expensive than riding a bicycle or walking.
  • Paying for school expenses (other than fees) - textbooks and other supplies can be quite expensive, particularly if you will be studying courses involving field trips or laboratory work. Some textbooks can be purchased second hand, but not all.
  • Having your family come to live with you in Australia.
  • Entertainment - restaurants, clubs, bars and films can be quite expensive.
  • Travelling in Australia during your holidays.

Estimated costs

While it is not possible to set an exact guide of what your expenses will be while living in Australia, this is the guide used by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship Affairs (DIAC) in assessing Student Visa applications (excluding your student fees). These figures DO NOT reflect the actual cost of living in Australia.

  • Living costs of A$12,000 per year if you are unaccompanied.
  • 35% extra per year if you have a spouse with you in Australia.
  • 20% extra per year if you have one child (plus A$8,000 per year for the cost of schooling, if the child is of school age).
  • 15% extra per year for each additional child (plus A$8,000 for the cost of schooling, if the child is of school age).

For a realistic estimation of living expenses, ANU recommends:

Excluding tuition fees, we estimate you will need per person as a minimum:

 

 Accommodation:   $160 per week+
 Food:  $120 per week*
 Photocopying, textbooks, stationery:     $21 per week*
 Transport:     $20 per week**
 Entertainment    $28 per week*
 Phone, internet:    $15 per week*
 Incidentals  $15 per week
 Health Cover    $7.30 per week***      
  

Total

 $20, 087.60 per year



This is an approximation only and does not include the cost of buying clothing, medicine and the like.
+ Based on weekly rent at Fenner Hall (Nov.2008) for a furnished single room with share bathroom and share kitchen facilities.
* Based on “Final Report of the Survey of International Students’ spending in Australia”, University of QLD Social Research Centre, July 2005.
** Based on cost of a weekly concession bus ticket in 2008.
*** Based on 2009 annual cost of compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover provided by Worldcare Assist.