Cost of Living in Melbourne: Melbourne is one of the most expensive cities for foreign students. In comparison to Adelaide, Melbourne’s cost of living is still relatively high. According to the QS Top Universities report, Melbourne is the second most expensive city in Australia after Sydney.
According to the Mercer Cost of Living Survey, Melbourne, which is ranked second, is one of the hardest cities for students to live in. The cost of living continues to be significantly influenced by expenses for food, transportation, education, housing, and other necessities.
This article has been designed to explore every significant aspect related to the cost of living in Melbourne in the several parts below.
Cost of Living in Melbourne for International Students
The average cost of living in Melbourne for foreign students ranges from 2,132 to 2,652 Australian dollars per month (10 Australian dollars are equivalent to 6.40 US Dollars). Students coming from foreign countries need to spend money on some obligatory necessities such as lodging/housing, daily living expenses, utilities, health, tuition, etc.
Foreign national students cannot escape this if they are planning to boost their academic profile with quality education at Australian universities, colleges, or institutions located in Melbourne.
The cost of living becomes much more costly as students incur some personal expenses for entertainment or exploration purposes by engaging in local sports, music concerts, or related activities.
Cost of Living: List of Necessary Products and Prices
It is important for students planning to study in Melbourne to note down some essential products or items that are to be used when living in the city. Creating a list and estimating a cost will give aspiring students an idea of how much load they need to bear on their pockets when pursuing and living simultaneously in Melbourne. Some of the significant products and prices are detailed in the following graph below.
Product (Item) | Expenses (AUD) |
White Bread (500g) | AUD 3.51 |
Eggs (1Kg) | AUD 5.47 |
Gym/Fitness Club | AUD 76.29 (Monthly) |
Water (1.5 Liter bottle) | AUD 2.75 |
Apple (1 KG) | AUD 4.92 |
Rice (1 KG) | AUD 3.51 |
One Shirt or T-Shirt | AUD 46.78 |
Note: All the expenses that have been mentioned in the afore-drawn table are merely estimates. The cost may vary depending on the location of the city and the number of students staying there.
Cost of Living in Melbourne: Average Rent
Rent is one of the major costs which the students have to bear when they are living in Melbourne. Since we have already talked about the essential items that you need to carry while travelling for your studies in melbourne, let us now talk about the average rent that you might have to pay if you going to rent a house. This is one of the part where the major part of your Cost of Living in Melbourne goes.
Depending on the requirements of individual students, we have covered various dimensional housings and shared the list below. The rents that are listed below are only estimates, so students must keep this in mind.
- Students opting for 85 m2 (900 sq ft) of completely furnished accommodation in expensive and normal locations need to pay a monthly amount of between AUD 2,922 and AUD 2,042.
- The monthly rents for a 45 m2 (480 sq ft) furnished studio in expensive and non-expensive locations are AUD 2,275 and AUD 1,693.
Cost of living in Melbourne: Tuition Cost
Melbourne consists of around nine public institutions, among which four are universities and the remaining are known as the Technical and Further Education Division (TAFE). The average tuition fees which the students might need to pay to get admitted to one of the institutions varies from around 20,000 to 45,000 Australian Dollars per year.
The amount reaches a new height for master’s and doctoral degree programs. It is found in the range of 22,000 to 50,000 Australian Dollars per year at Melbourne-based universities. The university-wise information about the tuition cost in Melbourne is detailed below.
- Victoria University: Victoria University normally asks for fees ranging between 13,700-18,800 Australian dollars per semester for undergraduate programs. For graduate or postgraduate programs, the semester-wise fee ranges from 14,900-19,400 Australian dollars.
- Swinburne University of Technology: The university normally accepts 29,400-40,600 Australian dollars per semester for undergraduate programs. The postgraduate course fee at Swinburne University of Technology can be found between 16,860-41,200 Australian dollars.
- Monash University: Monash University approximately asks for fees ranging from 36,500 to 49,200 Austrian Dollars per semester for undergraduate levels programs. The fee that is asked by Monash University for postgraduate level programs is seen as 37,200-50,000 Austrian Dollars per semester.
Cost of Living in Melbourne: Utility fee
If we are talking about the cost of living, then we cannot forget the influence that utility plays. Utility bills are mainly monthly bills that come into existence due to some unavoidable needs, such as water, gas, electricity, and so on. The utility bills are not merely restricted to the above-mentioned examples but consist of more, such as Internet, phone, streaming services, and more.
We have mentioned below the estimated amount for various utility bills that you might need to pay while living in Melbourne. The expenses mentioned below are just an estimation of the total cost and it might vary depending on your usage.
- Electricity/Cooling/Garbage/Water: The estimated cost for the mentioned utilities in Melbourne remains at 200 Australian dollars per month.
- Internet with Unlimited Data (60 Mbps): An Australian Dollar of 70 is required for an Unlimited Internet pack per month.
- Food: The expense for food both indoors and outdoors can cost from 140 to 300 Australian dollars per month.
- Entertainment: The cost of entertainment in Melbourne is seen in the anticipated range of 80 to 150 Australian dollars per month.
Transportation Expenses in Melbourne
Transportation costs or expenses in Melbourne vary due to available options. The average monthly cost of transportation in Melbourne is between 30 and 70 Australian dollars. International students, however, have the opportunity to opt for discounted or free bus travel in Melbourne. The details related to it can be found at studyaustralia.gov.au
There are normally four options available for international students to travel, including trams, buses, trains, and ferries. More information about the public transportation system for international students in Melbourne is available in the following pointers.
- Student 90-Day Pass: For about 270 Australian dollars, this pass entitles you to use city public transportation for 90 days.
- Student 180-Day Pass: Students have to pay 540 dollars for the student 180-day pass.
- Student 365-Day Pass: Students who want to receive a massive discount and travel without restriction throughout the year in Melbourne can make a student pass of 365 days. This may cost them 975 Australian dollars.
Affordable Provinces to Live in Melbourne
Rent takes away the most part of the expenses which the students have to incur in Melbourne. However, there are options which the students can consider to cut down the cost which they have to incur for the rent. Students who find Melbourne a bit expensive can live in places near the main city to cut down the expenses. These places are best for the students to stay and balance their expenses. Some of the ideal locations near Melbourne are listed below.
- Werribee
- Hoppers Crossing
- Carlton
- Coolaroo
- Abbotsford
Tips for Lowering Melbourne’s Cost of Living:
Almost all factors that contribute to or have an impact on Melbourne’s cost of living have been covered. It is time to find out how students can cut back on some of the expenses associated with living in Melbourne while enrolled in the program. The following pointers indicate the tips for each and every aspect of expenses:
Accommodation: Students can save a significant amount of money during their stay. They will be assisted in doing this by their choice to stay in the shared room. This will reduce not only the room rent but also other expenses such as internet, water, electricity, and so on. If students decide to live in a shared room, they will only be required to pay half the total cost.
Discounts for Students: Students in Melbourne have access to a variety of discounts that they should take advantage of in order to reduce their living expenses. Discounts can be found at restaurants, transportation providers, retail establishments, historical sites, and more.