Indicative weekly living-cost ranges for major study cities, plus the Department of Home Affairs financial-capacity figure used in Student visa (Subclass 500) planning. Figures are guides only — your actual rent and lifestyle will vary.
Ranges below cover shared rent, groceries and public transport for a single student. They sit alongside — and are often higher or lower than — the visa financial-capacity amount, which is a minimum evidence threshold rather than a personal budget.
The Department of Home Affairs currently cites AUD $29,710 per year as the living-cost amount for the primary Student visa applicant (figure published in the May 2024 update and still widely used for 2026 applications — always verify on the Home Affairs Student visa page). You must also evidence tuition, travel and OSHC. HeadStart Academy is not a migration agent.