Cost of studying in Australia calculator
Add your course and city, and this works out the full first-year and whole-degree cost: tuition, rent, food, transport, health cover, the student visa, and flights. It also shows the amount you need to evidence for the visa. The totals update as you change each answer.
First-year total
A$77,910
Tuition, living, health cover, visa, flights, and setup for year one.
Whole degree (2 years)
A$150,620
Assumes tuition and living costs hold steady, which they usually rise a little each year.
Year-one breakdown
- Tuition
- A$38,000
- Living costs (Melbourne, room in a shared house)
- A$34,060
- Health cover (OSHC, single)
- A$650
- Student visa (subclass 500)
- A$2,500
- Flights
- A$1,200
- Initial setup
- A$1,500
That works out to about A$2,838 a month for living costs, and roughly A$370 a week for rent.
What you must show for the student visa
A$69,710
Home Affairs asks you to evidence 12 months of living costs (A$29,710 for you), plus first-year tuition and about A$2,000 travel. The funds also need a genuine history, so show more than the minimum. See the subclass 500 page.
Estimates only, in Australian dollars. Rent is the big variable and the figure here is a midpoint of published ranges. Tuition varies by course, OSHC and airfares by provider and season, and the visa fee and living-cost minimum are set by the Australian Government and change. Price your actual course and get quotes before you commit.
Cost of studying in Australia: common questions
How much does it cost to study in Australia for international students?
For most students, a first year runs between A$40,000 and A$80,000 all in: roughly A$30,000 to A$50,000 tuition, about A$30,000 living costs, the A$2,500 student visa, around A$650 health cover, plus flights and setup. Group of Eight universities and the Sydney and Melbourne cost of living sit at the top of that range.
How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa?
You evidence 12 months of living costs (A$29,710 for the primary applicant, set by the Australian Government), plus first-year tuition and about A$2,000 for travel. Add A$10,394 for a partner and A$4,449 per child. The funds also need a genuine savings history, so most successful applications show a margin above the minimum.
Is this cost calculator accurate?
It gives a realistic estimate from published 2026 ranges, but it is not a quote. Rent is the largest and most variable cost and the calculator uses a midpoint. Tuition depends on your exact course, and OSHC and airfares vary by provider and season. Use it to plan, then get real figures before you commit.
What is the cheapest way to study in Australia?
Pick a regional or newer university rather than a Group of Eight, study in Adelaide, Perth, or a regional city rather than Sydney or Melbourne, share accommodation, and choose a two-year master's over a longer degree. Studying regionally also earns skilled-migration points, which many students value more than the fee saving.
Does the calculator include working part-time?
No. Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight in session, which for many students covers a meaningful share of living costs, but the visa requires you to show you can fund your study without relying on that income. The figures here are what you plan for, not what you will necessarily spend from savings.