Cost of living
When you study in Victoria, Australia, you can enjoy a very high standard of living with a relatively low cost of living. Australia actually costs less to live than many other industrialised nations.
An affordable capital city
For a capital city, Melbourne has a very reasonable cost of living. Melbourne is one of the least expensive cities in the world to live in. It’s also more affordable than most other major Australian cities.
That’s one of the reasons why we rank highly in quality of living surveys:
- 1st in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
- 4th in the Asia Pacific region and 18th in the world in Mercer’s Annual Worldwide Quality of Living Survey
Working out what it costs
The table below will help you (and your family) work out your expected cost of living. Victoria is a place where it’s possible to live well without spending a lot of money.
| Item | Description | Type | Estimated cost (AUD) |
| Homestay | Based on 7 nights accommodation & 3 meals per day ($230 - $270 per week) |
Annual | $11,960 - $14,040 |
| Books | VCE reading materials and text books |
Annual | $400 |
| Uniform | Jumper, dress/trousers, shirt, shoes |
Annual | $300 - $600 |
| Exam fees | Years 11 & 12 only | Annual | $187.20 - $386.05 |
| School Camp | If offered | Per outing | $300 - $500 |
| Transport | Train, bus and tram (MYKI passes) |
Weekly | $33.00 - $56.00 |
| Monthly | $120.00 - 186.00 | ||
| Personal expenses | Eating out | Per outing | $30 |
| Movie ticket | Per outing | $18 | |
| Newspaper | Per unit | $1.70 | |
| Magazine | Per unit | $8.75 | |
| Music (CD) | Per unit | $23 | |
| DVD Purchase | Per unit | $30 | |
| DVD Hire | Per unit | $6.50 | |
| Hot chocolate or coffee in a café | Per unit | $3.00 - $3.50 |
|
| Attraction entry (eg. Zoo, Aquarium) |
Per outing | $26 - $35 | |
| Haircut | Men's | $20 - $40 | |
| Women's | $40 - $70 | ||
| Postal services | Local | Per stamp | $0.60 |
| International | Per stamp | $2.20 | |
| Telephone services | Mobile phone | Monthly | $30 - $50 |
| Phone card | Per unit | From $10 | |
| Telephone call | Local - per call | $0.25 - $0.40 | |
| International - per minute | $0.10 - $0.60 |
