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State Government of Victoria and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development logo

Every Child, Every Opportunity


  • Learn and live in a welcoming and supportive environment
    Learn and live in a welcoming and supportive environment
  • Discover one of the world's most liveable cities
  • Experience diverse cultures in Melbourne and Victoria

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

 

$12,480-

$14,560