Share a flat
Shared rooms are the cheapest option; a studio costs much more than AUD 2,000.
🇦🇺 New South Wales, Australia
Cost of Living in Sydney
Australia's largest city and most expensive rental market. Here's a realistic monthly budget for an Indian student in Sydney — rent, food, transport and insurance — in AUD and rupees.
- Rent AUD 1,300 – AUD 2,000/month
- Total AUD 2,308 – AUD 3,008/month
- ≈ ₹1.5 lakh – ₹2 lakh/month
- 7 universities
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Quick answer
How much does it cost to live in Sydney as a student?
Budget AUD 2,308 – AUD 3,008 a month (about ₹1.5 lakh – ₹2 lakh), or AUD 27,700 – AUD 36,100 a year. Rent for a room in shared housing is the biggest cost at AUD 1,300 – AUD 2,000. 10 of the 11 cities we track in Australia have lower rents.
Ask on WhatsAppUpdated · Reviewed by the Visa Edu Loans admissions & finance desk
Official sources: Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500)
Sydney budget at a glance
- Room in shared housing
- AUD 1,300 – AUD 2,000 a month
- Monthly budget
- AUD 2,308 – AUD 3,008
- Yearly budget
- AUD 27,700 – AUD 36,100
- In rupees (a year)
- ₹18 lakh – ₹24 lakh
- Visa funds rule
- Home Affairs sets a 12-month living-cost amount for the student visa
- Health cover
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for the whole visa
- Getting around
- Student concession fares are available in most states (not all for international students)
- Exchange rate used
- AUD 1 ≈ ₹66
Monthly budget
Student budget in Sydney
Planning estimates for 2026 — rents move quickly, so check live listings before you sign.
Compare
Sydney vs other student cities in Australia
Universities
Universities in Sydney
Save money
Cutting costs in Sydney
Cook at home
Groceries for about AUD 500 a month — Indian grocery stores are common in big cities.
Use student transport
Student concession fares are available in most states (not all for international students)
Work part-time
Up to 48 hours a fortnight during study periods; unlimited in scheduled breaks
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask a counsellor directly — we reply on WhatsApp during working hours (Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST).
About AUD 2,308 – AUD 3,008 (₹1.5 lakh – ₹2 lakh), including rent.
A room in shared housing usually costs AUD 1,300 – AUD 2,000 a month.
Part-time work (up to 48 hours a fortnight during study periods; unlimited in scheduled breaks) helps, but it rarely covers everything — plan savings or a loan for living costs.
Home Affairs sets a 12-month living-cost amount for the student visa
Explore
Keep exploring
Universities
Universities in Sydney
Compare
Cost of living in other Australia cities
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