Cost of living in Melbourne


Get to know the cost of living in Melbourne as an RMIT student so you can start planning your budget.

Organising your costs as a student can seem complicated, but RMIT is here to help.

In addition to tuition and study fees, you will need to pay for living costs including rent, food, textbooks and transport.

These expenses vary according to your circumstances, such as the type of accommodation you choose, its location, the number of people you live with and your lifestyle.

Discover everything you need to know about the everyday living costs in Melbourne below!

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Explore the costs of living in Melbourne

The following is a guide to the average weekly rental prices per property type in Metropolitan Melbourne, where the RMIT City campus is located.

Property Type Median Rent
1 Bed Flat

AU$450

2 Bed Flat

AU$550

3 Bed Flat

AU$600

2 Bed House

AU$520

3 Bed House

AU$500

4 Bed House

AU$550

You should also prepare for your home set-up costs and allow AU$3,000-$5,000 to cover establishment expenses, such as bond payment, advance rent, furniture, and other household items. Some student apartments come fully furnished, but private rental accommodation are rarely furnished.

Explore student housing options in Melbourne

In addition to rental expenses, renting costs, we’ve prepared a sample weekly budget to help you understand what other typical costs to expect.

Study Australia’s Cost of Living Calculator is designed to give you a broad estimate of your potential costs living in Melbourne.

Item Cost per person per week
Food and eating out

AU$150-250

Phone and Internet

AU$15-30

Public Transport

AU$30-60

Gas and/or electricity

AU$10-20

Car (after purchase)

AU$150-260

Entertainment

AU$30-150

Source: Study Australia

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Cost of Living in Melbourne for Students

Thinking about studying in Melbourne, Australia as an international student? It's essential to grasp the cost of living to ensure a stress-free financial journey and maximize your study experience. Explore this breakdown of estimated costs to strategically plan your budget and make informed lifestyle choices while pursuing your education in Australia.

photographic portrait of international student ivy from vietnam

“If you don’t want to live in a house sharing with people, you could look at student accommodation like Scape or UniLodge. My friends live at Scape and they really enjoy it, and you can use it as a rental reference for future accommodation.”

Ivy, from Vietnam

Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication)

Other costs of living for international students

If you have a family or dependants, you may be able to bring them with you to Australia. In this case, you should also account for their living expenses as well as other costs associated with your student visa. 

Health insurance

Your family members must have health insurance as one of the conditions of their visa. If you’re on a single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) membership, you’ll need to pay extra to add your dependants to your cover.

School tuition fees

If your children are between 5 and 18 years old, and they will be in Australia for three months or more, they are required to be enrolled in a primary or secondary school. International students should stay updated on the Victorian Public Schools International Students Program to learn more about current cost estimates.

If you are a postgraduate research student, you are exempt from paying primary and secondary school fees at public schools.

In addition to living costs, you need to pay for study-related expenses, including tuition fees, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and other fees associated with your course.

Reducing your living costs as an international student

Got questions about moving to Melbourne?

Get in touch with the friendly staff at Study@RMIT if you have any questions about the process of applying to study in Melbourne. Our staff are ready to answer any questions you have about courses, applications, pathways and important dates for local and international prospective students.

Explore more

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.