Sydney Student Cost of Living 2026: Rent, Visa Money and What You Can Earn
The Sydney student cost of living in 2026 is the highest it has been, with record rents across every Australian capital city. If you are coming from Nepal or India, here is what you must show for your visa, what rent really looks like, and how far part-time work can stretch.
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Last checked: 29 September 2026. Figures come from Domain, the ABS, SBS, Study Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman. Rents change every quarter. This is general information, not financial advice.
How much money you must show for a student visa
- Living costs: A$29,710 for 12 months for the main applicant. This amount has applied since 10 May 2024 and was reported as unchanged on 1 July 2026. Confirm on the Home Affairs student visa page.
- Partner: A$10,394. Child: A$4,449. School-age child: A$13,502 (a year, as reported).
- Plus your first-year tuition and travel costs.
- Visa fee: A$2,500 from 1 July 2026, not refunded if refused.
See how much bank balance you need to study abroad for a comparison with other countries.
Rent in Sydney vs other cities (June 2026)
Median weekly asking rents from Domain’s June 2026 report:
| City | Houses | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$850 | A$780 |
| Perth | A$750 | A$700 |
| Darwin | A$760 | A$650 |
| Canberra | A$710 | A$580 |
| Brisbane | A$700 | A$660 |
| Adelaide | A$650 | A$550 |
| Hobart | A$625 | A$520 |
| Melbourne | A$600 | A$600 |
These are asking rents for whole properties. Most students share, so a room costs much less than these figures, but share-house prices rise with the market. Vacancy rates were extremely low in June 2026: 0.4% in Adelaide and Hobart, 0.5% in Perth and 0.6% in Brisbane. The national vacancy rate was below 1%.
Sydney student cost of living: weekly budget
- Rent for a room or shared place, plus a bond (usually several weeks’ rent upfront).
- Food: food prices were up 3.2% in the year to July 2026 (ABS).
- Transport: most international students in NSW are not eligible for Opal concession fares and must use an Adult Opal card, according to the University of Sydney.
- Electricity: up 6.1% in the year to July 2026 as rebates ended.
- Phone and internet.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay.
Overall inflation was 3.5% in the year to July 2026, and rents were up 3.6% (ABS). Study Australia’s official cost of living calculator is a useful starting point, though some of its figures were last updated in 2023.
Can part-time work cover the Sydney student cost of living?
International students can work 48 hours per fortnight during term. At the casual minimum of A$33.05 an hour, that is about A$1,586 a fortnight before tax (our calculation). That covers part of the Sydney student cost of living, but rarely all of it. Many students work fewer hours, especially at first. See minimum wage in Australia.
Cheaper cities and regional study
Regional study can lower your costs and may give you extra time on a 485 visa through the second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Compare the rent table above, and also check job availability before you choose a city.
Money-saving tips to cut your Sydney student cost of living
- Share housing with people you know, and never pay a bond before seeing the room or a live video tour.
- Cook at home and buy staples from South Asian grocery stores.
- Buy second-hand textbooks and furniture.
- Keep a simple weekly budget. See our student budget guide.
- Use legal, regulated money transfer services. See send money to Nepal.
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