Cost of living

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Cost of living

Living costs

Introduction

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Whether you’re moving to Canberra from overseas or relocating from interstate, you’ll need to think about your general living costs, as well as your study costs. Understanding how much things like accommodation, food, utilities and entertainment cost will help you plan a realistic budget. 

Where you live and study can make a big difference to your living costs. Canberra is one of the most affordable cities in Australia for students, which means living and studying at our Bruce campus is a great option.

Basic expenses

Basic expenses

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There are a few basic expenses you'll need to budget for when considering the cost of living in Canberra.

Accommodation

Accommodation

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Whether you choose to live in university-approved housing at our Bruce campus or find your own place in Canberra, your accommodation costs will vary depending on the living arrangement you’re after and your budget.

There are over 2,500 beds available in UC’s approved accommodation and our four residences are located on or close to campus. You can choose from studio apartments or multi-share apartments with private bedrooms – costs start from $162 per week.

If you'd prefer to live off campus, you might choose a homestay or private rental accommodation, which can vary from $160 per week for a room in a share house to $400–500 per week for a 2–3 bedroom house.

Transport

Transport

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Wherever you choose to live, you’ll still need to get around Canberra – whether you’re driving or using public transport, there will be some costs to consider. Canberra is a small, compact city well serviced by public transport, so you can get almost everywhere using the bus and light rail network. Tertiary students can apply for a concession card for public transport travel, which reduces the cost to just $1.61 per trip, capped at $4.80 per day. If you intend to drive in Canberra, you’ll need to consider the cost of purchasing a vehicle and factor in things like fuel, running costs and parking.

Food and groceries

Food and groceries

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Experiencing Canberra’s great food scene at cafes, pubs and restaurants is a highlight of living in the city. As well as enjoying eating out and about, you’ll need to budget for your everyday groceries and fresh food. There are a great range of farmers' markets, supermarkets and other fresh produce sellers where you’ll be able to buy everything you need. You’ll need to budget around $100–$150 a week for food and groceries for one person.

Utilities

Utilities

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Along with your accommodation, you’ll need to budget for home utilities such as electricity, gas and water, as well as the costs of any mobile phone or internet connections you set up. Utility bills can range from anywhere between $20–50 per week.

Weekly basic expenses

Cost of living icon 1

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Accommodation

$162–500

Cost of living icon 2

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Transport

$10–30

Cost of living icon 3

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Groceries

$100–150

Cost of living icon 4

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Utilities

$20–50

Weekly basic expenses

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Please note that all figures are estimates only. The actual costs you incur will be determined by your lifestyle.

Learn more about student living costs in Australia

Living costs with dependents

Living costs with dependents

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If you’re coming to study in Australia and you have school-aged children or younger, you’ll need to also consider the cost of care and schooling for your dependents. You’ll need to arrange schooling for any child/children who are six years or older for the duration of your stay. For children under the age of six, UC offers two childcare centres at our Bruce campus, or there are many other local childcare facilities available in Canberra.

See the ACT Government Education Directorate for information on school enrolments, key dates and fees

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