Cost of Living in Australia vs the US: Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity for students, but it comes with various financial considerations. Among the most important factors are the cost of living, including housing, food, transport, and other expenses. Australia and the United States are two of the most popular study destinations, offering unique experiences. However, the cost of living for students in these countries can vary significantly. In this blog, we’ll explore the differences in the cost of living between Australia and the United States, focusing on key aspects that international students should consider.
This Blog Includes:
- Average Cost of Living in Australia vs US
- Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Housing Facilities
- Best Places to Stay in Australia and the US
- Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Tuition Fees
- Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Transportation Cost
- Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Healthcare Facilities
- Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Cost of Food
- Summary Table for Cost of Living in Australia vs the USA
- FAQs
Average Cost of Living in Australia vs US
While planning to study abroad, you will have two options: campus and off-campus student accommodation. Be mindful that on-campus student accommodation while studying abroad will drastically decrease your cost of living. In Australia, AUD 2,236 is the cost of off-campus living, while AUD 3,190 is the on-campus cost of living. In contrast, off-campus living in the USA is about USD 1,504, while on-campus living is USD 1,850. Refer to the below table for a detailed breakdown of the cost of living in Australia and the US.
| Items | Monthly Cost of Living In Australia | Monthly Cost of Living In the US |
| Off-Campus Accommodation | AUD 800 (USD 512) | USD 525 |
| On-Campus Accommodation | AUD 1,754 (USD 1,122.56) | USD 871 |
| Transportation | AUD 150 (USD 96) | USD 70 |
| Food Cost | AUD 780 (USD 499.2) | USD 527 |
| Utility Cost | AUD 205 (USD 131.2) | USD 180 |
| Entertainment | AUD 80 (USD 51.2) | USD 48 |
| Groceries | AUD 68 (USD 43.52) | USD 52 |
| Clothes | AUD 153 (USD 97.92) | USD 102 |
| Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation | AUD 2,236 (USD 1,431.04) | USD 1,504 |
| Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation | AUD 3,190 (USD 2,041.6) | USD 1,850 |
| Annual Cost of Living | AUD 26, 832 (USD 17,172.48) | USD 18,048 |
Also Read: Australia is full of many amazing solo travel destinations! To know more about it read our blog Solo Travel Destinations for Students in Australia
Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Housing Facilities
Australia and the US offer various options for students, like apartments or dorms, and each has its perks. Refer to the below table for the rents of housing facilities in Australia off-campus and on-campus.
| Average rent | Australia | US |
| On Campus | AUD 800 (USD 512) per month | USD 525 per month. |
| Off-Campus | AUD 1,754 (USD 1,122.56) per month | USD 871 per month |
Best Places to Stay in Australia and the US
There are many places in both Australia and the US for students. Here we will be discussing what those places are in the table below.
| Australia | US |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide | Boston, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles |
Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Tuition Fees
Check out the below table for a detailed description of the tuition fees in both Australia and the US.
| Courses | Australia(Annual Tuition Fees) | US Public Universities (Annual Tuition Fees) |
| Undergraduate | AUD 20,000 (USD 13,675) to AUD 45,000 (USD 30,769) | USD 26,820 |
| Postgraduate | AUD 22,000 (USD15,045) to AUD50,000 (USD34,192) | USD 30,000 to USD 40,000 |
Also Read: If you are a thrill seeker you must read our blog Outdoor Adventures in Australia
Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Transportation Cost
Check out the cost of transportation and mode of transportation for both Australia and the US.
| Country | Transportation Cost |
| Australia | AUD 150 (USD 96) |
| USA | USD 70 |
Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Healthcare Facilities
In Australia, if you’re an eligible resident, Medicare helps pay for most medical things. There are lots of hospitals that give care for free or not too much money. The government and private groups help pay for these places. A group called NHMRC helps with health research and making good health rules.
In the United States, there’s a mix of government and private health staff. Many people who are living in student housing in the USA have private insurance to help with costs. There are lots of hospitals, some better or more expensive than others. Public ones help people with less money, and private ones serve people with insurance or without. A federal group called NIH helps with research around the world.
Cost of Living in Australia vs US: Cost of Food
The cost of food is one of the major costs for international students in Australia as well as in the US. Refer to the below table for the food costs.
| Costs | Australia | US |
| Average monthly cost | AUD 780 (USD 499.2) | USD 527 |
| Student discounts | Aldi, Coles and Woolworths | Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s |
| Affordable places to eat | Nando’s, Grill’d, Guzman y Gomez and Subway | Chipotle, Panera Bread, Panda Express and Chick-fil-A |
| Famous dishes | Vegemite toast, meat pie, lamingtons and pavlova | Burgers, pizza, macaroni and cheese and apple pie |
Summary Table for Cost of Living in Australia vs the USA
When comparing the cost of living for students in Australia and the United States, both countries have similar tuition fees, but living expenses vary. In the US, accommodation, food, and transportation tend to be more affordable, especially in smaller cities. Public transport costs are lower, and students can often find cheaper off-campus housing. However, Australia’s larger cities, like Sydney and Melbourne, are more expensive, particularly for accommodation and transport.
While both countries offer student discounts for food, entertainment, and fitness, healthcare is generally more affordable in Australia, with required student health coverage. Overall, the US offers more affordable living costs, particularly outside major urban centres, while Australia is pricier in popular cities.
| Expense Category | Australia (AUD) | United States (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tuition Fees | ||
| Undergraduate Programs | AUD 20,000 – 45,000 per year | USD 20,000 – 40,000 per year |
| Postgraduate Programs | AUD 22,000 – 50,000 per year | USD 25,000 – 50,000 per year |
| 2. Accommodation | ||
| On-campus Accommodation | AUD 440 – 1,200 per month | USD 500 – 1,500 per month |
| Off-campus Accommodation | AUD 200 – 600 per week (AUD 800 – 2,400 per month) | USD 400 – 1,500 per month |
| Homestays | AUD 250 – 500 per week | USD 600 – 1,000 per month |
| 3. Food and Groceries | ||
| Eating Out (Inexpensive Meal) | AUD 15 – 25 per meal | USD 10 – 20 per meal |
| Fast Food Meal | AUD 10 – 12 | USD 6 – 8 |
| Groceries (Weekly Spend) | AUD 50 – 100 | USD 30 – 75 |
| 4. Transportation | ||
| Public Transport (Monthly) | AUD 100 – 200 | USD 50 – 150 |
| Car Usage (Monthly) | N/A | USD 100 – 200 (depending on city and usage) |
| 5. Healthcare and Insurance | ||
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | AUD 500 – 800 per year | N/A |
| Private Healthcare (Optional) | Varies (more expensive) | N/A |
| Health Insurance | N/A | USD 500 – 2,000 per year |
| Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs | N/A | USD 100 – 300 per visit (if uninsured) |
| 6. Entertainment and Social Life | ||
| Movie Tickets | AUD 20 | USD 12 – 20 |
| Clubs/Bars Entry | AUD 10 – 30 per entry | USD 5 – 20 per entry |
| Gym Membership | AUD 30 – 80 per month | USD 20 – 70 per month |
| Student Discounts | Available at various venues | Available at various venues |
FAQs
It costs an average of 800 Australian dollars (512 US dollars) per month to live in Australia, compared with $525 in the United States.
The average transportation cost in Australia is around A$150 (USD 96).
Australia has a better life quality with longer life and less obesity. You get more vacation time. But the US has a big influence on culture, cool technology, and lots of different landscapes and famous places. It depends on what you like.
You can try authentic Australian food at Nando’s, Grill’d, Guzman y Gomez, and Subway.
The average transportation cost in the US is USD 7.
As per the records on the data based on culture, greater job stability, and a higher minimum salary, Australia is a better place to work than the USA.
The average rent for students in Australia can range from AUD 200 to AUD 600 per week, depending on the city and type of accommodation, with cities like Sydney and Melbourne being more expensive.
International students in Australia are required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which typically costs between AUD 500 and AUD 800 per year.
New York is generally more expensive than Sydney, especially when it comes to housing. Rent and daily living expenses such as transportation and dining out tend to be higher in New York.
On average, students in the US spend about USD 30 to USD 75 per week on groceries, though this can vary based on location and shopping habits.
We hope you liked this blog about the cost of living in Australia vs the US. For booking the best accommodation abroad to start your study abroad experience, you can contact Fly Homes at 1800572118.
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It costs an average of 800 Australian dollars (512 US dollars) per month to live in Australia, compared with $525 in the United States. – sorry but this is incorrect, in Brisbane city it costs a family home of 3 rooms and one bathrooms up to $750 a week. Groceries for the family cost $350 a week. Our electricity bills are so high most of the households are in a weekly paying off plan. And it’s only getting worst. Some cafes will charge up to $7.20 for a large coffee. Renters are taking the brunt of the pain with high amounts, taking on the stress of the landlord who can’t manage their own loans so they charge renters more. New laws need to be in place but almost 70% of Australian government leaders in power own rental property- so they don’t want rental decreases and Australia dose not have a rental cap. It’s so expensive to live here at the moment.
Guz maz dose cheap coffee for almost $3. And Southbank cinema has the cheapest movie and can validate your parking. It seems to be cheaper to make your own food than to eat out. Fruit and veggies are usually cheaper than Cole’s and Woolworths. Aldi is the cheapest grocery store. And don’t forget to wear suncream, sunnies and a hat every day. Even cloudy days. Also we don’t tip here, it’s not law.
bro, im sorry but i strongly disagree with your figures, Ayantika Pattanayak. Please be informed, it is simply impossible to survive in australian society for 1000 a month(you propose its less than that actually). which brings me to my point; if you want something everyone will read, do some digging into the price of accomodation nationwide, be sure to include the hospitality industry and be sure to include somekind of content where people get to hear one of these landlords put their POV across or even better, Multiple landlords put there POV on paper and then go ask the public how they feel about it, once armed with #intellectualfire, dare you begin asking politicians about the situation and at this point youve already got an audience of approx 25million pissed off aussies that have been demanding something be done for a whole decade at this point, but theyre cries for help constantly falling upon the ears of those who profit of the very same engine. watch the hits roll in. every commonwealth established population will have a sizable portion of it tuned in to your words,
for those stuck in the rental trap (over 70% of the country(you bought a house more than 30 years in a time where australians could be australian properties, before the immigrants came here and took criminal advantage of our education system, and emergin bubble wrap collective) pays no less than 400 PER WEEK just for somewhere to sleep, as most of these places are now air b&b’s that must be vacant the entire day until after hours so these people are technically homeless the juist have somewhere to sleep for 8 to 10 hours if theyre lucky then its back out in the 50degree heat(if your in qld, wa, nt, sa. Canberra has the best weather, it also has no australians living in it. oh there are special public servants in special triage vendors in canberra, you can walk in off the street, theyre placed normally just any old shop, just walk in, you can literally take a bag of hard drugs like crystal-methamphetamine, not only will the test the purity and advise on its content/quality but they will also(with your permission of course) administer the drugs to you via intraveneous injection. then if you want you can hang out util they finish theyre shift. i know how outlandish that sounds but you wont need to look too hard if you just make the right questions for google(USAgov’s obscurity engine)