Cost of Studying in Australia
for Indian Students
A 2027 budgeting dossier — tuition, rent, visa fees, and OSHC, broken down city by city so you know the real number before you apply.
What does the cost of studying in Australia actually add up to?
For most Indian students, the total cost of studying in Australia falls between A$45,000 and A$90,000 per year, once tuition, rent, food, transport, insurance, and visa charges are all counted together. However, that range hides a lot of variation. A student at a Group of Eight university in Sydney and a student at a non-Go8 university in Adelaide can end up paying nearly double the difference, simply because of where they chose to study.
Before this guide, you may have already read our overview on studying in Australia for Indian students in 2027 or compared institutions in our breakdown of the top universities in Australia for Indian students. This guide picks up from there and answers the question both of those leave open: what will it actually cost you, line by line?
These figures are indicative 2026–27 estimates compiled from Australian Department of Home Affairs guidance and published university fee schedules. Because fees are reviewed annually and vary by course, you should always confirm the exact number for your program on the university's official fees page before budgeting.
Tuition fees by degree and field
Tuition is the single biggest line item in the cost of studying in Australia, and it varies enormously depending on your degree level and field. For example, a humanities bachelor's degree can cost less than half of what an MBA or a medical degree costs in the same city.
A few patterns are worth planning around, because they affect your total cost more than any single fee figure:
- Go8 universities sit at the higher end of every band, since prestige and research funding both feed into the sticker price.
- Non-Go8 universities such as Macquarie and UTS typically charge 15–30% less for comparable programs, without a meaningful drop in teaching quality.
- Because fees are indexed annually, you should budget for a modest year-on-year increase across a multi-year degree, not just the first-year figure.
- Therefore, the listed price for Year 1 is rarely the final price for Year 3 — always ask the university for its indexation policy in writing.
Course-Level Fee CheckWant the exact fee for your specific course, not just the average band? We'll pull it from the official source before you apply.
Get My Fee Breakdown →Living costs by city: where you study changes everything
Although tuition gets most of the attention, your choice of city is often what actually decides whether the cost of studying in Australia feels manageable or overwhelming. Sydney and Melbourne carry a real premium; Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane do not.
Sydney
Most expensive A$2,200 – $4,000+Monthly living cost, all categories combined
- Shared room: A$300–450/week
- Highest rent and transport costs nationally
- Largest graduate job market in finance and tech
Melbourne
Second most expensive A$1,900 – $3,800Roughly 10% cheaper than Sydney overall
- Shared room: A$250–400/week
- Strong consulting and business hub
- Large international student community
Brisbane
Balanced option A$1,800 – $3,200Subtropical city, moderate rent growth
- Shared room: A$180–250/week
- Lower cost of living than Sydney or Melbourne
- Growing tech and biotech job market
Adelaide
Most affordable major city A$1,400 – $2,80016% cheaper than Sydney, 13% cheaper than Melbourne
- Shared room: A$180–250/week
- Tiered Go8 fee discounts available at Adelaide University
- Known as Australia's food capital
Perth
Affordable, resource-sector jobs A$1,800 – $3,300Lower living costs, strong mining-sector salaries
- Shared room: A$180–250/week
- Qualifies as regional for some visa and PR purposes
- Home to UWA, the state's top-ranked university
Hobart
Cheapest overall ~A$2,500/monthConsistently ranks as Australia's lowest-cost student city
- Significant savings on rent versus mainland cities
- Smaller course range, mostly at the University of Tasmania
- Best fit for highly budget-conscious applicants
City living-cost ranges are drawn from the Study Australia government cost-of-living calculator and current city-level student budgeting data, and are indicative only. Your actual spend will depend on your accommodation type, lifestyle, and shared versus private housing choices.
Visa, insurance, and other costs you cannot skip
Beyond tuition and rent, a handful of costs are mandatory for every international student in Australia, regardless of university or city. Because these are fixed obligations rather than lifestyle choices, you should treat them as non-negotiable lines in your budget.
| Item | Cost | When it's paid |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa (Subclass 500) | A$2,000 | Before arrival, non-refundable |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | A$500 – $700/yr | Before visa lodgement, for full course duration |
| Minimum living cost evidence (DHA) | A$29,710/yr | Shown as proof of funds, not a direct payment |
| Enrolment / acceptance deposit | A$200 – $5,000 | After accepting your offer |
| Student services & amenities fee | A$300 – $1,000/yr | Billed by the university annually |
| Health examination (if required) | A$300 – $500 | Before visa approval |
Visa and insurance figures reflect Department of Home Affairs charges current as of 2026, including the Subclass 500 fee increase to A$2,000 effective 1 July 2025. Since these figures are reviewed periodically, you should confirm the current charge at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging your application.
What a typical month actually costs
Once you are settled, your monthly budget mostly comes down to five categories. Here is what most students report spending, regardless of which city they chose.
- Shared room: A$180–450/week
- Private studio: A$450–650+/week
- On-campus: A$250–650/week
- Cooking at home: A$300–600/month
- Eating out occasionally: add A$200–400
- Aldi and Coles are the cheapest chains
- Public transport: A$100–200/month
- Student concession cards reduce fares 30–50%
- Walking or cycling cuts this further
How to lower your cost of studying in Australia
You cannot change the visa fee, but you can meaningfully change almost everything else. The factors below typically make the biggest difference to your total annual spend.
Personal Cost PlanTell us your target university and city, and we'll build a realistic month-by-month budget for your specific situation.
Build My Budget →Budgeting well is part of choosing well
Why students plan their finances with Uniplus Overseas
A realistic budget protects your visa application as much as your bank balance. We help you build one that holds up, both on paper and in practice.
Cost & University Matching
We match your budget against real fee data, not generic averages, so the number you plan around is accurate.
Education Loan Support
Guidance through loan documentation and lender shortlisting so your financial evidence holds up under DHA scrutiny.
Scholarship Matching
We flag active scholarship windows that fit your profile, since even partial funding changes your total cost meaningfully.
Visa Financial Evidence
We review your funding documents before submission, reducing the risk of a Genuine Student or financial capacity rejection.
City & Accommodation Planning
Practical guidance on choosing a city and accommodation type that fits your budget, not just your shortlist.
Ongoing Budget Check-ins
Support that continues after you land, so your actual spending stays aligned with your original plan.
Questions Indian students ask about the cost of studying in Australia
Tuition and total cost questions
What is the total cost of studying in Australia for Indian students? +
Which is more affordable — undergraduate or postgraduate study? +
Do tuition fees increase every year? +
Living costs and visa questions
Which Australian city is cheapest for international students? +
How much money do I need to show for an Australian student visa? +
How much is the Australian student visa fee in 2026? +
Is OSHC compulsory, and how much does it cost? +
Can working part-time cover my living costs? +
Keep building your Australia plan
Now that you know what it costs, the next steps are choosing where to apply and how to get the visa right.