Living in Melbourne
Arts and Entertainment
Melbourne is Australia's Arts and Entertainment capital, showcasing world-renowned Art Galleries, Museums, Festivals and Theatre Productions. Throughout the year, Victoria hosts Jazz, Comedy and Film Festivals, Celebrations of Food and Wine, and a variety of Theatre and Music Events.
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Climate, Geography and Time Zones
Victoria enjoys a temperate climate, has a vast range of geographical areas and operates on Eastern Standard Time in Australia.
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Cost of Living
Victoria offers affordable living and an excellent quality of life in Australia. Victoria is not only a great place to live and work, Melbourne is among the Developed World's least expensive cities in terms of cost of living - making it one of the World's most liveable cities.
When coming to Melbourne to study you may have to consider the below costs. When calculating the cost of living away from home, students may have to budget for food, health care, transport, books, clothing and entertainment. Please note that all costs listed should only be used as a guide and will vary depending on location, lifestyle and inflation.
| Approximate Living Costs | |
| Accomodation Search & Booking Fee | A$150 (one off fee) |
| Student Studio Apartment (weekly) | A$200-$250 |
| Share House Rental (weekly) | A$80-$150 |
| Rental Bond | Approx 4 Weeks Rent |
| Overseas Student Health Cover* | A$360 (one year single person cover) |
| Public Transport (weekly) | A$28-$47 |
| Cinema Tickets | A$10-$15 |
| Music Concert Tickets | A$60-$100 |
| Mobile Phone Costs (monthly) | A$50 |
| Stationary and Books (per year) | A$500 |
| Telephone and Internet | A$60 |
Prices include goods and services tax
Students are recommended to allow a minimum of A$20,000* per year to cover their cost of living. It is advised that students arrive with an additional A$2,000 to cover settling in costs such as rental bond and to purchase basic furniture items.
(*Australian Government Requirement - cost varies depending on duration of cover. Costs are based on figures at time of printing and are subject to change without notice).
Bringing Your Dependants With You (if applicable)
The Australian Embassy or consulate in your country is responsible for granting visa approval for your dependants.
Dependant children under 18 years of age of an international student will be granted a Dependant Student Visa. This visa enables the immediate family members to remain in Australia for the duration of the student's length of study. In addition you may need to have your child/children placed in a school before a visa will be granted.
For more information on these options please consult the Department of Immigration & Citizenship.
All children under 17 years of age are required by the Victorian Education Department to attend school. If your child/children attend school in Australia there may be fees incurred that vary across educational institutions.
For more information on the primary and secondary schooling in Australia please consult http://www.education.vic.gov.au/.
Housing
In Australia, Victoria offers housing to fit various lifestyles and family size. There are a few options for accommodation in Melbourne:
Students are recommended to allow a minimum of A$20,000* per year to cover their cost of living. It is advised that students arrive with an additional A$2,000 to cover settling in costs such as rental bond and to purchase basic furniture items.
(*Australian Government Requirement - cost varies depending on duration of cover. Costs are based on figures at time of printing and are subject to change without notice).
Rental housing options
Fully furnished rental properties: These are fairly limited and can be expensive to rent. Lease terms are usually for a minimum of three months.
Unfurnished rental properties: These make up a substantial part of the residential rental market. You will be required to supply your own white goods and furniture i.e fridge and washing machine.
Homestay
Homestay is a popular accommodation option for International Students. Students may stay in the homes of families, couples, single people or single mothers with children. Each home has been selected to provide good quality facilities and cultural education as well as meals, if required. Host Families speak English and this helps improve each student’s language skills. The Host Families help students with day-to-day problems such as transport, banking and shopping. Homestay provides students with a friendly environment to live, relax and study in comfort and security, which can be especially important when first arriving in a new country.
Please click the link below to be directed to the Consumer Affairs Victoria website for more information on Student Accomodation.
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OSHC (Overseas Health Cover)
For information on Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) please visit the BUPA website.
People and Culture
One in four Victorians were born outside of Australia, making Victoria a truly multicultural place. Since 1835 when Victoria was first settled, successive waves of migration have created Victoria into one of the world’s greatest multicultural success stories. Victoria’s population is now over five million and Victorians come from over 200 countries, speaking over 180 languages and dialects and follow over 110 religious faiths. Melbourne, Victorias capital has 30% of its permanent residents speaking a language other than English at home.
Shops and Restaurants
Experience delicious food from all over the world and excellent shopping in Victoria, Australia.
Shopping Centres (Malls) – These Centres have Department Stores, Supermarkets, and hundreds of Retail Outlets, Parking and Banks all under the one roof. These are air-conditioned and have extended trading hours at certain times of the year. The most popular shopping districts are found in the inner city or suburbs in Melbourne.
Melbourne is known for its established year-round 'café culture'. Many cafés and restaurants spill out onto the footpaths, with chairs and tables where people can enjoy a drink with friends or quietly read a newspaper.
Some restaurants and cafés have a BYO alcohol licence. BYO means 'bring your own'. A small fee or surcharge may apply to BYO drinks in restaurants. Tipping in Australia is not required, but is appreciated if you feel you have received quality service. Ten per cent is considered a good tip.
Sport and Recreation
In Australia, Victoria hosts many exciting sporting activities throughout the year. Victorians love sport and recreation! If they are not playing or watching sport, there’s a good chance they’re talking about it. Major events include the Australian Open Tennis Championships, the Melbourne Cup, International Cricket, Australian Football League (AFL) and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
Everyday, thousands of Victorians get involved in local sporting activities, including Basketball, Tennis, Australian Football League, Cricket, Netball, Volleyball, Athletics, Softball, Hockey, Swimming, Lacrosse and Bushwalking.
Some people prefer to keep active through less formal activities, such as cycling on Victoria’s massive network of bike trails, working out at local gymnasiums, practising yoga or tai chi, or swimming in local swimming pools. Others like to take advantage of Victoria’s natural beauty, with activities such as walking in Victoria’s many parks and gardens, fishing in its lakes and rivers and camping in Victoria’s beautiful National Parks.
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Travel
Geographically compact, compared to the majority of Australia, everything is within easy reach in Victoria whatever mode of transport.
Transport
Melbourne's automated ticketing system operates on all train, tram and bus services in the Metropolitan Area, with electronically-encoded tickets called Metcards. A wide range of Metcards are available and they are not valid on Melbourne's airport bus services.
Melbourne’s public transport network is divided into two zones. The cost of a journey depends on which zones are being travelled in (2 different zones)
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