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Living costs
Australian cities have a lower cost of living than many developed countries.
An international student at USC would normally require approximately A$350 per week to live comfortably on the Sunshine Coast.
This covers typical accommodation costs, food, transport and other daily life expenses.
This amount is in addition to airfares, visa application, health cover and tuition fees and will vary depending on your lifestyle and preferences.
If you have a spouse or dependant child accompanying you to Australia, you will need to allow more for living expenses.
If your dependents are of school-age, you will be required to pay full fees for their schooling. You should allow at least A$8,000 per year for the cost of each child's schooling.
| Expenses |
Approximate cost |
| Private share accommodation |
A$150–$180 (per week) |
| Homestay accommodation (includes some meals) |
A$245 (per week) |
| Food |
A$60–$80 (per week) |
| Electricity |
A$10 (per week) |
| Telephone (depending on number and distance of calls) |
A$10–$20 (per week) |
| Transport |
A$25 (per week) |
| Stationery, photocopying, etc |
A$20 (per week) |
| Entertainment |
A$30 (per week) |
| Cinema ticket (student rates) |
A$12.50 |
| Postage (within Australia) |
A$0.60 |
| Postage (international) |
$1.40 minimum |
| Food items * |
|
| Bread |
A$2.30 |
| Milk (2 litre) |
A$2.70 |
| Cheese (500g) |
A$6.50 |
| Cereal (small box) |
A$2.90 |
| Powerade (Sports drink - 600ml bottle) |
A$2.90 |
| Corn chips (200g large bag) |
A$3.20 |
| Big Mac |
A$3.25 |
| Can soft drink |
A$1.80 |
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