Cost of living in Sydney

Your guide to managing expenses while studying at UTS.

Sydney is continuously ranked as one of the most liveable and safest student cities in the world. While managing academic expectations alongside the cost of living can be challenging, studying at UTS places you in the heart of the city, with access to leading industry networks, strong career pathways and plenty of casual work on offer that can help fund your studies and lifestyle.

Let's review how much it costs to live in Sydney, and some of our top tips for managing costs as an international student.

How much you should budget for Sydney

As an international student, your visa application will include meeting the Australian Government’s financial capacity requirement. This is the amount of money considered reasonable to provide a minimum standard of living while studying in Australia.

This number changes depending on your circumstances, so talk to a trusted education agent for more information.

In addition to this, it is worthwhile reviewing your estimated cost of living using the Study Australia calculator (external link). This takes into consideration your accommodation type and lifestyle habits.

Typical Sydney living costs

At a glance

Figures based on Study Australia's cost of living calculator (external link).

Accommodation

Monthly cost: AUD$1200–$3400

The UTS Housing Service offers safe and comfortable student accommodation on the UTS campus. Rental prices are competitive and amenities – like shops, restaurants and gyms – are close by.

You can expect to pay $370-$550 a week for shared accommodation near UTS. If you want to live alone, your rent will be more expensive.

Food and groceries

Monthly cost: AUD$400–$800

Supermarkets in Sydney, including Coles, Woolworths and ALDI, will cover your basic grocery needs. Otherwise, you will find a range of specialty stores across the city, often stocking international groceries.

Utilities and internet

Monthly cost: AUD$150–$400

Some accommodation types will come with bills and internet included in the rent. For others, they will be a separate cost.

Transport

Monthly cost: AUD$130–$800

With our central location, getting to UTS is easy with public transport. Using an Opal card (external link), you can access fare caps and discounts through regular use of public transport.

Lifestyle and entertainment

Monthly cost: AUD$350–$650 

Some attractions and entertainment venues (e.g. cinemas, museums) offer concession tickets for university students. On campus, ActivateUTS offers a variety of cafes, bars and retail outlets as well as a fitness centre, all of which offer discounts to UTS students.

Mobile phone plan

Monthly cost: AUD$30–$100

Pre-paid, contract, whether you need international calls, the amount of data – all of these will impact the cost of your mobile phone.

Many mobile phone plan providers in Australia – including Vodafone, Optus and Telstra – will offer discounted student deals. Check their websites or visit a physical store to learn more.

Textbooks

The cost of textbooks and course materials varies depending on your course. If your course requires textbooks, you may need to spend AUD$400+.

You can buy digital textbooks from websites like VitalSource (external link). If you want physical textbooks, you can search by university and subject on Booktopia (external link).

You can also find secondhand books via Facebook pages such as the UTS LSS Textbook Exchange, or through StudentVIP’s textbook marketplace (external links). You may be able to borrow the textbook from UTS Library. However, there aren’t enough copies for everyone, so be quick!