The world's most liveable city, Melbourne is a booming metropolis that showcases the best of Australian arts, culture, cuisine, and landscapes. It’s a vibrant mix of hidden city laneways, beautiful beaches and immense street art. Melbourne is also known as the best Australian city for international students to study in.
Living in Melbourne
Living and studying in Melbourne provides exciting opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurial students to dive into the business world and immerse themselves in the lives of business professionals in the city. UBSS’ Melbourne campus is located on Swanston Street, right in the centre of Melbourne’s CBD, and provides our students with a first-hand experience of what it’s like to live and work in a bustling business and cultural hub.
Melbourne Student Accommodation
In Melbourne, students can expect to pay anywhere from $175-400 a week for accommodation, depending on whether they choose to live alone or with roommates. Managed student accommodation is also available and can provide an environment where students get the opportunity to live and mix with students from other institutions in the city. It’s also important to bear in mind the additional expenses that come with living in Melbourne, such as utility bills, groceries, public transport and entertainment.
For more information about finding student accommodation in Melbourne, visit Study Melbourne.
Melbourne Employment
There is an ever-growing number of opportunities for employment in Melbourne for our students, and these opportunities can provide you with a great deal of experience going forward in your business career. Melbourne boasts favourable wages and working conditions for employees, allowing you to be able to support yourself while you focus on your studies. There are also a number of opportunities for work experience and internships in the business sector, however many of these positions can be unpaid.
For more information about finding work as a student in Melbourne, visit Study Melbourne or Seek.
Melbourne Health Services
Like much of Australia, Melbourne’s healthcare system is regarded as one of the best in the world. Students in Melbourne not only have access to healthcare in hospitals and doctors' surgeries but can also access a long list of other services such as dental, optical, physio and mental health support.
For more information about finding a range of health and support services in Melbourne, visit Victorithe an Agency for Health Information.
Melbourne Transport
Melbourne’s public transport system is one of the most efficient and easy-to-navigate systems in the world. Students in Melbourne have around-the-clock access to buses, trains and trams to get around the city, as well as rideshare services like Uber. UBSS’ Melbourne campus is located in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, making it easily accessible for students coming from any part of the city. Students in Melbourne can also access concession cards to make public transport cheaper, and Melbourne also offers a free tram service around the city centre.
For more information about transport services in Melbourne, visit Study Melbourne.
Melbourne Student Support Services
Student support services are available to all students in Melbourne, with plenty of assistance available to find accommodation and employment, as well as access to legal advice and counselling services. UBSS also offers an abundance of academic and personal support to all of our students to ensure they are excelling both in and outside of the classroom.
Safety in Melbourne
With low crime rates and easy access to law enforcement and emergency services, Melbourne is considered one of the safest cities in the world to live and study.
For more information about staying safe in Melbourne, visit Study Melbourne.
There's so much to see and do across Melbourne, that you might not know where to start. To help, we've put together a handy list of the city's events and top attractions – striking public spaces, state-of-the-art museums, unique wildlife, heritage sites, glorious examples of gold rush architecture, and more.
Events of all kinds
A variety of events are held every year in Melbourne and Victoria. The Visit Victoria website features a comprehensive calendar of events, including those in the food and beverage, sports, arts, and ethnic categories. Read more on the Events page on the Visit Victoria website.
Top attractions
You will have new and ongoing expenses during your time in Melbourne. Knowing the average living cost will help you prepare for life here, and organise a suitable budget for day to day life.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) advises that a single international student requires approximately AU$21,041 per year for living costs. These expenses are in addition to tuition and study fees, and include things like your accommodation, food, textbooks, transport and other costs that will crop up from time to time. Living expenses vary according to your circumstances, such as the type of accommodation you choose, its location, the number of people you live with, and your lifestyle. Student life can be expensive, and most people live on a limited income while they are studying.
Living costs
To help you understand what costs to expect, we have developed a sample weekly budget for you.
The following estimated costs are based on a single student living in shared accommodation (per Jan 2023)*:
| Item | Cost per person per week |
| Rent (shared) | AU$200 - 300 |
| Electricity, gas and water (shared) | AU$15 - 30 |
| Food | AU$80 - 250 |
| Phone and Internet | AU$15 - 30 |
| Public Transport | up to AU$70 |
| Entertainment | AU$80 - 200 |
Disclaimer: The prices listed in this article are listed in AUD$ and are intended as a guide and are indicative only, it does not include the living cost of personal care items. We highly recommend you investigate costs specific to your own personal circumstances.
Find out about other lifestyle costs in Melbourne.
Estimate your living costs
Knowing the average living costs in Australia is an important part of your financial preparation. To get a better idea, check out the handy Cost of Living Calculator. This tool is designed to help you estimate how much it could cost to have the lifestyle you choose in Australia. You can compare accommodation arrangements, transportation options as well as other lifestyle choices.
The costs provided are an approximate guide only. The Cost of Living Calculator is designed to help you think about how you spend money and to give you a broad estimate of potential costs in Australia.
Note: The Department of Home Affairs has financial requirements you must meet in order to receive a student visa for Australia. For more information please click here.
Estimated figures accurate as of January 2023.
*expatistan.com/cost-of-living, 2023
