Real numbers, city by city — so you can budget before you board.
Australia pays well and charges accordingly. Whether the maths works for you depends almost entirely on one line item — rent — and one decision — which city. Here are realistic 2026 figures to plan around (all AUD, and yes, your city's own numbers will argue at the margins).
| City | Room in share house | 1-bed unit (inner) | 3-bed house (suburban) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $320–450/wk | $650–850/wk | $850–1,200/wk |
| Melbourne | $250–380/wk | $500–650/wk | $650–900/wk |
| Brisbane | $250–360/wk | $520–650/wk | $650–850/wk |
| Perth | $230–340/wk | $500–620/wk | $620–800/wk |
| Adelaide | $210–320/wk | $430–550/wk | $550–720/wk |
| Regional centres | $180–280/wk | $350–480/wk | $450–650/wk |
Note Australian quirk #1: rent is quoted weekly, not monthly. Quirk #2: regional living isn't just cheaper — it can add migration points.
| Profile | Rent | Everything else | Monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student, share house, Melbourne | $1,300 | $1,100 | ~$2,400 |
| Single professional, 1-bed, Sydney | $3,000 | $1,700 | ~$4,700 |
| Couple, 1-bed, Brisbane | $2,500 | $2,300 | ~$4,800 |
| Family of four, house, Adelaide | $2,700 | $3,300 | ~$6,000 |
Context makes the prices kinder: the national minimum wage exceeds $24/hour (casual roles add a 25% loading), a registered nurse earns roughly $75,000–95,000, software developers $95,000–140,000, and trades often out-earn both. The skilled visa income floor (CSIT) of $79,499 from July 2026 gives a sense of where sponsored roles start. Australia's tax year runs July–June, and your first $18,200 is tax-free for residents.
Student budgeting note: Home Affairs requires visa applicants to show savings against an official living-cost benchmark (check the current figure on the official page) — treat it as a realistic floor, not bureaucratic padding.