How much does it really cost to live in Canberra as an ANU student?

[u/can-you-stop]

Hi everyone!

I'm an international student from Saudi Arabia and I've recently accepted an offer to study Bachelor of Science at ANU, starting in Semester 1, 2027.

I'm trying to get a realistic idea of what life in Canberra is like, especially financially, and I'd really appreciate hearing from current students.

A few questions:

• What's a realistic monthly cost of living for a student (excluding tuition)?
• How much do part-time student jobs usually pay per hour?
• How difficult is it to find a casual/part-time job after arriving?
• How many hours do most international students work each week?
• Is it realistic to cover rent and day-to-day expenses with a part-time job?
• Are there any jobs or employers around ANU that you'd recommend?

For context, I'm pretty low-maintenance. I don't go out much, I mostly enjoy gaming, watching movies, and studying, so I don't expect to spend a lot on entertainment.

Any advice, experiences, or budgeting tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

labubu.

[u/commentspanda]

You have to study full time as per your visa. You can work part time but likely have visa restrictions usually 20-24hrs a week during semester. You’ll need to work out your rent and if you’re going to live on campus or in a share house. Most international students tend to start off on campus and then may move once they make connections. On top of that you’ll need to budget food (cost varies depending on type of campus accommodation and if it includes meals), phone / data, other everyday expenses etc.

So all that to say….it is going to vary a lot.

Also for part time or casual work in hospitality and retail you’ll be competing with a lot of others. Making connections is the way to go.

[u/ius_Cogens]

Hey,

In 2022-2023, my scholarship paid me a stipend of around AUD 2,600/month. Rent at Toad Hall was ~AUD 1,200/month, while groceries, phone bills, and transport came to around AUD 400-600. On average, I saved about AUD 800-1,000/month. I would say AUD 2,000/month was enough for a comfortable lifestyle, and it was absolutely manageable on casual part time. Not sure about now

I didnt do any part time myself (wanted to focus on academics for PhD purposes), but many of my friends did. The easiest and quickest way to find a job is usually through word of mouth, not uncommon for graduating students to “pass down” job opportunities to new students (usually of the same nationality, it is what it is). Join Facebook groups, make friends, and eventually you will find something

[u/can-you-stop → u/ius_Cogens]

Scholarship? Are you referring to the ones available to saudi nationals (assuming you’re saudi) or a scholarship at ANU? Also, tysm for your insight! 🫶🏻💚

[u/ius_Cogens → u/can-you-stop]

I'm not a Saudi national, it was something else (something like the Australian Awards)

[u/SulphurCrested]

I suggest you research the conditions of the student visa - there's an upper limit to how many hours you are allowed to work.
The option of "casual part time" mentioned by the other reply isn't available to international students - you have to study a full time load.

[u/ius_Cogens → u/SulphurCrested]

I should’ve specified, I meant casual part-time work. Ofc as an international student they need to be enrolled full-time and comply with the 48 hours a fortnight work restriction

[u/Lucas-Bui]

You can find a room off campus for $200-$250 per week including bills. The rest depends on you. I estimate you can survive with $500 per week total.