Cost of living

Students on the steps of the Opera House


Compared to major European and Asian cities, living in Sydney is very affordable - there are always great bargains to be found that keep costs down and make sticking to a budget easy. Generally, we recommend you set aside $250 - $300 per week for living expenses, and to give you an idea of what common purchases cost, we’ve set out a list for you: You can use this currency converter to work out what each price (listed here in Australian Dollars) equals in your own currency.

All in Australian Dollars
Weekly train ticket $25 - $35 
Taxi from North Sydney to Sydney City $15 - $20
Local phone call $0.40
Can of coke $2.00
Cup of coffee $2.50
Bottle of beer $3 - $6
Sandwich $3 - $6
Hamburger $3 - $5
Kebab $3 - $5
Chocolate bar $2.00
Packet of crisps $2.00
Bottle of wine $10 - $50
Bottle of sparkling wine $6 - $30
Big Mac, fries & coke $6
Pub dinner for two $20 - $30
Movies $15
Nightclub entry Free $20
Sporting event $15 - $60
CD $30
Hair cut - female $30 - $80
Hair cut - male $10 - $25
1 bedroom apartment per week $200 - $300
2 bedroom apartment per week $250 - $500

For more advice on preparing for the cost of living in Sydney, take a look at what’s recommended by the Australian Immigration department.

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