What it actually costs to study in Melbourne in 2026

Melbourne is consistently one of the most popular cities for international students, and for good reason. It's walkable, the public transport is reliable, and the city genuinely caters to students. It's also not the cheapest city in Australia, and it helps to know exactly what you're signing up for.

Tuition: the biggest single line

For most coursework masters at Melbourne's larger universities, you should budget between AUD 35,000 and AUD 50,000 per year. Specialised programs in medicine, dentistry, or some MBAs sit higher. Vocational and English-language courses are usually significantly lower. These are sticker prices — scholarships and partial fee waivers do exist, particularly for strong applicants applying early.

Rent and where you live

Rent is where most students feel the squeeze. A room in a shared house in inner suburbs like Carlton, Brunswick, or Footscray often runs between AUD 250 and AUD 400 a week. Purpose-built student accommodation is more predictable but tends to cost more. Living a little further out and using the train can save a meaningful amount each month.

Groceries, eating out, and the small stuff

• Groceries for one person: roughly AUD 90 to AUD 130 a week if you cook most meals.
• A casual lunch on Lygon Street or in the CBD: AUD 15 to AUD 25.
• A monthly Myki public transport pass: around AUD 200 if you use it daily, less if you don't.
• Phone plan with decent data: AUD 25 to AUD 45 a month.

Working part-time

Student visa holders can usually work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session. Hospitality, retail, and on-campus roles are the most common starting points. A part-time job won't fully fund your studies, but it can comfortably cover groceries, transport, and a social life if you manage your time well.

A realistic monthly budget

Excluding tuition, a comfortable monthly budget for a single student in Melbourne in 2026 sits somewhere between AUD 2,200 and AUD 2,800. You can do it for less, particularly if you share accommodation and cook at home, but planning for the higher end gives you breathing room when something unexpected comes up.

If you want a more personalised budget based on your course and city, that's something we walk students through during our consultations. It saves a lot of guesswork before you commit.