Living in Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of the State of Queensland and one of the fastest-growing major cities in Australia. Located in the heart of Australia’s “Sunshine State,” Brisbane boasts a glorious subtropical climate with over 300 days of sunshine each year, clean air quality, and a low crime rate. Because of this idyllic weather, Brisbane is commonly celebrated as an ideal, welcoming destination for international students. Students from all over the world come here to take advantage of our world-class education and enjoy our outdoor lifestyle, nature, hospitality, and vibrant, diverse community.
Our AAHE Brisbane campus is located directly next to the Woolloongabba bus station, positioning our students at one of the city’s most connected transport hubs. Brisbane features a beautiful blend of historic sandstone buildings and modern architectural marvels along the winding Brisbane River. As a thriving sporting hub, Brisbane regularly hosts major events right on our campus doorstep at the famous Gabba cricket ground, featuring international cricket and AFL. The city also boasts strongly supported teams across national sports leagues, giving students local access to top-tier entertainment.
Festivals and events
The city boasts a dynamic entertainment calendar alongside premier cultural institutions like the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and the Queensland Museum, which welcome visitors with free general entry. Music enthusiasts will love the thriving nightlife hub in Fortitude Valley, which hosts an array of local gigs and international acts. Because AAHE is located right by the South-East Busway, you can jump on a bus and be at the South Bank cultural precinct in under 5 minutes to ride the iconic Ferris Wheel (The Wheel of Brisbane) or swim at Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach at South Bank. For a panoramic view of the entire city, students can easily visit the spectacular lookout at Mount Coot-tha. Brisbane is also proudly preparing to welcome the world as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games!
Among Brisbane’s many famous events each year are:
- The EKKA (the historic Royal Queensland Show)
- The Brisbane Festival (featuring the spectacular Riverfire fireworks display over the river)
- Multicultural Street Festivals (celebrating our diverse local communities year-round)
- The World Science Festival
For further information, go to the Visit Brisbane website.
Food
Brisbane’s food landscape is incredibly diverse, drawing on Queensland’s world-class local agricultural, seafood, and livestock markets. If you are craving a premium dining experience or a quick bite between classes, Queen Street in the central business district (CBD) features a vast selection of eateries. For authentic global flavors, the neighborhood of Sunnybank stands out as the ultimate local destination for exceptional Asian dining and international supermarkets.
Cost of living
To help you plan a smooth and stress-free move, the Australian Government provides helpful financial guidelines for incoming students. According to the Department of Home Affairs, setting aside a baseline budget of $29,710 per year ensures you can comfortably cover your day-to-day lifestyle and study needs. This helpful benchmark is calculated to give you peace of mind so you can focus entirely on your education. For a more personalised estimate on living costs, you can see the Cost of Living Calculator.
Transportation
Living in Queensland comes with a major cost-of-living benefit: public transport across the entire Translink network features a permanent flat rate of just 50c per travel journey. Because our campus sits directly at the Woolloongabba bus station, AAHE students can catch high-frequency buses to anywhere in the city, the suburbs, or even take a weekend trip down to the world-famous Gold Coast for just pocket change.
Accommodation
Prospective students can choose from a wide array of student apartment blocks situated throughout the central business district (CBD), South Brisbane, and Kangaroo Point. UniAcco is a site that allows you to easily compare these fully furnished rooms.
For a more economical route, splitting the rent into a shared household is highly popular. Room prices fluctuate depending on the age of the house, how many people, and the neighbourhood. To secure a quick commute straight to our Woolloongabba bus hub, we recommend looking at nearby southern suburbs like Coorparoo, Greenslopes, or Annerley. On average, a room in a shared house runs between $200 and $400 per week, excluding utilities.
We highly recommend using these major platforms to source your housing:
- Flatmates.com.au: A highly popular, fun, and very affordable platform specifically built for students looking to team up or move into established share houses.
- Realestate.com.au: The largest platform for browsing official private or shared apartment rentals and local house listings.
Please note that signing a residential lease requires a standard security deposit called a bond, generally equal to 4 weeks’ rent. When your tenancy ends, the full amount will be refunded into your bank account minus the costs for bond cleaning and/or any damages.
For more information, refer to our Student Handbook or review the official Study Queensland portal.
