Living in Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of the State of Victoria and now the largest city in Australia (recently overtaking Sydney’s population). With a mild climate, clean air quality and low crime rate, Melbourne is commonly named one of the world’s most liveable cities. Students from all over the world come here to take advantage of our world-class education and enjoy our hospitality and cultural diversity.
Melbourne has a diverse and multicultural population and is often named one of the world’s most liveable cities. The city features grand Victorian buildings built during the 1850s gold rush and the 1880s boom. As Australia’s ‘Sporting Capital’, Melbourne is the home of Australian Rules Football (AFL/AFLW), international cricket, the Australian Open tennis tournament, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which features horses from all over the world. Melbourne also has strongly-supported teams in the national basketball, football (soccer), rugby league, netball and T-20 cricket competitions.
Widely regarded as the ‘cultural capital’ of Australia, Melbourne is home to residents from more than 200 countries and territories, who speak over 233 languages and dialects and follow 116 religious faiths. Melbourne’s metropolitan area population is now estimated at 5.46 million. Until 2020, when COVID-19 swept across the globe, Melbourne had attracted the largest proportion of international overseas immigrants (48,000) in Australia as well as the largest interstate migration from other parts of Australia.
Festivals and events
In addition to its world class art galleries, public libraries and museums, most of which offer free admission, Melbourne hosts entertainment to suit everyone’s tastes, including Australia’s best live music and theatre scene, and a busy schedule of festivals and events throughout the year that regularly feature major international artists and exhibitions. Among Melbourne’s many famous events each year are: the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the Melbourne Fringe Festival, the Moomba Festival, the Melbourne Royal Show, Melbourne Fashion Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and far too many multicultural festivals to list here.
For further information go to the Visit Victoria website.
Food
Melbourne has a fabulous variety of food. Our quality meat, fish, fruits and vegetables are exported to markets all around the globe. You should have no difficulty in finding the foods that you are used to at home as well. Melbourne is home to many of Australia’s best restaurants and cafés (our coffee is world-famous!), and for those who like takeaway, most of the major global fast food chains are well represented. Melbourne also has some of the best and cleanest drinking water in the world, as well as thriving, world-renowned wine and beer industries.
Cost of living
The Australian Government has calculated some average living costs to guide international students. According to their latest estimates, you will need a budget of $29,710 a year to live comfortably here. The precise cost will depend on your choice of accommodation and your lifestyle.
For more information on Melbourne’s cost of living, visit the Australian government’s Study Australia website or the Victorian Government’s Cost of Living in Melbourne webpage.
Accommodation
There are numerous commercial accommodations for students scattered across Melbourne’s CBD. You can check websites like UniAcco and Scape for the best and most affordable options.
Apart from commercial accommodation, moving into a share house is likely to be the cheapest accommodation option in Melbourne. The rent depends on several factors such as where the house is located, how old it is, how many people live there, etc. Your individual preference for such factors will affect the price but on average you can expect to pay between $175 – $400 per week, not including utilities like electricity and gas.
When signing a lease for a share house in Melbourne you are expected to pay an upfront security bond payment to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. The standard amount is 4 times your weekly rent payment but could be more depending on the individual home. Once you have decided to move out of your share house, you will receive your money back provided that you have not damaged the premises.
The Student Handbook has more information or go to the Victorian Government’s About Melbourne webpage.