Cost of living at uni: a realistic money guide for new students

• Rent or board 

• Bills (phone, internet, utilities) 

• Transport 

• Groceries 

• Regular payments (subscriptions, meds, repayments) 

Don't forget irregular costs. If you have bills that hit monthly or once a term (rego, medication, course requirements), give them a weekly "share" so they don't catch you off guard later. 

• Add up irregular costs for the next 2–3 months. 

• Divide by the number of weeks. 

• Treat that number like a must-pay. 

Weekly number = income – essentials – weekly share of irregular costs 

What's left is your weekly number for everything else: coffee, lunch, going out, impulse buys. 

If your weekly number is lower than you expected, that's not a failure. That's useful information. 

When you work casually, freelance or have another source of inconsistent income, it can be harder to nail down that consistent budgeting. 

The best approach is to budget off your minimum earnings week:

• Look back at the last 4 weeks. 

• Use the lowest (or second-lowest) as your weekly income for budgeting. 

• Anything extra in a better week can go to future-you or catch-ups. 

• Account 1: Your main account – income lands here, bills and essentials get paid from here. 

• Account 2: Weekly spend (your weekly number) 

Then: 

• Set up an auto-transfer of your weekly number from Account 1 to Account 2 each Monday. 

• Spend from Account 2 without doing mental maths every day. 

Course fees vary depending on what you study. Many eligible domestic students use HECS-HELP to cover tuition fees and repay it later through the tax system once they earn above a certain income. 

A few basics: 

• HECS-HELP covers tuition fees, not living costs 

• You don't repay it straight away while you're studying 

• Your course page will show what applies to your study type 

Living costs are usually the bigger day-to-day stress because they're there every day. This includes:

• Rent

• Groceries 

• Transport 

• Phone and internet 

• Course-related costs (printing, tools or supplies depending on your course) 

• Discretionary (non-essential) spending, like takeaway/delivery food, video games, travel and social events.

Even if you're not buying textbooks, there are still costs that sneak up: 

• Travel to campus and placements 

• Student basics (printing, stationery, ID stuff) 

• Occasional software or equipment (course-dependent) 

• Laptop or device needs.

A simple rule: build a small buffer into your week for "random uni costs" so they don't become a crisis. 

Don't buy a bunch of textbooks just because you think you need to:

• Wait until week one to see what you actually need 

• Check if readings are provided online 

• Ask your teacher what's genuinely essential 

• Look for second-hand options or library access.

Plan 3-4 cheap meals you can repeat and enjoy. Cheap, filling, low-effort options include:

• Stir-fry with frozen veg + rice or noodles 

• Pasta with a simple sauce + whatever veg you have 

• Wraps with tuna, chicken or beans + salad mix 

• Big soup or curry you can freeze 

• Overnight oats or yoghurt + fruit for quick breakfasts 

If you want to spend less without overthinking it: 

• Shop once a week with a list 

• Buy frozen veg (cheap, lasts longer, less waste) 

• Choose one protein you can stretch (eggs, tofu, beans, tuna, mince) 

• Keep 2-3 emergency items at home (rice, pasta, canned beans, frozen meals) 

Usually, it’s not groceries that hit the wallet the hardest. It’s the extras: 

• Buying lunch every day 

• Buying snacks because you didn’t pack anything 

• Food delivery when you’re tired.

Two easy fixes: 

• Pack something basic for campus (even a sandwich is a win) 

• Keep a “bag snack” (muesli bar, fruit, nuts) so you don’t spend $12 on panic food.