Accommodation

Cost of living

Your expenses can be broken down into the following categories:

Annual expenses

Initially it can be costly to start living in a different place. You will need about AUD14 000 for living expenses each year of study, and a little more at the beginning of each year for text books, bond etc. You need to consider costs for things such as transport, laundry, recreation and entertainment. These can cost at least AUD1000 per year.

Cost for accommodation and food, can be reduced by sharing with friends and budgeting carefully. The cost of living will vary depending on the type of accommodation you choose.

Extra expenses

These can cause serious problems if you have a limited budget. Worries about financial problems can interfere with your studies. Make sure that you have enough money to cover the cost of your study without having to supplement your income by taking part-time or vacation employment, which is not always available.

Establishment costs

Some of these may not apply to you, and some you can share with the other people in the house or unit:

Temporary accommodation	$40 per night (4 nights)
Bond	4 weeks rent in advance
Rent	2 weeks rent in advance
Electricity bond	$80
Telephone bond	$80 if accommodation already has an existing telephone line
Gas bond	$80
Furniture	$200
Crockery	$100
Transport	$50
Textbooks	$200 - $300 (approximately)

Sample budget

The following is an example of a person's weekly expenses based on a two-bedroom unit:

Rent	$85
Food (including lunches and take-away)	$100
Transport	$15
Electricity	$15
Telephone	$10
University expenses	$10
Entertainment	$20
Other	$10