Study in Australia from India: Cities, Visa, Costs and Student Housing
Studying in Australia works best when you plan it as a whole. The city, the course, the visa and the housing all affect each other. This page is the starting point for our Australia guides, with the numbers checked in October 2026.
Start with the visa and your funds
The student visa application charge is A$2,500 (about ₹1.7 lakh) from 1 July 2026, and you must show A$29,710 (about ₹20.2 lakh) for a year of living costs on top of tuition and travel. India has also been at Evidence Level 3, the highest-scrutiny tier, since 8 January 2026. Our Australia student visa guide explains each of these, the work limit and the post-study visa. Rupee figures use about ₹68 per Australian dollar, so check the live rate.
Compare the seven cities
| City | Median rent, whole dwellings | Room in a share house | Time ahead of India | Main universities |
| Sydney | A$841 a week | About A$300 (A$280 to A$420) | 4.5 hours, 5.5 in daylight saving | University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS, Macquarie, Western Sydney |
| Melbourne | A$641 a week | A$280 to A$380 | 4.5 hours, 5.5 in daylight saving | University of Melbourne, Monash, RMIT, Deakin, La Trobe, Swinburne, Victoria University |
| Brisbane | A$734 a week | A$240 to A$350 | 4.5 hours all year | UQ, QUT, Griffith |
| Perth | A$784 a week | A$230 to A$320 | 2.5 hours all year | UWA, Curtin, Murdoch, ECU, Notre Dame |
| Adelaide | A$662 a week | A$210 to A$300 | 4 hours, 5 in daylight saving | Adelaide University, Flinders |
| Canberra | A$706 a week | No reliable figure | 4.5 hours, 5.5 in daylight saving | ANU, University of Canberra, Australian Catholic University |
| Darwin | A$725 a week | No reliable figure | 4 hours all year | Charles Darwin University |
Median rents are for the June quarter of 2026 (Cotality) and cover whole homes, not rooms. Room ranges come from published listing data and are indicative.
What the numbers say
- Lowest median rent: Melbourne (A$641) and Adelaide (A$662).
- Highest median rent: Sydney (A$841) and Perth (A$784).
- Fastest rent growth over the year: Darwin (10.1%), then Perth (7.8%).
- Closest time zone to India: Perth, 2.5 hours ahead.
- One main university: Darwin, so check that your course is offered before you choose the city.
Choose a university
Rankings are a starting point. Our guide to the best universities in Australia for Indian students gives the QS 2027 ranks and explains where QS and Times Higher Education disagree. If Melbourne is on your list, read the University of Melbourne guide.
Plan your intake and English test
The July 2027 intake guide has a month-by-month timeline. If you still need an English test, compare your options in our IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE guide.
Find student accommodation
Each city guide lists the main purpose-built student accommodation providers, with starting prices from the providers’ own sites where available, and compares them with the cost of a share-house room. Start with the city you are most likely to choose.
Talk to us
If you are comparing cities or want help matching a course, budget and housing option, send your details through our Talk to Our Expert page.
Last checked 9 October 2026. Sources: Cotality Quarterly Rental Review, June quarter 2026; Department of Home Affairs; published listing data. Fees and rules change, so confirm important details with Home Affairs or the university.