Every year, thousands of international students arrive in Sydney with big plans and a rough idea of what life will cost — and many of them get a shock in the first month. Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But here's the thing: where you live in Sydney makes an enormous difference. Students at Wyatt Education Group in Bankstown have a major cost advantage over students paying inner-city rents, and this guide will show you exactly what to expect, what to budget, and how to make your money go further.
Sydney is not one city financially — it's several. A studio apartment in Surry Hills (inner city) costs $600–$750 per week. The same type of apartment in Bankstown (where Wyatt's campus is located) costs $350–$450 per week. That's a saving of $10,000–$15,000 per year on rent alone — enough to pay for a significant portion of your course fees.
Western Sydney — including Bankstown, Parramatta, Fairfield, Liverpool, and Cabramatta — offers the most affordable student accommodation in Greater Sydney, excellent public transport links to the CBD and campuses, culturally diverse communities (making the adjustment to life in Australia much easier), and a huge range of affordable food, groceries, and services.
Wyatt Education Group is located at Level 2, 47 Rickard Road, Bankstown — right in the heart of one of Sydney's most student-friendly suburbs.
Housing will be your largest single cost. Here are your main options:
Sharing a 3–4 bedroom house with other students. Your own bedroom, shared kitchen, bathroom, and living areas. Most common choice for international students.
Your own self-contained space — kitchen, bathroom, bedroom in one unit. More privacy but higher cost. Good for students who want independence.
Slightly further from Bankstown campus (30 min by train) but often cheaper. Large South Asian and Southeast Asian communities, very affordable groceries.
Live with an Australian family. Includes meals (usually breakfast and dinner). Great for language immersion and a supportive environment when you first arrive.
Here is a realistic monthly budget for a single international student studying in Bankstown, Sydney in 2026. Costs are shown in AUD per week and per month.
| Expense | Low estimate (shared house) | Mid estimate (own studio) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (incl. utilities share) | $220–$280/wk · $950–$1,200/mth | $380–$450/wk · $1,650–$1,950/mth |
| Groceries & food | $80–$100/wk · $350–$430/mth | $100–$130/wk · $430–$560/mth |
| Transport (Opal card) | $40–$55/wk · $170–$240/mth | $40–$55/wk · $170–$240/mth |
| Phone plan | $15–$30/mth | $15–$30/mth |
| Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | ~$65/mth (Medibank/Bupa standard) | ~$65/mth |
| Entertainment & personal | $60–$100/mth | $100–$150/mth |
| Clothing & household | $30–$50/mth | $40–$60/mth |
| TOTAL (monthly) | $1,640–$2,050 | $2,470–$3,055 |
| TOTAL (annual) | $19,680–$24,600 | $29,640–$36,660 |
Bankstown is one of the best suburbs in Sydney for affordable, diverse, and high-quality food shopping. Here's what you'll actually spend:
Bankstown has an exceptional network of fresh food markets, Asian grocers, Middle Eastern butchers, and specialty food stores. Prices for fresh fruit, vegetables, halal meat, rice, lentils, spices, and Asian pantry staples are dramatically lower than supermarket prices. A $20 shop at a Bankstown fruit market can feed you fresh vegetables for an entire week. This is a genuine cost advantage over living near inner-city campuses.
Bankstown is one of Sydney's great food destinations — with cuisine from Lebanon, Vietnam, China, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, and beyond. Budget meal at a local restaurant or food court: $12–$18. A meal deal at a fast food chain: $12–$15. Cooking at home is still significantly cheaper — budget $10–$14 per day for home-cooked meals.
Sydney uses the Opal card — a reusable smartcard that you load with credit and tap on and off buses, trains, light rail, and ferries. As a student, you can apply for a Student Opal card which gives you discounted fares if you are enrolled full-time at an approved Australian educational institution.
Wyatt Education Group is located at 47 Rickard Road, Bankstown — a 5-minute walk from Bankstown train station (T3 Bankstown Line) and within walking distance of multiple bus routes. If you live anywhere along the Bankstown Line (including Lidcombe, Berala, Regents Park, Chester Hill, Sefton, Chester Hill, Birrong, and Yagoona), your commute to campus is simple and cheap.
Australia has competitive mobile phone plans. For international students on a budget, the best value comes from prepaid SIM plans rather than postpaid contracts:
When you first arrive, buy a prepaid SIM from Woolworths, Coles, or any mobile phone store — you can have an Australian number within 15 minutes of landing. Boost Mobile SIMs are available at post offices and online.
OSHC is compulsory for all international students in Australia on a student visa. It must be held for the full duration of your student visa. OSHC covers basic medical costs — GP visits, hospital stays, some prescription medicines — but does not cover dental, optical, or physiotherapy.
Many providers offer discounts for annual upfront payment vs monthly billing. Annual payment for a 52-week course typically costs $750–$900. Wyatt Education Group can provide guidance on OSHC options during the enrolment process.
You will need an Australian bank account to receive pay, pay rent, and manage day-to-day expenses. The good news: most major banks allow international students to open an account before arriving in Australia — which means your account is ready and waiting when you land.
International students on a student visa (subclass 500) have the right to work in Australia — currently up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods (recent changes from the previous 40-hour limit), and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
Working while studying can significantly supplement your living budget. Common employment for international students in Western Sydney includes:
The national minimum wage in Australia is currently $24.10 per hour (as of July 2025). Many hospitality and retail roles start at this rate or above. Working 20 hours per week at minimum wage generates approximately $1,900 per month — covering a significant portion of living costs.
Your first month in Sydney will cost more than subsequent months — you'll need to pay a rental bond (typically 4 weeks rent), buy household items, get your phone sorted, and cover various setup costs. Here's what to budget for your arrival month:
| First month setup cost | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
| Rental bond (4 weeks rent in advance) | $880–$1,200 (shared house) |
| First week's rent in advance | $220–$300 |
| Bedding, towels, kitchen basics | $150–$300 (Kmart / Target) |
| SIM card & first month phone plan | $30–$50 |
| Opal card initial load | $30–$50 |
| Groceries (first shop) | $100–$150 |
| Bank account setup | $0 |
| Total first month setup | $1,410–$2,050 |
Bankstown is not just where Wyatt's campus is located — it's genuinely one of Sydney's best-value suburbs for students, and here's why:
Wyatt Education Group is a CRICOS-registered RTO (46003) located in Bankstown, Sydney — offering nationally recognised qualifications in a vibrant, affordable, and welcoming community. Our student support team can help you with accommodation referrals, OSHC guidance, and settling into life in Australia.
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