Cost of Living in Darwin for Indian Students

Australia has become one of the most preferred study destinations for Indian students, and Darwin remains one of the top choices among international students. Before going to Darwin, students need to learn some things about that city to prepare for staying there. One of the things they need to learn is about the cost of living. However, the costs are tentative; therefore, they are subject to change after reaching Darwin.

Costs of Groceries

Groceries are the major items about which you need to know before going to Darwin, since they are the things on which you will need to spend daily. For 1 liter of regular milk, you need to pay A$2.25. You can buy a loaf of fresh white bread (500 grams) at A$4.22. One kilogram of white rice can be found at A$3.21. For 1 kg of local cheese, you need to pay A$13.

Fruits: To buy 1 kg of apples, you need to spend A$5.62. For 1 kg of bananas, you are required to spend A$4.40. The cost of 1 kg of oranges is A$3.98.

Vegetables: A$6.88 is the cost of 1 kg of tomatoes. You need to pay A$4.75 for 1 kg of potatoes. One kilogram of onions are available at A$3.40 in Darwin. You can buy 1 head of lettuce for A$3.30.

Costs of Restaurant Meals

You may need to visit a restaurant from time to time; therefore, the cost of restaurant meals is a major cost of living in Darwin. In an inexpensive restaurant, you can get a meal for A$35. Two people can have a meal in a midrange restaurant for A$130 in Darwin. The cost of a combo meal at McDonald’s in Darwin is A$18.

Cost of Transport for Students

Transport in Darwin is uniquely affordable for students right now compared to most major Australian cities. Currently, bus services are free in Darwin, including Greater Darwin, as well as Alice Springs. Both residents and visitors can get the benefit of this free travel. In the past, when there were fares, students would get a concession and could travel unlimited for A$1 for three hours. So, if the fares are reintroduced in the future, students may get the same concession.

If you prefer to use the other modes of transport, then the estimated costs may be:

Cost of Accommodation

After enrollment, accommodation is the major requirement for students who are going to Darwin. The cost of student accommodation Darwin depends on the type of accommodation you choose. Here are some of the popular types and their costs in Darwin:

1. Halls of Residence

Halls of residence are the university-owned accommodations for students where they can live in the company of other students of their university/college. Key costs of accommodations in halls of residence in Darwin may be:

Shared/Dorm Room: ~AUD 160 – AUD 280+ per week

Single Room (Shared Apt): ~AUD 222 – AUD 294 per week

Studio Apartment: ~AUD 330 – AUD 549+ per week

Average Student Cost: ~AUD 330 per week

2. PBSA Properties

PBSA, the short form of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, is an ideal private alternative for halls of residence. These accommodations provide freedom to students compared to the halls of residence. They are owned by private owners who can impart some rules, but still, these rules are not as strict as those in halls of residence. Here are the estimated prices of accommodations in PBSA properties.

Average Studio Costs: Around A$330 per week.

Private/Shared Rooms: If you are going to rent a shared setup, then you can get a place to stay at A$263/week. On the other hand, for a studio apartment, you may need to pay A$450/week.

3. Private Apartments

Private apartments are houses that are not found in any student complexes, but they can be found in residential and other areas. In these private apartments, students get full freedom except for the responsibility of maintaining the house.

Studio Apartments (Private): AUD 325 – AUD 600+

1-Bedroom Apartments (Private): AUD 350 – AUD 700

Private Rooms in Shared Apartments: AUD 200 – AUD 400

4. Homestays

Homestays are arrangements in which some families in Darwin offer a space to students to live. Students are required to follow the rules of the houses while living in homestays. Here are the estimated prices of homestays.

Complete Homestay (3 meals, 7 days): ~A$400 per week.

Traditional Homestay (2 meals Mon-Fri, 3 weekends): ~A$370 per week.

Dinner Only/Half Board: ~A$340 per week.

Room Only (No Meals): ~A$300 per week.

Final Note

The abovementioned prices are the estimated prices, which can fluctuate or may be different in the case of different options.

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