Australia is a popular destination for international students, but the cost of living can vary significantly between cities. While Sydney and Melbourne are among Australia's best-known study destinations, smaller student cities such as Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Adelaide and Darwin may offer opportunities to manage living expenses, although costs can vary between locations. For international students, choosing an affordable city is about more than finding lower rent. The availability of universities and courses, part-time work opportunities, public transport, accommodation options and access to essential services should also be considered.

A few reasons people look beyond Sydney and Melbourne when choosing where to live in Australia.

Some of the Australian cities commonly considered by international students looking for comparatively manageable living costs include: 

Adelaide: Adelaide is one of Australia’s more affordable capital cities for international students, offering comparatively lower accommodation and everyday living costs than larger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. The city has a compact layout, public transport and several major higher-education institutions. 

Popular study areas are Business and Management, Information Technology, Engineering, Health Sciences, Education and Computer Science.

Perth: Perth is often considered a relatively affordable option among Australia’s major capital cities, particularly when accommodation and transport are compared with larger eastern-city markets. It is considered to be a practical choice for students looking to control living expenses while studying in a major Australian city. Popular study areas of Perth are Engineering, Health Sciences, Data Science, Mining and resources.

Canberra: Canberra is Australia's capital and offers a smaller-city environment with major higher-education institutions, including Australian National University, University of Canberra and Canberra Institute of Technology. Study areas can include Engineering, Research, Public Policy, International Relations and Business, depending on the institution and course. But, it cannot be automatically be described as a low-cost city.

Brisbane: Brisbane can be a practical choice for students looking to balance education opportunities, lifestyle and living costs, although it should not be described as a low-cost city without qualification because accommodation prices can still be significant. It has universities like The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University and popular study areas such as Hospitality and Tourism, IT and computer science, Health sciences and Business.

Darwin: Darwin can be considered by students interested in a smaller Australian capital and a different lifestyle. Living expenses can vary considerably according to accommodation, location and lifestyle, so students should check current costs before choosing the city. Charles Darwin University (CDU) is a major higher-education provider in the city. Relevant study and industry areas include Engineering, Business, Health, Education, Environmental and Biological Sciences

Hobart: Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, can be considered by students looking for a smaller-city study environment. Living costs vary by accommodation and lifestyle, so it is better described as a potentially manageable option rather than automatically one of Australia's cheapest cities. The University of Tasmania has notable strengths in Marine and Antarctic Science, maritime studies, agricultural sciences, environmental and conservation fields, and health and medical sciences.

For international students, smaller Australian cities such as Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Darwin and Canberra can offer a more manageable cost of living than Sydney and Melbourne. Here are estimated living costs.

For international students, cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin can offer a different cost profile from Sydney and Melbourne. Here's how Australia's more affordable capitals stack up against Sydney and Melbourne right now.