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COST OF LIVING
IN
QUEENSLAND
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
The information in this presentation is intended as a
guide only to help you plan and budget for your
years at school in Queensland.
Costs in Townsville (regional city of Queensland) are
relatively low compared with other cities of the
world, but the standard of living is high.
This has helped to earn Townsville the reputation of
being Australia’s most liveable city.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
The graph below shows the cost of living in
Townsville compared with most capital cities
around the world.
Comparative Yearly Cost of Living
Per 1 year
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Gold Coast
Room and food
10,600
9,500
9,300
9,100
Transportation
(bus)
1,600
1,600
1,040
1,000
Clothes and
Hygiene
1,800
1,800
1,560
1,420
Total per year
AU$ 14,000
AU$ 12,900
AU$ 11,900
AU$ 11,420
Source: http://www.bond.edu.au/international/life/accomodation/comparative-costs.html
 Typical Prices of items in Queensland
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Item
Food snack/sandwich
Moderate restaurant meal (without drinks)
Top-end restaurant Meal (without drinks)
Local bus fare
MacDonalds Big Mac meal
Glass of Soft drink
Kilogram of Rice
Litre of Milk
Toilet Paper (4 rolls)
Large Margarita Pizza
Phone bill
Cost $AUD (US)
$5-$7 ($4.33-$6.06)
$10–$25 ($8.67-$21.67)
$25 and upwards ($21.67)
$3.00 ($2.60)
$5.25 ($4.55)
$1.80 ($1.56)
$1.50 ($1.30)
$1.40 ($1.21)
$3.00 ($2.60)
$8.00 ($6.93)
$50 per month ($43.34)
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Currency
Australian currency is decimal with the dollar (AUD$) as the basic unit –
100 cents equals 1 dollar ($1).
Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 denominations. Each note is a
different colour and has a different design.
Coins are minted in $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c, and 5c denominations,
although individual item prices are still quoted in 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 7c, 8c &
9c. The total of purchases is then rounded off to the nearest 5c.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
While you may wish to buy some Australian dollars before you leave
home, for safety reasons it is best not to carry more than AUD$400 in
cash or travellers’ cheques when entering Australia or at any one time.
You can exchange your foreign currency or travellers’ cheques at
airports, local banks or Bureaux de Change.
It is best to open a bank account with an ATM card which allows you to
easily obtain cash when you need it.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
The cost of transport, food and entertainment in
Queensland is average compared to other Australian
cities.
The following slides outline the cost of living within
Townsville by establishing costs and budgeting
requirements for living in Townsville.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Establishment costs
Remember there are incidental expenses (e.g. stationery,
medical, clothing, recreation, entertainment, visa renewals)
so it is advisable to budget for an extra AUD$1500 - $2500
per year.
Some of these expenses are matters of personal taste; the
amount you spend varies, depending on your priorities, the
lifestyle you choose, and your available budget.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Transport
Depending on where you will be living and the distance between where you live
and your school, transport can cost you approximately AUD$15-$30 per week.
Your Homestay will be located within close proximity to local transport and your
Homestay family will be able to give you directions to the nearest bus stop or
train station and advise you about the best transport routes for travel to and
from school, the city and local shops.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Clothing
The clothing you bring with you to wear after school and during holidays (most Queensland schools have
a school uniform requirement) should suit Queensland’s tropical to sub-tropical climate.
Summer (December – February) can be hot (up to 40 degrees Celsius in some areas) and Queensland’s
north and coastal regions can be humid with heavy rainfall.
Winter (June – August) is generally fine and sunny with mild to warm temperatures (12 - 18 degrees
Celsius during the day). Winter nights and early mornings are generally cool.
In addition to casual wear, bring some clothing for formal occasions. Some students also choose to bring
the national dress of their country to wear at functions or on special cultural days. Clothing and
personal items will cost around $20-$40 a week (including the cost of cleaning your clothes).
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Buying and using a mobile phone
Mobile phones are convenient to use but can be expensive to operate. Some
companies charge YOU for international mobile calls you receive.
You will need a GSM 900 compatible phone to access the network in Australia.
The 3 main Mobile Phone providers in Queensland are Telstra, Optus and Three.
www.telstra.com.au
www.optus.com.au
www.three.com.au
You can buy mobile phones in Australia through a contract plan (you pay for the
phone and line rental over a certain period of time, without a bulk payment up
front), or you can pay for the handset up front and buy prepaid call cards as you
need them. Some contract deals require proof of income or financial backing.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Prepaid phone prices start at $79 and go up to $300 depending on which
phone you chose.
Please note, there are certain public places where it is unacceptable to
use mobile phones, including schools, movie theatres, libraries, galleries,
and at plays or other public performances.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Telephone (Land Line)
To use a land line telephone you will need around $15 per week (more if
you are phoning overseas).
Make sure you get permission from your Homestay family before making
phone calls on their home phone.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Entertainment
Allow at least $30-$50 per week spending money for entertainment, recreation, haircuts,
gifts and other minor personal items. These hidden costs will vary depending on your
budget and lifestyle. For example one trip to the movies can cost AU$20 or more (including
transport, ticket and something to eat).
With careful budgeting, you should be able to manage with approximately AU$50 pocket
money per week.
However, every student is different and living in Australia
may be much more or less expensive than what you are used
to. It is therefore a good idea to discuss your budget for
pocket money with your parents before leaving home.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Entertainment
Townsville is full of live music with local and international bands
playing in the Entertainment Centre, civic theatre, etc
As well, latin pop, jazz, rap, techno, reggae, rock, funk, punk, gothic, folk/roots
and fusion bands play in Townsville’s pubs while you can enjoy live comedy,
cabaret, and karaoke in restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs around the city.
A feast of festivals, exhibitions and performances offer the people of Brisbane the
best of local and international talent while Brisbane's numerous theatres, the
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the
Queensland Symphony Orchestra produce a constantly changing program of
entertainment.
Concert tickets vary in prices, starting from $30$40. Some concerts may have age restrictions.
Most pubs, clubs and bars are limited to people over
the age of 18.
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Posting a letter
Australia Post provides a wide range of
services in Australia. See the Australia
Post website www.auspost.com.au for
information about local and international
services and costs.
Look for the red post boxes located in shopping centres, transport centres
and stations and on street corners to post your mail. Posting can cost
anywhere between AU 50c for delivery within Australia and over AU $100
for international Packages (the cost highly depends on the size and
weight of the package).
COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND
Miscellaneous
Allow for at least $40 for spending money on items such as, haircuts,
eating out, books, computer equipment, photocopying, printing,
stationery and other miscellaneous items. These hidden costs will vary
depending on your budget and lifestyle.
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