Sydney is honest about being expensive. The numbers:
- Total: 2,200 to 4,000+ AUD/month depending on housing. - Rent: 1,600 to 2,600 AUD/month for a room. The single biggest lever. - Visa requirement: Australia demands proof of 29,710 AUD/year in living costs for the student visa. That is the government's own estimate of survival. - Work: 48 hours per fortnight during term, unlimited in holidays, at 22 to 35 AUD/hour. A retail shift at Woolworths pays 22 to 28 AUD/hour. - Groceries: cooking at home runs ~400 AUD/month. Eating out doubles it fast. Sources: Numbeo Cost of Living The math that works: share a flat 30 minutes out, work two shifts a week, cook. That covers roughly half the monthly burn. MoveReady ($9.99 one-time unlock) maps this exact budget for Sydney or any city, so you land with a plan instead of a panic.
