There is no single cost of living for international students. Your monthly living expenses depend mainly on the city, accommodation type, course location, lifestyle, exchange rate and whether you share housing. The comparison below uses a consistent August 2026 country-level snapshot for everyday costs, but it is only a starting point. Before choosing a destination, replace these figures with your university’s budget, local rental listings, official visa guidance and your own expected spending.
The figures in the comparison table are indicative country-level estimates from Numbeo’s cost database. They are based on entries from cities across each country, so they are not a quotation for a particular university, city or room. Each country page has its own latest-update date, and the results can change as prices and contributions change.
When researching study abroad living expenses by country, separate your budget into tuition fees, accommodation, food and groceries, transport, utilities, phone and internet, health insurance, books or course materials and one-off arrival costs. Tuition is not included in living expenses. Official guidance for Australia, the UK, Canada and New Zealand also shows why visa financial requirements and everyday spending should be checked separately.
Let's have a closer look at the student cost of living in the following five countries:
Student cost of living in popular study destinations
Your day-to-day living costs can significantly affect the total cost of studying abroad. The table compares a consistent set of country-level indicators: estimated monthly spending for one person excluding rent, a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre, a regular monthly public transport pass, one litre of milk, a cinema ticket, basic utilities, a mobile plan and broadband internet.
For easy comparison, we present all the figures in USD in the table below, based on the exchange rate at the time of writing (August 2026). The table is therefore a transparent starting point for an average monthly cost for international students, not a promised or minimum budget.
| Destination | Single-person monthly costs excluding rent | One-bedroom rent outside city centre per month | Monthly public transport pass | Average milk price (1L) | Basic utilities per month |
| Australia | A$1,600 | A$1,768 | A$132 | A$2.50 | A$286 |
| United Kingdom | £835 | £819 | £77 | £1.25 | £241 |
| Canada | C$1,440 | C$1,588 | C$104 | C$3.11 | C$211 |
| United States | US$1,193 | US$1,341 |
US$65 |
US$1.06 | US$217 |
| New Zealand | NZ$1,702 | NZ$1,652 | NZ$181 | NZ$3.17 | NZ$274 |
The most reliable way to answer how much does it cost to live abroad as an international student is to create a city-specific budget. If you are learning how to make a student budget for studying abroad, use your institution’s estimates as the starting point and test them against current local costs. Compare university estimates with current rental listings, check whether bills are included, convert the budget into your home currency and leave a contingency buffer. Do not assume that a lower country-level estimate will apply to a major city or to a private apartment.
Australia student cost of living
The cost of shared private rentals in Australia varies with cities and locations within cities, but generally, it is relatively manageable compared to the other four study destinations.
If you study in Perth, you will only spend around AUD 195 to AUD 400 per week on shared accommodation. However, if you choose Sydney as your study destination, you will need around AUD 350 to AUD 570 per week to cover your rent.
Public transport in Australia is on the pricier side among the five study abroad countries. A monthly travel pass will cost you an average of around AUD 168 but your actual transport cost will vary with your city of residence and the frequency you travel.
Food, phone, internet, health cover, study materials and one-off setup costs should be added to your cost of living in Australia for international students estimate. Study Australia provides a cost-of-living calculator and explains that its calculator is an approximate guide. It also warns that actual living costs may be higher than the financial amount needed for a student visa, so a visa threshold should not be treated as a complete personal budget.
Work rights in Australia
Eligible Student visa subclass 500 holders may generally work within the conditions attached to their visa. The relevant condition commonly limits work to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, but the exact permission depends on the visa and study circumstances. Check the conditions in VEVO or the visa grant notice before accepting work. Part-time income can help with some expenses, but it is not guaranteed and should not be used as the sole plan for tuition or living costs.
United Kingdom student cost of living
The UK snapshot gives estimated monthly costs of £835.00 for one person excluding rent, £819.53 for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre, £77.00 for a regular transport pass and £241.67 for basic utilities. Is London more expensive than other UK student cities? It can be, particularly for housing, but the difference depends on the neighbourhood, accommodation type and spending pattern. Study UK’s guidance provides separate London and rest-of-UK examples for accommodation, bills, groceries and transport, so cost of living in the UK for international students should be researched at city level rather than treated as one national price.
The student cost of living in the UK should include rent or halls, groceries, household bills, transport, mobile service, course materials, health-related costs and social spending. The official UK financial requirement is a visa-evidence rule, not a guarantee that the amount will cover every student’s actual spending. Course fees are a separate budget line.
Work rights in the UK
Some Student visa holders may work, but the permitted hours and types of work depend on the course and the visa conditions. Eligible degree-level students may have a 20-hour-per-week limit during term time, while other students can have different or no work permission. Check your eVisa and the current Student visa rules before working.
Canada student cost of living
Groceries in Canada are generally more expensive than in other study destinations such as the US and UK. We recommend budgeting around CAD 400 to CAD 550 per month for food and everyday items.
While groceries in Canada may be pricier, the costs of accommodation, entertainment and transport are reasonable compared to other study abroad countries.
For instance, renting a room in a shared flat in Montreal will only cost you a weekly average of around CAD 208 to CAD 223. Vancouver and Toronto are more expensive: shared accommodation in these two cities costs an average of CAD 346 and CAD 287 per week respectively, but they are still more affordable than cities like London and New York City.
Many Canadian cities offer travel cards that reduce your average transport cost when you make multiple journeys. The average monthly travel pass in Canada is only CAD 100 - significantly cheaper than in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
Check out our article on the student cost of living in Canada for more information about how much living in the country as an international student will cost you.
Work rights in Canada
Eligible students may work off campus for up to 24 hours per week during regular terms, but the programme, study-permit and Social Insurance Number conditions must all be met. On-campus work follows separate rules. Students should confirm their eligibility before working and should not assume that a part-time job will cover their full budget.
United States student cost of living
The US snapshot gives estimated monthly costs of US$1,193.00 for one person excluding rent, US$1,341.75 for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre, US$65.00 for a regular transport pass and US$217.73 for basic utilities. Housing and transport can vary widely by state, city, campus and whether you live on or off campus. For that reason, cost of living in the USA for international students should be built from the cost-of-attendance budget published by your institution rather than from a national average alone.
The US budget should account for tuition, housing, food, transport, health insurance, books, course materials, phone and internet, personal expenses and one-off arrival costs. U.S. Federal Student Aid guidance treats cost of attendance as an estimate that can include tuition, books, transport, food and housing, with schools establishing reasonable allowances for their students.
Work rights in the United States
F-1 and M-1 students must follow immigration and school rules. F-1 students may have qualifying on-campus employment, generally up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Off-campus employment and practical training require the appropriate authorisation; CPT and OPT must meet specific rules, and practical training must relate to the student’s course or major. Check with your designated school official before accepting work.
New Zealand student cost of living
Overall, New Zealand offers the lowest cost of living compared to the other four study destinations mentioned in this article. The average cost of shared private rental accommodation is relatively low, although it varies by city and location.
In Auckland, a room in shared accommodation will cost around NZD 250 to NZD 370 per week, while in Dunedin, you will only need an average of NZD 180 per week to rent a room.
A monthly travel pass in New Zealand averages around NZD 179. If you live on or near campus, you may not need to spend much on transport because you can reach most places on foot or by bike.
Groceries and entertainment in New Zealand are also affordable, with a litre of milk costing about NZD 3 and a cinema ticket averaging NZD 19.
New Zealand combines high quality of life, reasonable cost of living and prestigious universities, making it an excellent choice for international students seeking a reputable degree on a budget.
Work rights in New Zealand
Some eligible students may work up to 25 hours per week, but the course type and visa conditions matter. Research PhD and research-master’s students can have different rules, and students must check their eVisa or visa letter before working. Immigration New Zealand also sets conditions for practical experience and holiday work.
Final thoughts on the student cost of living across the world
Thanks to their relatively low average rent and transport costs, Canada and New Zealand offer a more affordable cost of living compared to other popular destinations. These two countries also have relatively low tuition fees, making them ideal for students with a limited budget.
While living expenses in the US and UK are higher, especially in large cities, their world-class institutions make studying in these countries worthwhile.
According to the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the top ten universities in the world are either British or American, and in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, British and American institutions take up eight of the top ten spots.
Studying in the UK or US means you can benefit from obtaining a prestigious degree, which can pave the way for future success in your career or further education.
Low-cost study destinations are undoubtedly more financially manageable, but with careful budgeting, studying in countries with higher costs of living is also achievable. The most important thing is to consider what you can afford and choose the most suitable study destination based on your financial situation.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How much does it cost to live abroad as an international student?
There is no universal monthly figure. Costs depend on city, accommodation, lifestyle, course and exchange rate, so use the table as a starting point and replace it with university, rental and official destination data.
Q2. Which country is cheapest for international students?
No country is cheapest for every student. Compare tuition and city-level living costs together, then consider housing type, transport, insurance, exchange rates and your own spending pattern rather than relying on a country ranking.
Q3. What expenses should international students include in a study-abroad budget?
Include tuition fees, accommodation, food, transport, utilities, phone and internet, health insurance, books or course materials and one-off costs such as deposits, visa charges or initial setup. Also check whether your accommodation includes bills and whether your destination requires separate financial evidence.
Q4. Does the cost of living include tuition fees?
No. Living expenses normally describe day-to-day costs such as housing, food, transport and household services. Tuition fees, visa or financial-evidence requirements, insurance, travel and one-off arrival costs should be budgeted separately.
Q5. Can international students work part-time to help pay living costs?
Some students may work, but the rules depend on the destination, visa, course, study status and type of work. Check the official conditions before accepting a job, and do not rely on expected part-time income to meet tuition, visa or essential living costs.
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