Quick answer:
An international student in Australia could potentially save a few hundred dollars per month, but only if their part-time income is enough to cover their living costs first.
Based on the examples in this guide, a student earning $30 per hour and working close to the 48-hour-per-fortnight work limit could take home around $2,938 per month. With baseline living costs of around $2,500 per month, this could leave approximately $438 in monthly savings.
Students working fewer hours may not earn enough to cover all their living expenses through part-time work alone. Ultimately, how much you can save will depend largely on your hourly pay, working hours, accommodation costs and lifestyle.
Below, we break down the numbers to show what international students could realistically earn, spend and save in Australia.
How Much Can an International Student Earn in Australia?
Most international students studying in Australia on a Student visa (subclass 500) can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. During scheduled course breaks, students can generally work unlimited hours.
There are some exceptions, including different rules for students studying a master’s degree by research or doctoral degree, so it is important to check the conditions attached to your individual visa.
How much you actually earn will depend on your job, age, employment type and the hours you work.
From 1 July 2026, Australia’s National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour for an adult employee not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. For casual employees entitled to the National Minimum Wage, the minimum is $33.05 per hour, including the 25% casual loading.
Many student jobs are also covered by an industry award, which can set different minimum rates and additional penalty rates for certain shifts.
Hrs worked per week | Weekly income | Approx. monthly income |
12 hrs | $360 | $1,560 |
18 hrs | $540 | $2,340 |
24 hrs | $720 | $3,120 |
*Note: The table utilises an illustrative wage of $30 per hour to showcase what different working hours could look like. The monthly figures use an average of 4.33 weeks per month and are before tax.
At $30 per hour, a student working around 18 hours per week could therefore earn roughly $2,340 per month before tax.
Working 24 hours per week brings this closer to $3,120 per month, although students need to make sure their working pattern complies with the 48-hour-per-fortnight restriction while their course is in session. The visa restriction is based on a fortnight rather than simply an average of 24 hours every week.
It is also important to remember that these are examples, not guaranteed earnings. A student’s actual pay may be higher or lower depending on their age, job and applicable award. Hours may also fluctuate from week to week.
How Much Does an International Student Spend Each Month?
Earning $2,000 or $3,000 a month might sound reasonable, but how much you can actually save depends on what you spend.
For most international students, accommodation is the biggest expense. Sharing a house or apartment with other students can significantly reduce this cost compared with renting alone.
Weekly cost of living | On campus apartment | On campus college | Share house | One bedroom unit |
Accommodation | $365 – $580 | $435 – $630 | ~$290 | $470 – $830 |
Food | $120 – $250 | Included | $120 – $250 | $120 – $250 |
Utilities and internet | Included | Included | $65 | $80 |
Phone Plan | $10 – $20 | $10 – $20 | $10 – $20 | $10 – $20 |
Public transport | $10 | $10 | $55 | $55 |
Lifestyle spending | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 | $50 – $100 |
Weekly total (AUD) | $555 – $960 | $505 – $760 | $590 – $780 | $785 – $1,335 |
These figures are only a guide. Living costs can vary considerably depending on your city, accommodation and lifestyle. A student sharing a house further from the city centre, for example, may spend less on rent, while someone living alone or close to campus could spend considerably more.
For more specific calculations based on different Australian cities use this Cost Of Studying in Australia Calculator
How does this compare with the government’s living-cost requirement?
For an Australian student visa, a single international student currently needs to demonstrate access to at least $29,710 to cover 12 months of living costs.
That is equivalent to roughly $2,476 per month.
However, this should not be treated as a guarantee that $2,476 will cover your actual monthly expenses. The Australian Government specifically notes that real living costs can be higher than the amount required for your visa.
For our savings calculations, we will therefore use $2,500 per month as a simple baseline living-cost estimate.
This gives us a realistic starting point without assuming either an extremely frugal lifestyle or expensive private accommodation.
So, How Much Can You Actually Save?
Now that we have an idea of what a student could earn and spend, we can estimate how much might actually be left at the end of each month.
For simplicity, the following scenarios use the same $30 per hour illustrative wage from earlier and our baseline living cost of $2,500 per month.
For the tax estimates, we have assumed that the student is an Australian resident for tax purposes, is eligible for the tax-free threshold and Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), and is exempt from paying the Medicare levy. Your actual tax treatment may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
12 hrs/week | 18 hrs/week | 24 hrs/week | |
Approx. annual income | $18,720 | $28,080 | $37,440 |
Approx. income tax | $0 | $782 | $2,186 |
Approx. monthly take home income | $1,560 | $2,275 | $2,938 |
Baseline monthly living costs | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Potential monthly savings | – $940 | – $225 | + $438 |
Working 12 hours per week
A student working 12 hours per week at $30 an hour would earn approximately $1,560 per month.
Against our $2,500 baseline for living costs, that leaves a shortfall of around $940 per month. Part-time work would therefore help cover expenses, but the student would still need another source of funds to meet their living costs.
Working 18 hours per week
At 18 hours per week, gross earnings increase to approximately $28,080 per year. After our estimated income tax, this works out to around $2,275 per month in take-home income.
That is much closer to our $2,500 living-cost baseline, but still leaves a shortfall of around $225 per month.
Working 24 hours per week
A student working 24 hours per week at $30 an hour would earn approximately $37,440 per year. After estimated income tax, this leaves around $2,938 per month.
After $2,500 in baseline living costs, the student could potentially have around $438 left each month, equivalent to roughly $5,250 over a year if their income and expenses remained consistent.
However, remember that Student visa holders are generally limited to 48 hours of work per fortnight while their course is in session. The 24-hour scenario is therefore an illustration of working close to this limit, rather than a recommendation to work 24 hours every week.
What do these numbers actually tell us?
The main takeaway is that part-time work does not automatically mean an international student can save money in Australia.
Under our $2,500 monthly baseline, a student working 12 or 18 hours per week would not fully cover their living expenses through employment alone. Working closer to the permitted limit makes saving more achievable, but even then our example leaves only around $438 per month.
And remember, $2,500 is only our baseline. The Sydney share-house estimate shown earlier can reach $780 per week, while students who find cheaper accommodation, spend less on lifestyle expenses or earn a higher hourly wage may have considerably more left over.
Ultimately, even a few hundred dollars of difference in monthly rent or income can be the difference between running a shortfall and actually building savings.
Final Thoughts
Studying in Australia can provide international students with the opportunity to earn alongside their studies, but saving money should not be taken for granted. Australia’s relatively high wages are accompanied by equally significant living costs, particularly when it comes to accommodation.
The best approach is to arrive with a realistic budget and enough financial support to cover your essential expenses without depending entirely on part-time work. Any income you earn can then help reduce your living costs and, if your circumstances allow, contribute towards savings.
Ultimately, there is no single savings figure that applies to every international student. Your experience will depend on your job, working hours, accommodation and lifestyle. Understanding these costs before you arrive can help you set realistic expectations and make better financial decisions throughout your time in Australia.
References
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs (2026). Student visa (subclass 500). Available at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
Australian Government – Study Australia (2026). Working in Australia: Your rights explained. Available at: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/tips-and-advice-for-students/working-in-australia-your-rights-explained.html
Fair Work Ombudsman (2026). Minimum wages. Available at: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/minimum-wages
Australian Taxation Office (2026). Tax rates – Australian residents. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/tax-rates-australian-residents
Australian Taxation Office (2026). Studying in Australia – Residency for tax purposes. Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/coming-to-australia-or-going-overseas/coming-to-australia/studying-in-australia
UNSW Sydney (2026). Cost of living in Sydney. Available at: https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/your-future/cost-of-living-sydney
Australian Government – Study Australia (2026). Cost of Living Calculator. Available at: https://costofliving.studyaustralia.gov.au/
