Read this before you plan your budget. The cost guide below is a rough guide only. It is based on Census data for this suburb, scaled to today's state rents. Each property is different. It does not tell you the price of any room, studio or apartment.
Get the real number for your postcode. Use the official rent data before you agree to anything: Rental bond data — Access Canberra. This is real data from your state government. It is free. It shows the rent for the exact postcode you enter.
Studying in Acton, ACT
1 course are taught here by 1 registered school, across postcode 2601.
Rent here was well below the ACT middle at the last Census. A shared house or a studio should be within a student budget.
Census 2021 middle rent for Acton was $9 a week. ACT rents have risen about 32% since then, so expect about $10 a week now. Check the exact postcode before you sign anything.
The scale compares this suburb with its state: $ cheaper, $$ medium, $$$ expensive, $$$$ most expensive. Checked ABS Census 2021, scaled to the ACT median (April 2025).
Living in Acton
People: 2,848 residents, median age 19, 26.2% born overseas, 19.9% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 6.6%, Cantonese 1.3%, Hindi 1.3%, Indonesian 0.7%, Sinhalese 0.7%.
Where people were born: China 5.2%, England 4%, India 3.1%, USA 1.3%, Singapore 1.2%.
Income: median household income $0 a week; 1 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Accommodation and Food Services, Education and Training, Retail Trade, Professional Scientific and Technical Services.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
1 campus in Acton. Tap a pin for the provider.
Weekly budget in Acton
About $215–$355 a week for one student sharing a house. The visa living-cost benchmark is $571 a week ($29,710 a year).
| Room in a shared house | $5–$5 | Whole homes here rent for about $10 a week; a room is usually 40–60% of that. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | $30 | MyWay+. International students can register for concession fares. |
| Groceries and eating | $110–$170 | |
| Phone and internet | $15–$30 | |
| Power, gas and water (your share) | $15–$30 | |
| Everything else (clothes, going out, medicine) | $40–$90 |
Rent: ABS Census 2021 for Acton, scaled to the current ACT median. Transport: state operator fares. Other lines are typical ranges for a single student; your own spending will differ. Tuition and health cover (OSHC) are extra. Full cost guide.
Acton is in the South Canberra area
31,592 people across 9+ suburbs. Median rent $500 a week. Languages: Mandarin 2.3%, French 1.5%, Italian 1%, Greek 0.9%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Kingston, Narrabundah, Griffith, Red Hill, Deakin, Yarralumla, Barton, Forrest.
All courses and suburbs in South Canberra · Unincorporated ACT Council
What this place is like to study in
Acton has one main school. It is a government school, so this is a public university or TAFE campus. This usually means a real campus with grounds, a library and student services. Course fees here are about 18% below the national average. Over several years, this saves a large amount.
We calculate this description from the CRICOS register: the number of schools, the course levels and the registered fees. It describes study only. To learn about rent, transport and daily life here, talk to current students and ask your school.
What level people study here
| Level | Courses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 1 | 100% |
Finding somewhere to live
Most international students choose one of four options. From cheapest to most expensive:
- A room in a shared house. The most common choice. In expensive cities it is often the only affordable option.
- Student accommodation. Buildings made for students, usually near campus.
- Homestay. You live with an Australian family.
- Your own studio or one-bedroom apartment. The most expensive option.
Two things to know before you sign a lease. First, the bond is usually four weeks of rent. A government office holds it, not the landlord. You get it back at the end. If someone asks you to pay a bond in cash directly to them, this is a warning sign.
Second, you usually cannot inspect a property from overseas. Book two to four weeks of temporary accommodation first. Then look at properties in person. This avoids the most common and most expensive mistake students make.
Your school's accommodation office is the best place to start. It is free. They know the area and often keep a list of checked properties.
Every course taught here
- A$24,7501 yr · A$24,750/yr