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: Bond data — Consumer Protection WA. This is real data from your state government. It is free. It shows the rent for the exact postcode you enter.
Studying in Highgate, WA
25 courses are taught here by 3 registered schools, across postcode 6003.
Rent here was above the WA middle at the last Census. Expect to share. Look one or two stations further out for cheaper rooms.
Census 2021 middle rent for Highgate was $365 a week. WA rents have risen about 75% since then, so expect about $640 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 WA median (April 2025).
Living in Highgate
People: 2,326 residents, median age 34, 37.5% born overseas, 22.5% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 1.9%, Italian 1.9%, Vietnamese 1.9%, Cantonese 1.6%, Spanish 1.4%.
Where people were born: England 5.2%, New Zealand 2.1%, Italy 1.8%, Vietnam 1.7%, South Africa 1.6%.
Income: median household income $1,852 a week; 1.8 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Professional Scientific and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, Accommodation and Food Services, Public Administration and Safety.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
8 campuses in Highgate. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around Highgate: Nearest station is East Perth Stn Transwa East Perth (train AvonLink, Prospector, MerredinLink), 861 m away. Also East Perth Stn (train Airport Line, Midland Line, Ellenbrook Line), 875 m away, Claisebrook Stn (train Airport Line, Midland Line, Armadale Line, Ellenbrook Line, Thornlie-Cockburn Line), 1.1 km away, Mt Lawley Stn (train Airport Line, Midland Line, Ellenbrook Line), 1.2 km away. Buses within 800 m: 40, 41, 42, 43, 67, 68, 950, 980, 950X, Albany, Kalbarri, Esperance and 2 more (closest stop: Beaufort St Before Broome St, 69 m). Plan a trip (Transperth JourneyPlanner).
Transport data: Transperth GTFS (PTA WA). Routes change; check the trip planner before you rely on one.
Weekly budget in Highgate
About $460–$730 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 | $255–$385 | Whole homes here rent for about $640 a week; a room is usually 40–60% of that. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | $25 | SmartRider, about $7 a day cap, Sundays free. International students at WA universities can get a Tertiary SmartRider (concession). |
| 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 Highgate, scaled to the current WA 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.
Highgate is in the Perth City area
110,530 people across 13+ suburbs. Median rent $390 a week. Languages: Mandarin 3.4%, Italian 1.8%, Spanish 1.3%, Cantonese 1.3%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Perth, Wembley, East Perth, Mount Lawley, Subiaco, North Perth, Mount Hawthorn, West Perth, Inglewood, Shenton Park, West Leederville, Leederville.
What this place is like to study in
Highgate 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 28% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocational (VET) | 25 | 48% |
| Postgraduate | 13 | 25% |
| Undergraduate | 8 | 15% |
| Other | 5 | 10% |
| School | 1 | 2% |
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$10,0006 mo · A$20,000/yr
- A$12,0006 mo · A$24,000/yr
- A$15,0001 yr · A$15,000/yr
- A$15,0001 yr · A$15,000/yr
- A$17,5001.5 yr · A$11,667/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$20,0001 yr · A$20,000/yr
- A$21,0001 yr · A$21,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$22,0001 yr · A$22,000/yr
- A$24,0001 yr · A$24,000/yr
- A$24,0001 yr · A$24,000/yr
- A$24,5001 yr · A$24,500/yr
- A$25,0002 yr · A$12,500/yr
- A$34,5002 yr · A$17,250/yr
- A$34,5002 yr · A$17,250/yr
- A$34,5002 yr · A$17,250/yr
- A$45,0002 yr · A$22,500/yr