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: Rent Check — NSW Government. This is real data from your state government. It is free. It shows the rent for the exact postcode you enter.
Studying in Kensington, NSW
623 courses are taught here by 3 registered schools, across postcodes 2033, 2052.
Rent here was above the NSW middle at the last Census. Expect to share. Look one or two stations further out for cheaper rooms.
Census 2021 middle rent for Kensington was $500 a week. NSW rents have risen about 55% since then, so expect about $770 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 NSW median (April 2025).
Living in Kensington
People: 11,927 residents, median age 32, 44.9% born overseas, 38.9% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 7.9%, Greek 3.8%, Cantonese 3.4%, Spanish 2.6%, Indonesian 2.3%.
Where people were born: China 6.1%, India 2.9%, Indonesia 2.9%, England 2.8%, Malaysia 1.8%.
Income: median household income $2,118 a week; 2.3 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Professional Scientific and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, Education and Training, Retail Trade.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
10 campuses in Kensington. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around Kensington: Nearest station is Kensington Light Rail (light rail L3, LX), 454 m away. Also ES Marks Light Rail (light rail L3, LX), 751 m away, UNSW Anzac Parade Light Rail (light rail L3, LX), 793 m away, Royal Randwick Light Rail (light rail L2, LX), 1.1 km away. Buses within 800 m: 303, 348, 370, 392, 396, 399, 390X, 392N, 392X (closest stop: Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart College, Kensington Rd, 128 m). Plan a trip (Transport NSW trip planner).
Transport data: Transport for NSW Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Routes change; check the trip planner before you rely on one.
Weekly budget in Kensington
About $540–$830 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 | $310–$460 | Whole homes here rent for about $770 a week; a room is usually 40–60% of that. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | $50 | Opal adult fares, capped at $50 a week. International students are not eligible for concession fares unless on an eligible scholarship. |
| 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 Kensington, scaled to the current NSW 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.
Kensington is in the Eastern Suburbs - South area
134,243 people across 12+ suburbs. Median rent $550 a week. Languages: Mandarin 3.7%, Greek 3%, Cantonese 2.3%, Spanish 1.9%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Maroubra, Randwick, Coogee, Kingsford, Matraville, South Coogee, Clovelly, Little Bay, Malabar, Chifley, Phillip Bay.
All courses and suburbs in Eastern Suburbs - South · Randwick Council
What this place is like to study in
Kensington 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 65% above the national average. This is because of the type of schools here, not the location.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate | 320 | 51% |
| Undergraduate | 247 | 40% |
| Other | 40 | 6% |
| Vocational (VET) | 16 | 3% |
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$8304 mo
- A$1,3306 mo · A$2,660/yr
- A$1,8307 mo · A$2,974/yr
- A$2,3301 yr · A$2,330/yr
- A$2,3301 yr · A$2,330/yr
- A$2,5005 wk
- A$2,8301.3 yr · A$2,164/yr
- A$3,4705 wk
- A$3,8301.6 yr · A$2,371/yr
- A$4,3302 yr · A$2,165/yr
- A$10,8904 mo
- A$13,3205 mo
- A$14,5206 mo · A$29,040/yr
- A$15,3645 mo
- A$15,36410 mo · A$18,580/yr
- A$15,3645 mo
- A$15,3645 mo
- A$15,7805 mo
- A$21,1056 mo · A$42,210/yr
- A$21,7809 mo · A$28,314/yr
- A$21,9606 mo · A$43,920/yr
- A$22,3004 mo
- A$22,5008 mo · A$34,412/yr
- A$22,5008 mo · A$34,412/yr
- A$23,5008 mo · A$35,941/yr
- A$23,5008 mo · A$35,941/yr
- A$23,5008 mo · A$35,941/yr
- A$23,5008 mo · A$35,941/yr
- A$23,5008 mo · A$33,944/yr
- A$24,4003 mo
- A$24,5008 mo · A$37,471/yr
- A$24,5008 mo · A$37,471/yr
- A$26,64010 mo · A$30,784/yr
- A$28,0008 mo · A$42,824/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0008 mo · A$44,353/yr
- A$29,0401 yr · A$29,040/yr
- A$29,2004 mo
- A$29,5008 mo · A$45,118/yr
- A$29,5008 mo · A$45,118/yr
- A$30,0008 mo · A$45,882/yr
- A$30,0008 mo · A$45,882/yr
- A$30,0008 mo · A$45,882/yr
- A$30,0008 mo · A$45,882/yr
- A$30,0008 mo · A$45,882/yr