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: Median rents quick finder — Residential Tenancies Authority. This is real data from your state government. It is free. It shows the rent for the exact postcode you enter.
Studying in Mackay, QLD
7 courses are taught here by 1 registered school, across postcodes 4740, 4741.
Rent here was well below the QLD middle at the last Census. A shared house or a studio should be within a student budget.
Census 2021 middle rent for Mackay was $270 a week. QLD rents have risen about 53% since then, so expect about $410 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 QLD median (April 2025).
Living in Mackay
People: 4,026 residents, median age 38, 23.4% born overseas, 17% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Tagalog 3.5%, Filipino 1.9%, Mandarin 1.3%, Nepali 0.8%, Punjabi 0.8%.
Where people were born: Philippines 6%, New Zealand 2.9%, India 2.5%, England 1.8%, China 0.9%.
Income: median household income $1,239 a week; 1.9 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Health Care and Social Assistance, Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade, Mining.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
2 campuses in Mackay. Tap a pin for the provider.
Weekly budget in Mackay
About $352–$572 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 | $165–$245 | Whole homes here rent for about $410 a week; a room is usually 40–60% of that. |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport | $7 | 50-cent flat fares on all TransLink services, no application needed. |
| 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 Mackay, scaled to the current QLD 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.
Mackay is in the Mackay area
121,691 people across 13+ suburbs. Median rent $340 a week. Languages: Tagalog 0.8%, Afrikaans 0.5%, Filipino 0.5%, Mandarin 0.3%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Andergrove, South Mackay, West Mackay, North Mackay, Beaconsfield, Rural View, Sarina, Bucasia, Mount Pleasant, Glenella, Marian, Blacks Beach.
What this place is like to study in
Mackay 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 12% 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 | 8 | 33% |
| Undergraduate | 7 | 29% |
| Vocational (VET) | 5 | 21% |
| Other | 4 | 17% |
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$107,6403 yr · A$35,880/yr
- A$108,0003 yr · A$36,000/yr
- A$108,0003 yr · A$36,000/yr
- A$115,2003 yr · A$38,400/yr
- A$115,2003 yr · A$38,400/yr
- A$179,6404 yr · A$44,910/yr
- A$202,0954.5 yr · A$44,910/yr