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 Summer Hill, NSW
1 course are taught here by 5 registered schools, across postcode 2130.
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 Summer Hill was $460 a week. NSW rents have risen about 55% since then, so expect about $710 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 Summer Hill
People: 7,288 residents, median age 36, 32.3% born overseas, 26.1% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 4.8%, Cantonese 1.9%, Korean 1.7%, Spanish 1.6%, Greek 1.5%.
Where people were born: China 3.7%, England 3.5%, New Zealand 1.9%, South Korea 1.6%, Philippines 1.5%.
Income: median household income $2,260 a week; 2.1 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Professional Scientific and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, Education and Training, Financial and Insurance Services.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
14 campuses in Summer Hill. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around Summer Hill: Nearest station is Summer Hill Station (train T2, T3, T7, T9), 369 m away. Also Lewisham West Light Rail (light rail L1), 605 m away, Waratah Mills Light Rail (light rail L1), 673 m away, Taverners Hill Light Rail (light rail L1), 913 m away. Buses within 800 m: 406, 413, 480, 483, N50, N60, N61, N70, N71, N80, N81, 461N and 1 more (closest stop: Summer Hill Public School, Junction Rd, 220 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 Summer Hill
About $515–$795 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 | $285–$425 | Whole homes here rent for about $710 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 Summer Hill, 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.
Summer Hill is in the Strathfield - Burwood - Ashfield area
161,666 people across 13+ suburbs. Median rent $465 a week. Languages: Mandarin 11.2%, Cantonese 5.4%, Nepali 5.3%, Korean 3%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Strathfield, Ashfield, Burwood, Dulwich Hill, Homebush, Croydon Park, Croydon, Homebush West, Haberfield, Hurlstone Park, Lewisham, Strathfield South.
All courses and suburbs in Strathfield - Burwood - Ashfield · Inner West Council
What this place is like to study in
Summer Hill is a small teaching location. There are 5 schools here. Your choice of courses is limited. Most students travel to a larger centre for other courses. Course fees here are about 42% 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) | 23 | 79% |
| School | 3 | 10% |
| Other | 2 | 7% |
| Postgraduate | 1 | 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$24,0002 yr · A$12,000/yr