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 Wollongong, NSW
160 courses are taught here by 6 registered schools, across postcodes 2500, 2522.
Rent here was a little below the NSW middle at the last Census. Sharing is comfortable; a place of your own is possible.
Census 2021 middle rent for Wollongong was $410 a week. NSW rents have risen about 55% since then, so expect about $630 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 Wollongong
People: 20,446 residents, median age 35, 32% born overseas, 27.4% speak a language other than English at home.
Languages spoken: Mandarin 3.4%, Macedonian 2.3%, Arabic 2.3%, Greek 1.3%, Serbian 1.2%.
Where people were born: England 3.2%, China 3%, India 2.8%, North Macedonia 1.5%, Philippines 1.1%.
Income: median household income $1,549 a week; 2 people per home on average.
Where residents work: Health Care and Social Assistance, Education and Training, Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade.
Source: ABS Census 2021, CC BY 4.0.
9 campuses in Wollongong. Tap a pin for the provider.
Getting around Wollongong: Nearest station is Wollongong Station (train SCO), 455 m away. Buses within 800 m: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 24, 31, 33, 34, 35 and 19 more (closest stop: Burelli St After Keira St, 202 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 Wollongong
About $480–$750 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 | $250–$380 | Whole homes here rent for about $630 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 Wollongong, 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.
Wollongong is in the Wollongong area
134,762 people across 13+ suburbs. Median rent $400 a week. Languages: Mandarin 1.5%, Italian 1.3%, Macedonian 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%.
Nearby suburbs in the same area: Woonona, Figtree, Fairy Meadow, Corrimal, Bulli, Helensburgh, Thirroul, Balgownie, West Wollongong, Bellambi, Keiraville, East Corrimal.
What this place is like to study in
Wollongong has 6 schools teaching here. That is enough choice to compare options, but it is not a busy city-centre study area. Course fees here are about 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 189 | 45% |
| Postgraduate | 160 | 38% |
| Vocational (VET) | 56 | 13% |
| Other | 12 | 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$165,1204 yr · A$41,280/yr
- A$167,8084 yr · A$41,952/yr
- A$167,8084 yr · A$41,952/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$182,2084 yr · A$45,552/yr
- A$297,9844 yr · A$74,496/yr