Wollongong enjoys a very reasonable cost of living, which means you can focus your efforts on your study, not your finances.
Cost of living
The below table compares weekly rental costs across several cities based on government data.
| CITY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY |
|---|---|---|
| Wollongong* | $550 | $2,383 |
| Liverpool* | $520 | $2,253 |
| Sydney CBD* | $750 | $3,250 |
| Inner Melbourne ** | $529 | $2,292 |
*NSW Department of Family & Community Services Rent and Sales, March 2023
**Housing Victorian Rental Report, March 2023
Average weekly cost of living in Wollongong
This table provides an indication of weekly living costs for students who rent a room in Wollongong. The figures quoted are per person, per week in Australian dollars and should be used as a guide only. Actual costs will vary based on individual circumstances.
| ACCOMMODATION TYPE | Rent |
Food prepared at home (& other groceries) |
Bills (eg. electricity) | Local travel costs |
Personal purchases (internet, social, textbooks etc) |
Total cost ($ per person, per week) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared 2-bed apartment, Wollongong & UOW area (own room)* | 245 | 95 | 40 | 35 | 120 | $535 |
| Shared 3-bed shared house, Wollongong & UOW area (own room)* | 210 | 95 | 26 | 31 | 120 | $482 |
| Homestay, Wollongong area (single room)+ | 350 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 110 | $491 |
| Kooloobong Village, self-catered, shared unit, Bld37 (single room)^ | 290 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 100 | $485 |
| Bangalay, self-catered, (single studio)^ | 330 | 105 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
$535 |
| Campus East, catered, 2/3-bed shared unit (single room)^^ | 325 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
$460 |
*NSW Department of Family & Community Services Housing Rent and Sales, March 2023
+Homestay 2023 rates for a student aged 18 and over
^51-week contract - UOW Student Accommodation fees for 2024
^^45-week contract - UOW Student Accommodation fees for 2024