Key takeaways
- All three cities are cheaper for housing and transport than Sydney and Melbourne according to the Australian Government, while the visa figure is the same nationwide: AUD 29,710 a year.
- Each city has a top-100 university in QS 2027: UQ at 40, UWA at 77 and Adelaide University at 79.
- Perth and Adelaide are Category 2 regional cities whose graduates are eligible for an extra year on the post-study work visa; Brisbane is not.
- Transport is a documented advantage: 50-cent fares in Queensland, a 50% discount for international students in Adelaide, and the Tertiary SmartRider in Perth.
- The Ministry of Education list includes UQ, QUT and Griffith in Brisbane, UWA and Curtin in Perth, and Flinders in Adelaide; check your field’s list before applying.
- Start with your field’s list in the ministry guide, then compare living costs in the official calculator, then decide.
In this article
- Why look beyond Sydney and Melbourne?
- How different are the costs?
- Studying in Brisbane: Queensland and its universities
- Studying in Perth: Western Australia and its universities
- Studying in Adelaide: South Australia and its universities
- What does "regional city" mean for you after graduation?
- How to choose between the three
- How KD International helps
Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are the practical choice for a strong Australian university at a lower cost of living than Sydney or Melbourne. Each has a university in the world’s top 100 in QS 2027, housing is cheaper according to the Australian Government, and Perth and Adelaide are classed as "regional" cities, which gives graduates an extra year on the post-study work visa. Here is the comparison.
Why look beyond Sydney and Melbourne?
The Australian Government says smaller student cities mostly offer more affordable rental accommodation, transport and entertainment, with a wider range of housing and less competition for rentals, according to Study Australia, 21 August 2024. Two more reasons sit alongside cost: universities that are just as strong in particular fields, and the regional migration advantage in Perth and Adelaide explained at the end of this article.
How different are the costs?
The visa figure is the same everywhere in Australia: AUD 29,710 for a student’s living costs over 12 months, according to the Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026. What you actually spend depends on the city, and the government warns that real costs can be much higher than the visa figure. The official estimating tool is the Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator, with data current to November 2025, covering Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane alongside Sydney and Melbourne for comparison.
| City | What official sources say about cost | Documented transport advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | "Affordability is improving", according to Study Australia | Flat 50-cent fare per trip across the Translink network, according to the |
| Perth | "Living costs are lower than other major cities", according to Study Australia | Tertiary SmartRider student concession, and a sample budget of AUD 595 a week, according to |
| Adelaide | "Rent is lower than most major Australian cities", according to Study Australia | 50% discount on public transport passes for full-time international students, according to Study Australia |
Figures to build a budget
- In Perth, a room in a shared rental ranges from AUD 294 to 659 a week and dedicated student housing from AUD 294 to 935, and a sample weekly budget for a student in a shared city room is AUD 595 covering rent, utilities, groceries and transport, according to.
- In Brisbane, the flat 50-cent fare applies across all Translink services regardless of distance or payment method, according to, so transport almost disappears from the budget.
- In Adelaide, full-time international students receive a 50% discount on public transport passes, according to Study Australia.
Compare Brisbane and Adelaide figures yourself in the official calculator, because rents move quickly. All figures are in Australian dollars (AUD).
Studying in Brisbane: Queensland and its universities
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, home to more than 2.5 million people, and the government describes it as one of Australia’s fastest-growing capitals with warm weather and an outdoor lifestyle, according to Study Australia. Its three major universities are all on the Saudi Ministry of Education’s list for the city, according to the Australia page of the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث):
- The University of Queensland (UQ): 40th in the world in QS 2027, according to ABC, 18 June 2026, and a Group of Eight member.
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT): in the 201–250 band in THE 2026, according to THE, 9 October 2025.
- Griffith University: in the 251–300 band in THE 2026, according to THE.
One thing to know: Brisbane is not a regional city for migration purposes; Home Affairs treats Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as the major cities excluded from the regional classification, according to the Department of Home Affairs, as at 28 February 2025.
Studying in Perth: Western Australia and its universities
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, home to more than 2.5 million people, the sunniest Australian capital with an average of 8.8 hours of sunshine a day, on GMT+8, the closest major Australian city to Saudi time, with five universities, according to Study Australia. Two are on the Ministry of Education’s list for the city, according to the Australia page:
- The University of Western Australia (UWA): 77th in the world in QS 2027, a Group of Eight member and the only top-100 university in the state, according to the university and ABC.
- Curtin University: in the 251–300 band in THE 2026, according to THE.
The state also has Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University (ECU), according to THE; check whether either appears on the ministry list for your field before applying.
Studying in Adelaide: South Australia and its universities
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, home to more than 1.4 million people, with a Mediterranean climate, a compact city where the university and facilities are easy to reach, and students from more than 130 countries, according to Study Australia.
- Adelaide University: the new university that began taking students in 2026 placed 79th in the world in QS 2027, according to the university’s announcement, 18 June 2026, and is a Group of Eight member, according to the university.
- Flinders University: on the Ministry of Education’s list, according to the Australia page, and ranked 39th in the world for nursing, according to Study Australia.
KD International shared an introduction to Adelaide and its university on its X account in December 2019; some of that has changed since, so rely on the current figures above.
What does "regional city" mean for you after graduation?
Home Affairs classes Perth and Adelaide (with the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and others) as Category 2 "Cities and Major Regional Centres", and graduates with a bachelor degree or higher from a regional campus are eligible for an additional year on a post-study work visa, according to the Department of Home Affairs, as at 28 February 2025. The base stay on the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is 2 years for a bachelor or coursework master’s and 3 years for a research master’s or doctorate, according to the Department of Home Affairs. Rules change, so check them when you graduate, not only when you enrol.
| Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | Over 2.5 million | Over 2.5 million | Over 1.4 million |
| Highest QS 2027 university | UQ (40) | UWA (77) | Adelaide University (79) |
| On the ministry list | UQ, QUT, Griffith | UWA, Curtin | Flinders and others |
| Regional for migration | No | Yes, Category 2 | Yes, Category 2 |
| Transport advantage | 50 cents a trip | Tertiary SmartRider concession | 50% discount for international students |
Sources: Study Australia, Department of Home Affairs, ABC, Ministry of Education.
How to choose between the three
- Start with your field: open your field’s list in the Ministry of Education guide, shortlist the universities on it, then see which city they are in. Our guide to Saudi scholarship programs explains the tracks.
- Estimate living costs for each city with the official calculator, add tuition, and compare with what you have.
- If you plan to work after graduation, weigh the extra year in Perth or Adelaide.
- Consider climate and the time difference with Saudi Arabia if they matter to you; Perth is the closest in time.
- Apply to more than one university in more than one city if your track allows, then choose between offers.
How KD International helps
KD International is a Saudi-Australian education consultancy and university admissions company with offices in Riyadh and Sydney. It states that its admission service is free for students applying to fields covered by the scholarship programs and to universities recognised by the Ministry of Education. We help you compare the listed universities for your field across the three cities, secure admission, find accommodation and navigate the visa. Apply through our application form, read our practical steps, or contact us.
In short: if budget comes first, start with Adelaide and Perth; if global ranking comes first, Brisbane has the highest-ranked university of the three. Your next step: open the official calculator, enter the three cities, and compare the numbers with your budget.
Frequently asked questions
The government does not publish an official ranking, but it says rent in Adelaide is lower than most major cities, Perth’s living costs are lower than other major cities, and Brisbane’s affordability is improving. Use the Study Australia calculator for current figures for each city.
No. Home Affairs treats Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as the major cities excluded from the regional classification. Perth and Adelaide are Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’.
Graduates with a bachelor degree or higher from a campus in a Category 2 regional area are eligible for an additional year on the post-study work visa, according to Home Affairs. The base stay on the subclass 485 visa is 2 years for a bachelor or coursework master’s.
On the ministry’s Australia page: the University of Queensland, QUT and Griffith in Brisbane; the University of Western Australia and Curtin in Perth; and Flinders among the universities in other cities. Field-by-field lists are in the annual guide.
StudyPerth publishes a sample budget of AUD 595 a week for a student in a shared city room, with shared rental rooms between AUD 294 and 659 a week. The official visa figure is AUD 29,710 a year across Australia.
In QS 2027: the University of Queensland 40th, the University of Western Australia 77th and Adelaide University 79th. QUT, Griffith and Curtin sit in the 201–300 bands of THE 2026.
Official sources
- Queensland (Brisbane) — Study Australia
- Western Australia (Perth) — Study Australia
- South Australia (Adelaide) — Study Australia
- The cost of living in smaller Australian cities — Study Australia
- Cost of Living Calculator — Study Australia
- Designated regional areas — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Post-Higher Education Work stream — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- Australian universities make ‘historic’ global rankings (QS 2027) — ABC News
- Best universities in Australia 2026 — Times Higher Education
- أستراليا — قائمة دول الابتعاث — وزارة التعليم السعودية
Ready to start?
KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. Apply now or message us on WhatsApp.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.
