Introduction: Living Far and Paying Dearly

As an international student living over 10km from campus, life in Melbourne has become increasingly difficult.
I share a house with others, pay nearly $1000 per month including bills, and still find myself stretched thin by rising grocery prices.
This dashboard tells my story through real data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) where the numbers confirm how tough it’s become.

Rent Pressure: It’s Not Just Me

Even before 2020, rent was already creeping upward but after COVID lockdowns ended, prices surged.
The steep increase post-2022 shows just how unaffordable things have become, especially for students like me who rent far from the city.

Grocery Inflation: Everyday Items, Every Week

Some grocery categories — like fruit and dairy — have seen extreme jumps. Even basic items like bread and vegetables are rising faster than we can adjust our budgets.

Average Annual Rent vs Grocery Inflation

Rent is going up but groceries are rising even faster. From Mar 2024 to Mar 2025, food prices outpaced rent in nearly every quarter. This double pressure is hitting international students the hardest.

Conclusion: Balancing on the Edge

This dashboard reflects my daily reality as an international student living over 10km from university. With rent reaching nearly $1000 per month and grocery prices steadily rising, it’s becoming harder to balance study, work, and basic living costs. The ABS data confirms what many of us are feeling—rent inflation hasn’t slowed down, and essentials like food keep getting more expensive.

Through these visualisations, I’ve tried to show that the cost-of-living crisis isn’t just a headline it’s personal. Hopefully, by sharing this story backed by real data, it brings attention to how much pressure international students are under right now.

Refernces

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2025, April 24). Consumer Price Index, Australia – March quarter 2025 (Catalogue No. 6401.0). https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/mar-quarter-2025