Is Australia Still the Lucky Country - If You Are an International Student?

Australia attracts more than 600,000 international students every year. They pay full fees, contribute billions to the economy, and fill critical gaps in the workforce. But behind the glossy university brochures lies a crisis hiding in plain sight — skyrocketing rents, impossible living costs, visa work restrictions, and a mental health emergency that nobody is properly measuring. This is their story, told in five charts.

Chart 1 - Rent Has Exploded Across Every Australian City

Chart 2 - What Does It Actually Cost to Study in Melbourne?

Chart 3 - The Numbers Don’t Add Up

Chart 4 - Australia Is One of the Most Expensive Places to Study

Chart 5 - International Students Are Struggling More - But Nobody Is Counting

Data sources: Domain Group Rental Reports (2015-2024); RMIT University and University of Melbourne Cost of Living Guide (2024); Fair Work Commission (2024); OECD Education at a Glance (2024); Numbeo Cost of Living Index (2024); Universities Australia International Student Survey (2023); Beyond Blue (2023)