About Brisbane
With 21.7% of its student population being international, Brisbane is one of the top destinations in Australia for students. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Brisbane:
Undergraduate: 70%
Postgraduate: 25%
Research: 5%
Brisbane offers high-quality education through its prestigious universities: the University of Queensland, the Queensland University of Technology, James Cook University, and the University of Southern Queensland, among other world-renowned institutions. Besides its academic rigour, this city attracts students from all over the world thanks to its allure and charm.
Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Brisbane
Popular Brisbane areas among university students are St Lucia, South Brisbane, and Kelvin Grove. There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for the perfect student area to stay in, including transportation, cost, and amenities.
St Lucia:
St Lucia is a well-known student area in Brisbane. Student accommodations here cost between AUD$175 to AUD$220 per week.
Distance to the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC):
Walking: 60 minutes
Cycling: 21 minutes
Bus: 32 minutes
Distance to University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus:
Walking: 22 minutes
Cycling: 6 minutes
Bus: 16 minutes
Distance to the City Centre:
Walking: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cycling: 27 minutes
Bus: 19 minutes
South Brisbane:
In South Brisbane, student accommodations range from approximately AUD$175 to AUD$220 per week.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus:
Walking: 47 minutes
Cycling: 15 minutes
Bus: 28 minutes
Distance to the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC):
Walking: 17 minutes
Cycling: 6 minutes
Bus: 8 minutes
Distance to the City Centre:
Walking: 23 minutes
Cycling: 9 minutes
Bus: 15 minutes
Kelvin Grove:
Kelvin Grove offers affordable student accommodations, with rates between AUD$245 to AUD$369 per week.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus:
Walking: 1 hour 26 minutes
Cycling: 32 minutes
Bus: 40 minutes
Distance to University of Southern Queensland (USQ):
Walking: 44 minutes
Cycling: 16 minutes
Bus: 29 minutes
Distance to the City Centre:
Walking: 41 minutes
Cycling: 13 minutes
Bus: 21 minutes
These areas offer various transport options and are close to major universities and amenities, making them ideal for students studying in Brisbane.
Less Popular Yet Student-Recommended Areas Near Universities in Brisbane
Toowong:
A lovely riverside suburb in Brisbane.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus: 28 minutes by bus
Distance to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ): 35 minutes by bus
Distance to the City Centre: 23 minutes by bus
Student Apartments in Brisbane near Toowong:
Central Brisbane:
A vibrant area known for its beautiful skyline views.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus: 22 minutes by bus
Distance to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ): 8 minutes by bus
Student Rooms in Brisbane near Central Brisbane:
Highgate Hill:
A riverside inner suburb in Brisbane.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus: 48 minutes by bus
Distance to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ): 26 minutes by bus
Distance to the City Centre: 23 minutes by bus
Student Rooms in Brisbane near Highgate Hill:
Herston:
A cosy inner suburb in Brisbane.
Distance to the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus: 40 minutes by bus
Distance to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ): 20 minutes by bus
Distance to the City Centre: 14 minutes by bus
Student Halls in Brisbane near Herston:
Best Student Accommodation in Brisbane
Brisbane has various student room options, and students can explore different areas in Brisbane near their universities and budgets.
Popular student housing in Brisbane that provide almost every room type are Scape Tribune, UniLodge Herston, Scape Regent, Scape Merivale, and Student One Elizabeth Street.
Brisbane Student housing near CBD:
Discover Student Room Types in Brisbane (Approx. AU$711 - AU$5361/ month)
The purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane typically includes a variety of amenities included in the bills; it varies according to the provider's terms and conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions.
Here, we have categorised the room types given below based on preference and budget to help you in your decision-making.
Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Brisbane:
These cost around AU$266–AU$889 per week on average and are recommended for students who are comfortable sharing space. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments.
Shared room
Amenities: Self-contained apartment with multiple bedrooms, shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$997 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,066 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$975 / month
Recommended shared rooms include Bunk Brisbane.
Triple/ Quadruple rooms
Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$889 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$798 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$711 / month
Recommended triple rooms include UniLodge Herston.
Entire place
Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$3,200 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$2,489 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$2,311 / month
Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Brisbane with privacy: These rooms cost around AU$317–AU$975 per month.
Student Single Room
Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,422 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,244 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month
Recommended student single rooms include Scape St Lucia and Student One Wharf Street.
Student Shared Flats
Amenities: Private Bedroom in a shared house or flat, shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,244 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,066 / month
Student Twin Rooms
Amenities: One room with 2 single beds, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,778 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,605 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,512 / month
Recommended twin rooms include Scape Tribune and Scape Toowong.
Student Double Room
Amenities: One bedroom with double bed, shared bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,784 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,703 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,608 / month
Recommended double rooms include Student Living - Visage.
Room Type 3: Brisbane student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the CBD cost around AU$1,787 - AU$3,574 per month.
Brisbane Student Flats
Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,072 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$978 / month
Brisbane Student En-Suite Rooms
Amenities: Single bedroom, Private bathroom, shared kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,965 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,787 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,697 / month
Browse through students' en-suites in Brisbane, such as Scape South Bank, Scape Regent, and Scape Tribune.
Brisbane Student Studios
Amenities: private bedroom, Private bathroom, private kitchen
St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$2,680 / month
South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$AU$2,323 / month
Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,787 / month
Popular student studios are UniLodge on Margaret, UniLodge Park Central, and Student One Adelaide Street.
Room Type 4: Students who prefer amenities over budget
- Student Penthouse in Brisbane costs around AU$3,574 - AU$5,361 per month.
These are suitable for students who prefer to have private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, privacy, spacious rooms, and a top floor that is more over budget.
Cost of Living in Brisbane for Students (Approx. AU$535 - AU$839)
It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Brisbane student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Brisbane as a student:
Food: AU$446 - AU$714/month on average.
We suggest buying groceries that cost around AU$357/month and cooking your own meals.
Shop from grocery stores such as Coles, Woolworths, IGA, FoodWorks, Harris Farm Markets, and Metroimall. They offer student discounts.
Transportation: AU$89-AU$125/month on average
Get a Student Go Card for AU$405 per semester and enjoy 50% off Translink bus, train, ferry, and tram services.
Rent a bicycle from CityCycle for AU$20 per day for a daily commute.
University bike schemes: Some universities, such as the UQ, QUT, and USQ, offer their students discounted bikes.
Buy a new bike for AU$548, easily available for students, which is equal to one month's rent and will benefit you for the entire year.