Student Accommodation Canberra

About Canberra

With 10.6% of its student population being international, Canberra is one of the top destinations in Australia for both local and international students. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Canberra:

• Undergraduate: 10%

• Postgraduate: 30%

• Research: 20%

Canberra offers high-quality education through its prestigious universities: the University of Canberra, Australian National University, and Charles Sturt University. This city has a dynamic and vibrant student life, attracting both local and international students.

Popular Student Areas in Canberra

Popular Canberra areas among university students are Inner North, Belconnen, and Acton. There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for the perfect student area to stay in, including transportation, cost, and amenities.

1. Students living in Canberra’s Inner North will be near the Australian National University, and purpose-built accommodation would cost around AU$343–AU$858/week.

• Travel time from Inner North to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 20-30 minutes

• Taxi - 15-20 minutes

• Walking - 45-60 minutes

• Tram - 25-35 minutes

2. Students living in Belconnen would pay approximately AU$305–AU$687/week.

Nearby universities include the University of Canberra.

• Travel time from Belconnen to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 30-40 minutes

• Taxi - 20-25 minutes

• Walking - 75-90 minutes

• Tram - 50-60 minutes

3. Students living in Acton purpose-built student accommodation would pay around AU$353–AU$839/week. This area includes the Australian National University.

• Travel time from Acton to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 15-20 minutes

• Taxi - 5-10 minutes

• Walking - 25-35 minutes

• Tram - 25-30 minutes

Best Student Housings in Canberra

Canberra has various student room options, and students can explore different areas in Canberra near their universities and budgets. 

Popular student accommodations in Canberra that provide almost every room type are Y Suites on Moore, Unilodge @ Guginya, Canberra Uni Gardens, and UniLodge @ UC - Campus West.

Discover Student Room Types in Canberra

The purpose-built student accommodation in Canberra 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 Canberra: 

These cost around AU$381–AU$763 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

  • Inner North avg. Rent: AU$572 / month

  • Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$477 / month

  • Acton avg. Rent: AU$668 / month

• Triple/ Quadruple rooms

  • Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

  • Inner North avg. Rent: AU$381 / month

  • Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$343 / month

  • Acton avg. Rent: AU$477 / month

• Entire place

  • Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

  • Inner North avg. Rent: AU$2,863 / month

  • Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$2,290 / month

  • Acton avg. Rent: AU$2,672 / month

Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Canberra with privacy: 

These rooms cost around AU$250–AU$550 per month. 

1. Student Single Room

   1. Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$763 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$668 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$858 / month

   5. Recommended student single rooms include Canberra Uni Gardens and Unilodge @ Guginya.

2. Student Shared Flats

   1. Amenities: Private Bedroom in a shared house or flat, shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$668 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$572 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$763 / month

   5. Recommended shared flats include Y Suites on Moore.

3. Student Twin Rooms

   1. Amenities: One room with 2 single beds, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$572 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$477 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$668 / month

   5. Recommended twin rooms include Y Suites on Moore.

4. Student Double Room

   1. Amenities: One bedroom with double bed, shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$477 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$381 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$572 / month

Room Type 3: Canberra student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the CBD cost around  AU$668- AU$1,526 per month. 

5. Canberra Student Flats 

   1. Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$668 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$572 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$763 / month

   5. Recommended student flats include UniLodge @ UC - Campus West.

6. Canberra Student En-Suite Rooms 

   1. Amenities: Single bedroom, Private bathroom, shared kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$858 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$763 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$954 / month

   5. Browse through students' en-suites in Canberra, such as UniLodge @ UC - Campus West.

7. Canberra Student Studios

   1. Amenities: private bedroom, Private bathroom, private kitchen

   2. Inner North avg. Rent: AU$1,049 / month

   3. Belconnen avg. Rent: AU$858 / month

   4. Acton avg. Rent: AU$954 / month

   5. Popular student studios include Canberra Uni Gardens.

Room Type 4: Students who prefer amenities over budget

Student Penthouse in Canberra costs around  AU$1,145–AU$3,053 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 Canberra for Students

It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Canberra student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Canberra as a student:

• Food: AU$439–AU$935/month on average. 

  • We suggest buying groceries that cost around AU$286/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$209-AU$553/month on average

  • Get a Student MyWay card for AU$10 and enjoy discounted fares on all public transportation in Canberra.

  • Rent a bicycle from Share A Bike for AU$1.50 per day for a daily commute.

  • University bike schemes: Some universities, such as the Australian National University (ANU), offer their students discounted bikes.

  • Buy a new bike for AU$245, easily available for students, which is equal to one month's rent and will benefit you for the entire year.