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Living in Sydney as an International Student

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Hey, I'm Marie, city host of Sydney at Socials

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I arrived in Sydney four years ago with a suitcase that was way too heavy and zero idea what I was doing. Spent my first two weeks in an overpriced Airbnb near Circular Quay, eating instant noodles and wondering if I'd made the right choice.

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Turns out, I did. Sydney is expensive and intense, but it's also kind of addictive once you figure it out.

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This is everything I wish someone had told me before I got here. Not the polished university brochures - the actual information that matters when you're trying to find a place to live, budget properly, and not feel completely overwhelmed in a new city.

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Let's start with the part that'll eat most of your budget: accommodation.

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1. Student Accommodation in Sydney

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Sydney's rental market is brutal. There's no gentle way to say it. But knowing where to look and what to expect makes a massive difference.
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Redfern
Close to Sydney Uni, UNSW isn't far either via train. The area has changed a lot in recent years - lots of students, coffee shops, and the Cleveland Street food scene. Rent sits around $300-380 per week for a room in a share house. It's well-connected and you're 10 minutes from Central Station, which gets you anywhere.
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Newtown
This is where most students end up once they've figured out Sydney. King Street has everything - cheap eats, vintage shops, live music venues, and a mix of people that actually makes it feel less cookie-cutter. Rent runs $320-400 per week. The 423 and 426 buses get you to uni, or it's a short train ride from Newtown station.
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Strathfield
If you're studying at USYD or need to be in the inner west but want your rent money to stretch further, this is the move. Large Asian community, excellent food (seriously, some of the best Korean and Chinese restaurants in Sydney), and rent around $250-320 per week. It's a 20-minute train to Central. You're further out, but the money you save is real.
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Bondi/Coogee
Everyone wants to live at the beach. The reality: rent is $400-500+ per week, you're far from most universities, and the commute will wear you down. If you're at UNSW and can afford it, Coogee makes more sense than Bondi. Otherwise, visit the beach on weekends and live somewhere more practical.

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The reality of finding a place: Join our Sydney WhatsApp group before you arrive. Students post when they're leaving so you get first look at rooms.

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2. Getting Around Melbourne: Transport for Students

Sydney runs on Opal cards - tap on, tap off, same as most cities. But there are some things that'll save you money and stress if you know them upfront.
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The Sunday cap is your friend. All day Sunday, public transport is capped at $2.80 total. You can go anywhere in Sydney for less than three dollars. Use this. Beach day at Bondi, exploring the city, visiting friends across town - do it on Sunday.
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Weekly travel reward: After you spend $50 in a week, all additional travel is free until Monday. If you're commuting daily from further out, you'll hit this cap and then coast.
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Light rail vs train: The light rail looks nice but it's slow and often packed. For getting into the city or between universities, trains are almost always faster. The exception is if you're going from Central to UNSW - the light rail makes sense there.
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Buses in the eastern suburbs: If you're living in Bondi, Coogee, Randwick area, you'll be on buses constantly. The 333, 374, and 400 routes are your main lines. Download the Transport NSW app - it's actually useful for real-time tracking.
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Night transport: Trains and some buses run all night Friday and Saturday. It's not as comprehensive as Melbourne's system, but you can usually get home from the city without paying for an Uber.
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3. Cost of Living for International Students in Sydney

Sydney is expensive. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or being subsidized by their parents. But you can make it work with realistic budgeting.
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Weekly budget breakdown:
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• Rent: $250-500 depending on location and housing type
• Groceries: $70-100 if you're strategic
• Transport: $30-40 (student Opal concession)
• Phone: $20-30 prepaid plans
• Going out: $80-150 depending on lifestyle
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Where to actually save money:
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Harris Farm Markets and local fruit shops are cheaper than Woolworths and Coles for produce. Sydney has excellent Asian grocery stores (especially in areas like Strathfield, Eastwood, and Cabramatta) where your money goes further for staples like rice, noodles, and vegetables.
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Aldi is your friend for basics. They're not everywhere, but if you're near one, use it for pantry items and basics.
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Both major supermarkets mark down items in the evening - usually around 6-7pm. Timing your shop right can cut your grocery bill substantially.
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For textbooks: never buy new. Check the university secondhand bookshop, Facebook Marketplace, or our WhatsApp group. Most textbooks get used once anyway.

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4. Finding Food from Home in Sydney

Sydney is genuinely multicultural, which means you can find authentic food from almost anywhere. It's not the westernized version - it's the real deal.
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Cabramatta - Massive Vietnamese community, but also Cambodian, Laotian, and broader Southeast Asian food. If you're from the region, this is where you'll find ingredients and restaurants that taste like home. It's far (about an hour from the city) but worth the trip for grocery shopping.
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Eastwood - Predominantly Chinese and Korean. Excellent restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets. The food court in Eastwood has some of the best and cheapest meals you'll find.
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Harris Park - Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi community hub. If you're craving South Asian food, this is your spot. Also known as "Little India" - restaurants here are authentic and affordable.
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Strathfield - Heavy Korean presence, but also Chinese and Japanese food. The Korean BBQ restaurants are legitimate, and the grocery stores have everything you need.
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Bankstown - Lebanese, Middle Eastern, and Arabic community. If you're from the region, you'll find familiar food, ingredients, and even cultural centers here.
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Sydney's spread out, so these neighborhoods aren't all next to each other. But they're worth traveling to, especially when you need ingredients you can't find at regular supermarkets.
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5. Sydney's Student Nightlife Scene

Sydney nightlife took a hit with lockout laws years ago, but things have been recovering. It's a different vibe from other cities - less concentrated, more spread out.
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Midweek student nights:
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Home the Venue in Cockle Bay is the main Wednesday student night spot. $5-8 drinks, multiple levels with different music, and it's right in Darling Harbour so it's easy to get to. It gets packed, the drinks are basic, but it's reliable if you want a guaranteed student crowd.
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Thursday-Saturday:
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Civic Underground near Town Hall is where you go for live music and a less polished vibe. It's underground (literally), can get sweaty, but the energy is good and it doesn't feel as corporate as some other venues. They book decent local bands and DJs.
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Beach Road Hotel in Bondi is the beachside option - three levels, rooftop with ocean views, and a younger crowd. It's expensive compared to other spots (Bondi prices), but if you're already in the eastern suburbs, it's the move. Sunday sessions here are massive in summer.
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Kit & Kaboodle in Darlinghurst is smaller, more intimate, and draws a creative crowd. Good cocktails (relatively speaking), interesting music, and it doesn't have that mainstream club feel. Thursday and Friday nights are busier.

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The reality of Sydney nightlife: It's pricier than other Australian cities. Pre-drinks at home are standard because drinks at venues will destroy your budget quickly. The lockout laws are gone, but the culture of starting and ending early kind of stuck around. Things get going earlier than you'd expect - 9pm is already busy at some places.

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Getting home: Night buses and trains exist but aren't as frequent. Budget for an Uber or split one with friends if you're going out in the eastern suburbs. The night network from the city works decently, but check routes before you head out.
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Looking forward to see you soon!
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Join our Sydney WhatsApp group where other international students are sharing housing, answering questions at weird hours, and actually showing up when someone needs help navigating this expensive, beautiful, occasionally frustrating city.

Welcome to the family ;)