Your city drives the cost-of-living index applied to every lifestyle answer that follows — Sydney is the most expensive (index 1.15) and Hobart the cheapest (0.92).

The area choice adjusts rent only. Suburban living often means higher transport spend — reflect that in the transport question coming up.

Homestay includes most meals and bills, which offsets its higher headline rent — we cut your grocery estimate accordingly. Shared houses are the most common student choice. Managed apartments (purpose-built student living) bundle bills and internet.

Weekly cost assumptions per answer — Public transport: rarely ≈ A$12, sometimes ≈ A$25, often ≈ A$45. Car includes fuel, rego and insurance spread weekly (often ≈ A$95). Bicycle is maintenance only. Taxi / Uber: often ≈ A$50.

Every meal out replaces a home-cooked meal, so your grocery estimate shrinks as these counts rise. The price of each meal comes from the "when eating out" price range you pick on the next question.

At home sets your weekly grocery basket: cheap ≈ A$70, moderate ≈ A$110, expensive ≈ A$160 (for all 21 meals — reduced by meals eaten out, and by ~60% for homestay). Eating out sets the per-meal price: e.g. dinner cheap ≈ A$18, moderate ≈ A$32, expensive ≈ A$55.

Costs are spread per week — e.g. a moderate gym ≈ A$15/wk, a cheap haircut every few weeks ≈ A$4/wk, a cheap prepaid mobile plan ≈ A$7/wk. Cosmetics covers skincare and toiletries beyond basics.

Per-item averages: cheap ≈ A$25 (fast fashion, op-shops), moderate ≈ A$60 (mid-range brands), expensive ≈ A$150 (premium labels). Monthly spend is spread across the year in the weekly figure.

Per-outing assumptions: cinema ≈ A$22, live music / sport ≈ A$60, social sport / group classes ≈ A$20, night out ≈ A$80 (dinner, drinks, transport home). "Monthly" spreads the cost across the weeks.

For the visa itself, DHA looks at your first 12 months of funds only (living costs + one year's tuition + schooling + travel) — we show that figure separately on the results page. The funding gap here compares savings against the whole-of-stay budget.