Studying in Australia vs. United States
Australia and United States are both popular study destinations — but the price tag, visa rules, and currency differ. We pulled the numbers from our cost calculator: monthly living averages €1,816 in Australia and €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Australia
Cheaper monthly living
Australia
Lower visa proof of funds
Australia
Side-by-side comparison
Australia
United States
Currency
AUD (A$)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
A$35,000
≈ €21,350 / yr
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
A$42,000
≈ €25,620 / yr
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
A$2,977 / mo
≈ €1,816 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
A$29,710
Subclass 500 living-cost requirement
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.