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If you’re moving to Perth, recently arrived, or have been here for forever, one question comes up again and again:
How much does it actually cost to live here?
You’ll find plenty of estimates online, but the real answer often depends on lifestyle, routines and the everyday choices students make.
In the latest episode of I’m at Curtin, Now What?, Musa and Kristel document a full week of spending as international students in Perth. From Monday to Sunday, they record their real expenses as they go about their normal routines.
The result is an honest look at what a typical week can look like financially.
Understanding the everyday costs of student life
Living as a student involves more than just paying rent or tuition.
Across the week, Musa and Kristel share how their spending is spread across different parts of daily life, including:
- Rent and accommodation costs
- Groceries and meals
- Transport to and from university
- Social activities and weekend plans
- Small everyday purchases that quickly add up
Seeing how these expenses appear throughout the week helps paint a clearer picture of what living in Perth can realistically cost.
Why student budgets can look different
No two students spend exactly the same way.
Some students cook most of their meals at home. Others rely more on takeaway or campus food. Transport costs can also vary depending on where you live and how often you travel.
Musa and Kristel’s week shows one example of how international students balance study, work and social life while managing their expenses.
For many new students, seeing a real example from fellow students can be more helpful than general estimates.
Learning to manage your spending
Understanding where your money goes is often the first step to managing it better.
Tracking expenses over a week can help you recognise patterns, plan your budget and decide where you might want to save or spend differently.
Whether you’re preparing to study in Australia or already adjusting to life in Perth, seeing how other students manage their spending can make the process feel a lot less uncertain.
Watch the episode
Want to see how much Musa and Kristel spent across an entire week?
In this episode of I’m at Curtin, Now What?, they document their daily routines and real expenses as international students living in Perth.
New episodes of I’m at Curtin, Now What? drop every second Thursday.
Final reminder
Every student’s experience is different.
But understanding the real costs of student life can help you feel more prepared, more confident and better equipped to manage your time and money while studying at Curtin.
