Contrary to what many people think, studying abroad is not just about obtaining a study visa, studying at a foreign educational institution and moving to another country. In fact, there are several details involved in this decision that will benefit your personal and professional life. One of them, for example, is the choice of housing during the stay abroad-which is an issue that directly involves your comfort, your safety and your adaptation to the new reality. With that in mind, we have gathered the types of accommodation in Australia and New Zealand in this post.
Thus, you can learn more about these options, check the particularities of each one and identify which is the most suitable to meet your needs, so that you can study in Australia and New Zealand and live in a quite safe and comfortable place. To top it off, we also include an average monthly cost for each alternative Accommodation in Australia and New Zealand .
To do so, we will take into account the data provided in the report by the University of Melbourne Accommodation in Australia and New Zealand and the survey by the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand). Prepared? So follow along!
Homestay
The first type of accommodation in Australia and New Zealand is homestay, which means staying with a family. This alternative is excellent for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the culture, traditions and customs of the chosen country, as you will live with a native family and experience their daily routine.
In addition, there are two other great advantages to this choice. The first is the support and welcome you will receive as you adapt to the city, which are essential for a fruitful study abroad experience.
The second is the chance to improve your pronunciation, acquire a better diction and, in some cases, even assimilate the accent of the region, since you will only communicate in English with these people.
It is important to mention that at homestay, generally, expenses related to internet, electricity, gas and the like are already included in the amount paid monthly – and this also applies to daily meals.
By the way, while we’re on the subject, how about we have an average price? Well, the cost of 30 days of this modality in the city of Melbourne is at least AU$1,000.00. On the other hand, in the city of Christchurch, the value is around NZD$1,080.00.
Student house
For those who prefer to experience academic life more intensely and all the opportunities that the university has to offer for their personal and professional lives, the best suggestion is a student house – a student residence.
The reason for this is that these spaces, which are also known as living quarters and/or dormitories, are located within the schools’ campus. Therefore, you can dispense with the use of public transport and walk to classes and other activities. It is also worth mentioning that you have common areas with other students and often share a room with colleagues.
This option also includes other monthly expenses (water, gas, electricity, internet, etc.) and allows meals (such as lunch and dinner) in the college cafeteria – which certainly makes your routine more practical and functional.
Regarding the values, there are the following monthly cost averages: in Melbourne it is AU$2,500.00 and in Christchurch it is NZD$1,306.00. Remembering that, according to the data presented at the beginning of the post, these values are the minimum, ok?
Share house
The share house, in turn, represents an option for those seeking greater privacy and, above all, autonomy in the experience of living in another country. This is because, as the name implies, it is a residence (house or apartment) that is usually shared with other students.
In other words, you have freedom with the schedules and departures from home, take friends and acquaintances to your home and even promote parties and small get-togethers without difficulties. Not to mention that in this alternative it is common to have a bedroom – and, in some cases, a bathroom – all to yourself.
But make no mistake: it’s not just the rent on the property that is shared between all residents. After all, this amount does not include the other expenses (internet, electricity, water, gas, telephony, etc.) of the space – which will require a lot of discipline and financial organization from all students.
Having said all that, let’s go to the average cost of this modality? For a two-person shared residence in Melbourne, you will pay a minimum monthly fee of AU$860.00. In Christchurch, the average cost is NZD$525.00 for a four-person shared house.
Backpacker / Hostel
The fourth and final option is the backpacker, that is, staying in a hostel. This, without a doubt, is a suitable choice for those who like to interact with people from different corners of the world and are not very fond of routines.
After all, in this type of space there is a constant flow of people in and out for Accommodation in Australia and New Zealand . Not to mention that in many hostels there is a schedule of frequent activities with guests, such as parties, tours, meetings, among others.
This type of accommodation is aimed at those who are traveling and looking for a place with more affordable prices to stay. For that, you need to open up a little about comfort, privacy and, in some cases, even security.
Bathrooms are shared and rooms are usually mixed, and can hold up to 16 beds at the same time. In addition, you need to use a locker to store your things, such as documents, money and electronic equipment, as they cannot be left unattended anywhere. No matter how small the risk, something can be stolen.
But in hostels there is no option to book a single room? Know that the answer is yes. However, the smaller the number of people per room, the higher the daily rate will be.
And there’s more! During high season, the values can inflate due to high demand and become equivalent to that of a hotel, thus weighing on your pocket.
Conclusion:
Doing a search on the internet for the entire period of June 2019 in Melbourne, we found as a cheaper alternative a mixed room for 10 people for the price of AU$585.00. In Christchurch, on the other hand, the cheapest option is a mixed room for 6 people for the price of NZD$756.00.
As you have seen, there are types of Accommodation in Australia and New Zealand for each international student. Therefore, carefully analyze all of them and choose the one that will really provide you with a good stay during the time you are studying abroad.
