Student Accommodation Brisbane

About Brisbane

With 21.7% of its student population being international, Brisbane is one of the top destinations in Australia for students. Here is a breakdown of the proportion of international students by level of study in Brisbane:

• Undergraduate: 70%

• Postgraduate: 25%

• Research: 5%

Brisbane offers high-quality education through its prestigious universities: the University of Queensland, the Queensland University of Technology, James Cook University, and the University of Southern Queensland, among other world-renowned institutions. Besides its academic rigour, this city attracts students from all over the world thanks to its allure and charm.

Popular Student Accommodation Areas in Brisbane

Popular Brisbane areas among university students are St Lucia, South Brisbane, and Kelvin Grove. There are a few things to keep in mind while searching for the perfect student area to stay in, including transportation, cost, and amenities.

1. Students living in Brisbane’s St Lucia will be near the University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia Campus, and purpose-built accommodation would cost around AU$328–AU$1,150/week

• Travel time from St Lucia to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 15 minutes

• Taxi - 8 minutes

• Walking - 1 hour

• Ferry - 14 minutes

2. Students living in South Brisbane would pay approximately AU$440–AU$1,400/week.

Nearby universities include the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).

• Travel time from South Brisbane to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 10-15 minutes

• Taxi - 5-10 minutes

• Walking - 40-50 minutes

• Ferry - 5 minutes

3. Students living in Kelvin Grove purpose-built student accommodation would pay around AU$355–AU$1,200/week. This area includes the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).

• Travel time from Kelvin Grove to the CBD by different modes of transportation:

• Bus - 15-20 minutes

• Taxi - 10-15 minutes

• Walking - 50-60 minutes

• Ferry - 15 minutes

Best Student Accommodation in Brisbane

Brisbane has various student room options, and students can explore different areas in Brisbane near their universities and budgets. 

Popular student housing in Brisbane that provide almost every room type are Scape Tribune, UniLodge Herston, Scape Regent, Scape Merivale, and Student One Elizabeth Street.

Discover Student Room Types in Brisbane (Approx. AU$711 - AU$5361/ month)

The purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane typically includes a variety of amenities included in the bills; it varies according to the provider's terms and conditions. But broadly, we suggest a student should consider budget, needs, and preferences while making decisions. 

Here, we have categorised the room types given below based on preference and budget to help you in your decision-making.

Type 1: Affordable student rooms in Brisbane: 

These cost around AU$266–AU$889 per week on average and are recommended for students who are comfortable sharing space. Typically, such properties are houses or apartments.

• Shared room

  • Amenities: Self-contained apartment with multiple bedrooms, shared bathroom, shared kitchen

  • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$997 / month

  • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,066 / month

  • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$975 / month

  • Recommended shared rooms include Bunk Brisbane.

• Triple/ Quadruple rooms

  • Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

  • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$889 / month

  • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$798 / month

  • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$711 / month

  • Recommended triple rooms include UniLodge Herston.

• Entire place

  • Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

  • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$3,200 / month

  • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$2,489 / month

  • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$2,311 / month

Type 2: Affordable student rooms in Brisbane with privacy: These rooms cost around AU$317–AU$975 per month. 

1. Student Single Room

   • Amenities: Private bedroom, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,422 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,244 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month

   • Recommended student single rooms include Scape St Lucia and Student One Wharf Street.

2. Student Shared Flats

   • Amenities: Private Bedroom in a shared house or flat, shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,244 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,066 / month

3. Student Twin Rooms

   • Amenities: One room with 2 single beds, Shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,778 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,605 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,512 / month

   • Recommended twin rooms include Scape Tribune and Scape Toowong.

4. Student Double Room

   • Amenities: One bedroom with double bed, shared bathroom, shared kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,784 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,703 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,608 / month

   • Recommended double rooms include Student Living - Visage.

Room Type 3: Brisbane student rooms with privacy, quiet space, and proximity to the CBD cost around  AU$1,787 - AU$3,574 per month. 

5. Brisbane Student Flats 

   • Amenities: Private bedroom, private bathroom, private kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,155 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,072 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$978 / month

6. Brisbane Student En-Suite Rooms 

   • Amenities: Single bedroom, Private bathroom, shared kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$1,965 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$1,787 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,697 / month

   • Browse through students' en-suites in Brisbane, such as Scape South Bank, Scape Regent, and Scape Tribune.

7. Brisbane Student Studios

   • Amenities: private bedroom, Private bathroom, private kitchen

   • St Lucia avg. Rent: AU$2,680 / month

   • South Brisbane avg. Rent: AU$AU$2,323 / month

   • Kelvin Grove avg. Rent: AU$1,787 / month

   • Popular student studios are UniLodge on Margaret, UniLodge Park Central, and Student One Adelaide Street.

Room Type 4: Students who prefer amenities over budget

• Student Penthouse in Brisbane costs around  AU$3,574 - AU$5,361 per month.

These are suitable for students who prefer to have private bedrooms, a private balcony, a terrace, privacy, spacious rooms, and a top floor that is more over budget.

Cost of Living in Brisbane for Students (Approx. AU$535 - AU$839)

It varies depending on students’ lifestyle choices, but overall, apart from your Brisbane student accommodation rent, other expenses cannot be ignored. We have suggestions to help you save money while living in Brisbane as a student:

• Food: AU$446 - AU$714/month on average. 

  • We suggest buying groceries that cost around AU$357/month and cooking your own meals. 

  • Shop from grocery stores such as Coles, Woolworths, IGA, FoodWorks, Harris Farm Markets, and Metroimall. They offer student discounts.

• Transportation: AU$89-AU$125/month on average

  • Get a Student Go Card for AU$405 per semester and enjoy 50% off Translink bus, train, ferry, and tram services.

  • Rent a bicycle from CityCycle for AU$20 per day for a daily commute.

  • University bike schemes: Some universities, such as the UQ, QUT, and USQ, offer their students discounted bikes.

  • Buy a new bike for AU$548, easily available for students, which is equal to one month's rent and will benefit you for the entire year.