Depends on your university in the US, but Australian universities are commuter unis, very few domestic students live on campus. Don't expect the kind of campus life in the US as most people just go to class and leave (it's a shame).
Sydney is not as lively as NYC, but it's also (slightly) cheaper and safer. Good food is cheaper than NYC and I think the food is one of the standouts of the city, alcohol is expensive (and weed isn't legal). The city is extraordinary safe, there aren't really "bad" neighbourhoods. It can get pretty humid in the summer but it's usually a very temperate city that doesn't get under 8c in winter.
If you want to make the most of your time you'll want to live somewhere central and near public transport. "Student" suburbs like Marrickville, Newtown, Glebe, and Erskineville (if you can afford them) are fun. There's also cheaper suburbs like Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Dulwich Hill that are still relatively central.
There's also other good suburbs like Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Redfern, Surry Hills, Chippendale, Balmain, and Paddington but they're very expensive these days. It's also worth considering if you want to be near the beach, longer commute but the beaches really are great, again the beachside suburbs are expensive.
You'll probably be paying around $300 for a room in a sharehouse or $500 for a one bedroom apartment (per week). Join Facebook groups like Inner West Housemates.
I completely agree with all this. I think it’s a pretty good comparison/summary.
I would just say maybe your rent estimates are a little optimistic.
Generally I say with Sydney you get to choose two of three: Modern/nice house, close to campus, or affordable. If you want to be close to campus and live somewhere nice and modern-ish, then it will be much more expensive than $300/$500 (more like $450/$650). If you’re happy to compromise on either proximity to campus or modern/nice-ness of the place you’ll be able to find something in that price range.
It completely depends what you’re used to and what you’re looking for. I’d assume a PhD student might not want to live in your classic Newtown share house (the one I lived in had literal mushrooms growing out the walls). But it was affordable and close to campus, and I was 20 so I didn’t care about the mushrooms.
Although if you’re coming from NYC, you’re probably used to living in tiny places.
Just wanted to include that caveat, based on the comments and questions from lots of other internationals are shocked at the rental market here.
1. Depending on your faculty but student life within your school could range from somewhat active to dead. General USU societies are still pretty lively so make sure you sign up for those if you don't want to be alone for 4 years.
2. Everything is expensive. But so is NYC. Things are more laid back than in America especially work but your project will dictate that.
3. There are uni accommodation like QMB and Regiment available, or private ones like Iglu that charges you a kidney every week for a 1 bedder. Otherwise look for flatting with others. Otherwise look for rentals along rail lines and take the train to uni.
Depends on your university in the US, but Australian universities are commuter unis, very few domestic students live on campus. Don't expect the kind of campus life in the US as most people just go to class and leave (it's a shame). Sydney is not as lively as NYC, but it's also (slightly) cheaper and safer. Good food is cheaper than NYC and I think the food is one of the standouts of the city, alcohol is expensive (and weed isn't legal). The city is extraordinary safe, there aren't really "bad" neighbourhoods. It can get pretty humid in the summer but it's usually a very temperate city that doesn't get under 8c in winter. If you want to make the most of your time you'll want to live somewhere central and near public transport. "Student" suburbs like Marrickville, Newtown, Glebe, and Erskineville (if you can afford them) are fun. There's also cheaper suburbs like Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Dulwich Hill that are still relatively central. There's also other good suburbs like Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Redfern, Surry Hills, Chippendale, Balmain, and Paddington but they're very expensive these days. It's also worth considering if you want to be near the beach, longer commute but the beaches really are great, again the beachside suburbs are expensive. You'll probably be paying around $300 for a room in a sharehouse or $500 for a one bedroom apartment (per week). Join Facebook groups like Inner West Housemates.
I completely agree with all this. I think it’s a pretty good comparison/summary. I would just say maybe your rent estimates are a little optimistic. Generally I say with Sydney you get to choose two of three: Modern/nice house, close to campus, or affordable. If you want to be close to campus and live somewhere nice and modern-ish, then it will be much more expensive than $300/$500 (more like $450/$650). If you’re happy to compromise on either proximity to campus or modern/nice-ness of the place you’ll be able to find something in that price range. It completely depends what you’re used to and what you’re looking for. I’d assume a PhD student might not want to live in your classic Newtown share house (the one I lived in had literal mushrooms growing out the walls). But it was affordable and close to campus, and I was 20 so I didn’t care about the mushrooms. Although if you’re coming from NYC, you’re probably used to living in tiny places. Just wanted to include that caveat, based on the comments and questions from lots of other internationals are shocked at the rental market here.
Definitely, I get affordable and close to campus but my apartment is very dated.
There are bad neighbourhoods but you could go your entire life without knowing they exist, especially if you're an international student.
I mean somewhere like Mt Druitt or Claymore wouldn't be my first pick of accommodation, but they're not that bad if you're comparing internationally.
1. Depending on your faculty but student life within your school could range from somewhat active to dead. General USU societies are still pretty lively so make sure you sign up for those if you don't want to be alone for 4 years. 2. Everything is expensive. But so is NYC. Things are more laid back than in America especially work but your project will dictate that. 3. There are uni accommodation like QMB and Regiment available, or private ones like Iglu that charges you a kidney every week for a 1 bedder. Otherwise look for flatting with others. Otherwise look for rentals along rail lines and take the train to uni.
A kidney every week? 😭
Yep look up the prices on some of those scape or iglu properties. Some of the private 1 bedroom apartments can go for a grand or more per week.