How much will I spend on groceries and eating out each month as a student in Australia?
30 Sept 2026 · Answered by Arati Rai · 2 min read
Quick Answer
verified
Groceries for a single student in Australia average about AUD 433 to 650 per month. Adding regular dining out can lift your monthly food spending to roughly AUD 700 to 1,200, so cooking at home is usually the cheapest way to eat.
Groceries for one person typically cost about AUD 433 to 650 (approx INR 29,193 to 43,823) per month. If you eat out regularly, your total food spending can rise to around AUD 700 to 1,200 (approx INR 47,194 to 80,904).
Monthly food cost ranges
| Category | Monthly cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Groceries | 433 to 650 (approx INR 29,193 to 43,823) |
| Eating out (casual) | 250 to 400 (approx INR 16,855 to 26,968) |
| Midrange dining | 500 to 800 (approx INR 33,710 to 53,936) |
| Coffee and snacks | 80 to 120 (approx INR 5,394 to 8,090) |
What drives these numbers
- Groceries are relatively affordable compared with dining out, so home cooking is the most cost-effective option.
- Casual eating out, such as fast food or inexpensive restaurants, adds up quickly if you do it often.
- Midrange dining for two people averages about AUD 120 (approx INR 8,090) per meal, which works out to AUD 500 to 800 (approx INR 33,710 to 53,936) a month if you dine out weekly.
- A cup of coffee costs about AUD 4 to 6 (approx INR 270 to 405), so regular coffee and snacks come to around AUD 80 to 120 (approx INR 5,394 to 8,090) a month.
My Advice
Set your grocery budget first and treat eating out as an occasional extra. Cooking most meals and planning one or two meals out each week keeps your food costs closer to the lower end of the range.
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