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1. Title Goes Here COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND

2. The information in this presentation is intended as a guide only to help you plan and budget for your years at school in Queensland. Costs in Townsville (regional city of Queensland) are relatively low compared with other cities of the world, but the standard of living is high. This has helped to earn Townsville the reputation of being Australia’s most liveable city. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND

3. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND The graph below shows the cost of living in Townsville compared with most capital cities around the world.

4. Comparative Yearly Cost of Living Source: http://www.bond.edu.au/international/life/accomodation/comparative-costs.html

5. Typical Prices of items in Queensland • Item Cost $AUD (US) • Food snack/sandwich  $5-$7 ($4.33-$6.06) • Moderate restaurant meal (without drinks) $10–$25 ($8.67-$21.67) • Top-end restaurant Meal (without drinks) $25 and upwards ($21.67) • Local bus fare $3.00 ($2.60) • MacDonalds Big Mac meal $5.25 ($4.55) • Glass of Soft drink $1.80 ($1.56) • Kilogram of Rice $1.50 ($1.30) • Litre of Milk $1.40 ($1.21) • Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $3.00 ($2.60) • Large Margarita Pizza $8.00 ($6.93) • Phone bill $50 per month ($43.34)

6. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Currency Australian currency is decimal with the dollar (AUD$) as the basic unit – 100 cents equals 1 dollar ($1). Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 denominations. Each note is a different colour and has a different design. Coins are minted in $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c, and 5c denominations, although individual item prices are still quoted in 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 7c, 8c & 9c. The total of purchases is then rounded off to the nearest 5c.

7. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND While you may wish to buy some Australian dollars before you leave home, for safety reasons it is best not to carry more than AUD$400 in cash or travellers’ cheques when entering Australia or at any one time. You can exchange your foreign currency or travellers’ cheques at airports, local banks or Bureaux de Change. It is best to open a bank account with an ATM card which allows you to easily obtain cash when you need it.

8. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND The cost of transport, food and entertainment in Queensland is average compared to other Australian cities. The following slides outline the cost of living within Townsville by establishing costs and budgeting requirements for living in Townsville.

9. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Establishment costs Remember there are incidental expenses (e.g. stationery, medical, clothing, recreation, entertainment, visa renewals) so it is advisable to budget for an extra AUD$1500 - $2500 per year. Some of these expenses are matters of personal taste; the amount you spend varies, depending on your priorities, the lifestyle you choose, and your available budget.

10. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Transport Depending on where you will be living and the distance between where you live and your school, transport can cost you approximately AUD$15-$30 per week. Your Homestay will be located within close proximity to local transport and your Homestay family will be able to give you directions to the nearest bus stop or train station and advise you about the best transport routes for travel to and from school, the city and local shops.

11. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Clothing The clothing you bring with you to wear after school and during holidays (most Queensland schools have a school uniform requirement) should suit Queensland’s tropical to sub-tropical climate. Summer (December – February) can be hot (up to 40 degrees Celsius in some areas) and Queensland’s north and coastal regions can be humid with heavy rainfall. Winter (June – August) is generally fine and sunny with mild to warm temperatures (12 - 18 degrees Celsius during the day). Winter nights and early mornings are generally cool. In addition to casual wear, bring some clothing for formal occasions. Some students also choose to bring the national dress of their country to wear at functions or on special cultural days. Clothing and personal items will cost around $20-$40 a week (including the cost of cleaning your clothes).

12. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Buying and using a mobile phone Mobile phones are convenient to use but can be expensive to operate. Some companies charge YOU for international mobile calls you receive. You will need a GSM 900 compatible phone to access the network in Australia. The 3 main Mobile Phone providers in Queensland are Telstra, Optus and Three. www.telstra.com.au www.optus.com.au www.three.com.au You can buy mobile phones in Australia through a contract plan (you pay for the phone and line rental over a certain period of time, without a bulk payment up front), or you can pay for the handset up front and buy prepaid call cards as you need them. Some contract deals require proof of income or financial backing.

13. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Prepaid phone prices start at $79 and go up to $300 depending on which phone you chose. Please note, there are certain public places where it is unacceptable to use mobile phones, including schools, movie theatres, libraries, galleries, and at plays or other public performances.

14. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Telephone (Land Line) To use a land line telephone you will need around $15 per week (more if you are phoning overseas). Make sure you get permission from your Homestay family before making phone calls on their home phone.

15. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Entertainment Allow at least $30-$50 per week spending money for entertainment, recreation, haircuts, gifts and other minor personal items. These hidden costs will vary depending on your budget and lifestyle. For example one trip to the movies can cost AU$20 or more (including transport, ticket and something to eat). With careful budgeting, you should be able to manage with approximately AU$50 pocket money per week. However, every student is different and living in Australia may be much more or less expensive than what you are used to. It is therefore a good idea to discuss your budget for pocket money with your parents before leaving home.

16. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Entertainment Townsville is full of live music with local and international bands playing in the Entertainment Centre, civic theatre, etc As well, latin pop, jazz, rap, techno, reggae, rock, funk, punk, gothic, folk/roots and fusion bands play in Townsville’s pubs while you can enjoy live comedy, cabaret, and karaoke in restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs around the city. A feast of festivals, exhibitions and performances offer the people of Brisbane the best of local and international talent while Brisbane's numerous theatres, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra produce a constantly changing program of entertainment. Concert tickets vary in prices, starting from $30- $40. Some concerts may have age restrictions. Most pubs, clubs and bars are limited to people over the age of 18.

17. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Posting a letter Australia Post provides a wide range of services in Australia. See the Australia Post website www.auspost.com.au for information about local and international services and costs. Look for the red post boxes located in shopping centres, transport centres and stations and on street corners to post your mail. Posting can cost anywhere between AU 50c for delivery within Australia and over AU $100 for international Packages (the cost highly depends on the size and weight of the package).

18. COST OF LIVING IN QUEENSLAND Miscellaneous Allow for at least $40 for spending money on items such as, haircuts, eating out, books, computer equipment, photocopying, printing, stationery and other miscellaneous items. These hidden costs will vary depending on your budget and lifestyle.

19. Title Goes Here Enjoy Australia