How much can a student save working in Australia in 2026

The Fair Work Commission set the Australian minimum wage at AUD 26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, a 4.75% increase on the previous rate.

Those numbers change the calculation for anyone planning to study and work in Australia. The answer depends on three variables: the hours limit permitted by the visa, the chosen work sector and the cost of living in the city where the student settles. The study and work exchange in Australia brings all three dimensions together in a plan that goes beyond the academic calendar.

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How many hours can a student work per week in Australia?

The Australian student visa (Subclass 500) allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight during term time, for courses with a minimum duration of 16 weeks.

During school holidays, the limit rises to 40 hours per week with no fortnightly cap, which is when the largest financial accumulation of the exchange takes place. Two practical points:

• The 48-hour count is calculated per fortnight (14 days), not per individual week. Working 30 hours one week and making up for it the next does not work: the fortnightly total cannot exceed 48 hours.
• The Australian payroll system operates on a fortnightly basis, which makes it easier to track the limit with your employer.

The work rules for international students in Australia vary depending on the type of registered educational institution and the type of course.

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What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the Australian national minimum wage is AUD 26.44 per hour for permanent and part-time workers, according to the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review 2026.

In practice, the vast majority of jobs for international students are on casual contracts, with the 25% casual loading raising the rate to AUD 33.05 per hour. The most accessible sectors:

• Hospitality: restaurants, cafes and hotels operate with flexible shifts and absorb the largest volume of students, including those with developing English
• Retail: supermarkets and department stores, with vacancies open throughout the year
• Cleaning and maintenance: night and weekend shifts typically pay additional rates above the base rate
• Healthcare (administrative support and hygiene): a sector with chronic labour shortages, even for entry-level roles

Australia's 2026 job market is concentrated in hospitality, healthcare and logistics.

The most in-demand professions in Australia in 2026 include positions accessible to those with developing English, not only to fluent speakers.

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How much can a student save per month?

With the 48-hour fortnightly limit, a student works approximately 96 hours per month during term time.

Applying the current casual rate:

• 96h x AUD 33.05 = AUD 3,172 gross per month (term time)

During school holidays, working 40 hours per week:

• 160h x AUD 33.05 = AUD 5,288 gross per month

These are gross figures. International students are classified as non-residents for Australian tax purposes and do not have access to the AUD 18,200 tax-free threshold available to residents. Tax is withheld through PAYG and part of it can be recovered at the close of the financial year (30 June).

The tax return after working in Australia is submitted remotely at the end of the financial year and represents a real refund for those who worked regularly.

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What is the cost of living for a student in Australia in 2026?

According to Numbeo (updated July 2026), the monthly basic costs for a student in Australia, excluding accommodation, are around AUD 1,596 per month. That figure covers food, transport, personal hygiene and moderate leisure.

Monthly public transport costs around AUD 133 in major cities. Accommodation is the variable that most differentiates the total cost between living arrangements:

• Single apartment outside the centre: AUD 1,759/month (Numbeo, 2026)
• Room in shared accommodation: significantly lower cost per person, the option adopted by the majority of international students
• Mid-cost cities: Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth offer lower rents than Sydney and Melbourne, with active job markets in the same sectors

In Melbourne, the neighbourhoods with the best value for money are outside the CBD, connected by train or tram. The cost of living in Melbourne for exchange students is the spending benchmark for those with Melbourne as their destination.

Sydney has the highest accommodation costs, but also the country's most active hospitality market. The exchange in Sydney in 2026 is more profitable for those who arrive with conversational or above-basic English.

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Can you save during an exchange in Australia?

Yes, with planning. The pattern that emerges among those who complete the full cycle:

• During term time, gross income of around AUD 3,172 per month covers basic expenses and, depending on the city and accommodation arrangement, can generate a small surplus
• During school holidays, with gross income of AUD 5,288 per month, the accumulation window is real and significant for those who keep their term-time expenses steady
• The tax return at the close of the financial year can represent an additional refund, reducing the overall tax burden

Real savings happen for those who combine both phases: covering living costs during term time and using holiday breaks to build a financial reserve. Three practical points sum up this calculation:

• The exchange in Australia on minimum wage is viable in mid-cost cities, with shared accommodation and a hospitality shift.
• The study and work exchange in Australia in 2026 yields more for those who stay at least 12 months, taking advantage of two holiday cycles and a full financial year.
• The study and work programme in Australia covers everything from visa planning to guidance on the ideal city, sector and calendar.

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Sectors that pay above the minimum in Australia

Those with availability for specific shifts or working in areas with labour shortages tend to earn above the national minimum:

• Healthcare support: hygiene and support positions in clinics and hospitals have chronic demand and operate under a Modern Award above the minimum
• Logistics and warehouses: night shifts carry a 15% to 30% additional rate above the Modern Award base rate, with predictable hours and fortnightly pay
• Construction (site cleaning and auxiliary work): wages above the minimum, with a white card requirement, a basic safety certification obtained in-country within a few days
• Farm work in rural regions: vacancies that include accommodation reduce monthly fixed costs and significantly change the accumulation calculation

Choosing the right sector, in the right city, is what separates those who finish the exchange at zero from those who finish with savings. The study and work exchange in Australia is the starting point for those who want to align sector, city and calendar rather than arriving and figuring it out on the fly.

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Frequently asked questions about working in Australia as a student in 2026

How many hours per week can a student with a Subclass 500 visa work?
The limit is 48 hours per fortnight during term time, equivalent to an average of 24 hours per week calculated proportionally. The count is done per fortnight (14 days), not per individual week. During the educational institution's official school holidays, the limit increases to 40 hours per week with no fortnightly cap.

What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026 for casual contracts?
From 1 July 2026, casual contracts have a minimum wage of AUD 33.05 per hour, according to the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review 2026. That figure includes the 25% casual loading on top of the base minimum of AUD 26.44 per hour. Most jobs for international students are hired under this arrangement.

Do international students pay tax in Australia?
Yes. International students are classified as non-residents for tax purposes and do not have access to the tax-free threshold available to residents (AUD 18,200 per year). Tax is withheld monthly by the employer via PAYG. At the close of the Australian financial year (30 June), the student can lodge a return and recover part of the amount withheld, depending on the total income earned during the period.

Which Australian city has the best balance between salary and cost of living for students?
Adelaide and Brisbane have lower accommodation costs than Sydney and Melbourne, with active job markets in hospitality and healthcare. For those who prioritise financial accumulation over professional networking in a major capital, those cities offer a more favourable equation. Perth also stands out with an active market in logistics and services associated with the mining sector.

Can students balance study and work within the visa's permitted hours?
Yes. The 48-hour fortnightly limit is structured precisely for this: it generates meaningful income without compromising the minimum 80% attendance required by the student visa. Those who choose morning courses can work afternoon or evening shifts without any schedule overlap, making the study-and-work combination practical and sustainable over months.

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Be Easy: boutique exchange consultancy

Be Easy supports students who want to build a real financial and professional path in Australia. If you want to understand how salary, city and the academic calendar combine in your specific case, our curated approach covers exactly that mapping, with a dedicated senior consultant at every step of the process. Contact us to receive specialised guidance.