Budget & Compare

Accommodation types compared

The main ways newcomers live in their first year, and the trade-offs between them.

Accommodation types compared
Type	Often suits	Usually includes	Watch out for	Typical commitment
Homestay	Younger students, first months	Furnished room Some or all meals Utilities	House rules and curfews Less independence Travel distance to campus	Weekly or by term
Student accommodation (halls)	First-year students who want community	Furnished room Utilities and Wi-Fi Pastoral support	Fixed contract length Limited space May close over breaks	Academic year
Room in a shared flat	Students and young professionals after settling in	Your room (furnished or not) Shared kitchen and lounge	Bond and rent in advance Splitting bills fairly Rental scams when searching from overseas	Periodic or fixed-term tenancy
Whole house or apartment	Families and couples	Privacy and space Your own tenancy	Higher upfront costs Furniture and appliances School zones for families	Usually fixed-term (often 12 months)

Homestay

Often suits: Younger students, first months
Usually includes: Furnished room · Some or all meals · Utilities
Watch out for: House rules and curfews · Less independence · Travel distance to campus
Typical commitment: Weekly or by term

Student accommodation (halls)

Often suits: First-year students who want community
Usually includes: Furnished room · Utilities and Wi-Fi · Pastoral support
Watch out for: Fixed contract length · Limited space · May close over breaks
Typical commitment: Academic year

Room in a shared flat

Often suits: Students and young professionals after settling in
Usually includes: Your room (furnished or not) · Shared kitchen and lounge
Watch out for: Bond and rent in advance · Splitting bills fairly · Rental scams when searching from overseas
Typical commitment: Periodic or fixed-term tenancy

Whole house or apartment

Often suits: Families and couples
Usually includes: Privacy and space · Your own tenancy
Watch out for: Higher upfront costs · Furniture and appliances · School zones for families
Typical commitment: Usually fixed-term (often 12 months)

Assumptions: General patterns only. Individual providers and landlords vary.
Included: Common living arrangements for students and families in their first year.
Not included: Prices, which vary widely by city, suburb and season. Use the budget planner with your own figures.

Editorial note: Editorial comparison by Future Lane. No provider has paid to appear.

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