Transport Costs
The cheapest ways to travel are walking, cycling, skateboarding and scootering. If you live close to the University using one of these travel methods will save you a considerable amount of money as well as giving you more control over your travel time. Depending on distance and access, public transport, motor cars, motorcycles and motor scooters are the other options.
Bicycles
Public Transport versus Motor Cars
Motorcycles and Motor Scooters
Bicycles
Bicycles from shops such as The Melbourne Bike Centre (Queens Road, Clifton Hill) and Finnigans Cycles (High St, Northcote) are reasonably priced. Good second-hand bicycles will be for sale in some shops, and many are advertised in the Trading Post Newspaper which comes out on Thursdays each week.
Second-hand bicycles are often advertised on the noticeboards in the Student Union.
A good second hand bicycle will usually cost in the range: $100 - $200.
top of pagePublic Transport versus Motor Cars
If you have a fair distance to travel to Uni or work the choice is probably between a car and public transport. A car does have advantages in terms of availability, time, flexibility, and comfort, but Public Transport is much cheaper and Melbourne has a good transport system, particularly if you are travelling around the city and the inner-suburbs.
Car pooling is an option. Talk with friends about using one car to travel to Uni, and share the fuel and parking costs.
Check the VicLink web site for information about the transport system, fares and the zones etc.
Comparing Transport Costs
Annual Car Costs| TYPE OF EXPENSE | ESTIMATE OF COST | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Registration |
$560 |
Health Care card holders and pensioners are eligible for discounts. |
Insurance (third party) |
$300 |
|
Fuel Costs |
$1,560 |
Based on $30/week – full year |
Maintenance |
$400 |
Servicing |
Parking |
$675 |
Based on $7.50/day, 3 days/week for 30 weeks. |
Repairs |
? |
Unpredictable |
Estimate of annual total |
$3,495 |
Not including the cost of the car, depreciation and unexpected repairs. |
Costs are approximations only.
NB. Parking is not available for students on the Parkville campus (except in the grounds of some Colleges for residents), and fairly hard to find around Carlton and Parkville during the day. Parking costs range from approximately $6 per day (very limited meter parking) to $7.50 per day (in University Square carpark).
Annual Public Transport Costs - Zone 1
| TYPE OF EXPENSE | ESTIMATE OF COST | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Transport Concession Card |
$8.50 |
Only available to full-time students who are not enrolled in a Masters or PhD and are citizens or permanent residents of Australia, or Exchange Students. |
Monthly Fares |
$580 |
The monthly Zone 1 fare without a concession is $98.90 |
Annual total |
$588.50 |
|
The difference between Public Transport and driving works out to be between $50-55 per week, an amount which can be significant in enabling you to meet the costs of food and rent.
Many second hand cars are advertised in the Trading Post newspaper and in city newspapers such as The Age and the Herald-Sun. Visit Consumer Affairs Victoria for more information on buying a car, including your legal rights and responsibilities.
Motorcycles and Motor Scooters
Motorcycles or motor scooters are other options. They are much cheaper to register and run than cars, with no parking costs. The difference between Public Transport and using a motor cycle or scooter works out to be between $15-25 per week.