A return trip to campus costs a Brisbane student about a dollar. In Melbourne, the same trip currently costs somewhere between $2.85 and $5.70, depending on whether you hold a concession card. Multiply either number across a full study year and the gap becomes real money — enough to matter to anyone budgeting rent, groceries and tuition on a student income.
Evantaa Institute has already published detailed guides to how myki works in Melbourne and how the 50-cent fare works in Brisbane. This article does something different: it puts real weekly, semester and annual numbers side by side, so you can see exactly what each city costs a typical commuting student, right now, and what could change before your course finishes.
Information checked on: 19 August 2026. Fares can be adjusted by the Victorian and Queensland governments at any time, so always confirm current pricing on the official Transport Victoria and TransLink websites before locking in a budget.
The Two Systems in Brief
The two states have taken genuinely different approaches to affordable transport:
- Victoria cut every myki fare in half from 1 June 2026, as a temporary measure confirmed to run until 1 January 2027. Concession-eligible domestic students save further on top of that; eligible international students can instead buy an International Student Travel Pass (ISTP), an unlimited-travel period pass.
- Queensland has permanently legislated a flat 50-cent fare on almost every TransLink service, regardless of distance or concession status. This is not a temporary trial — it applies to everyone, on any valid go card, contactless bank card or paper ticket.
That difference in permanence matters just as much as the price itself, and it is the main reason a straight cost comparison is worth doing now.
What a Typical Commute Actually Costs
To compare fairly, assume a simple scenario: a student travelling to and from campus five days a week, with no extra trips. In Melbourne this is one “tap on, tap off” journey each way, capped at the daily rate once you have tapped twice. In Brisbane, each tap is charged individually at the flat 50-cent rate, with no daily cap needed because the rate is already so low.
| Melbourne (myki) | Brisbane (go card) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare structure | Half-price daily cap, until 1 Jan 2027 | Flat 50 cents per tap, permanent |
| Full-fare weekday commute (2 taps/day) | $5.70/day | $1.00/day |
| Concession weekday commute (2 taps/day) | $2.85/day | $1.00/day (same for everyone) |
| Weekly cost, full fare | $28.50 | $5.00 |
| Weekly cost, concession | $14.25 | $5.00 |
Brisbane’s flat fare means concession status makes no difference to the daily cost at all, because 50 cents is already the lowest price on offer. In Melbourne, whether you qualify for a Concession myki (domestic students) or the International Student Travel Pass (eligible international students) changes your weekly cost significantly — see Evantaa’s Melbourne myki guide for exactly how to check your eligibility and apply.
Callout: These figures cover a simple two-tap commuting day only. Extra trips on weekends or between classes cost more in both cities, but the impact is far smaller in Brisbane — an extra errand costs 50 cents, while in Melbourne it can add up to another full 2-hour fare once you are past your daily cap benefit window.
Scaling It Up: Semester and Year
Using the same five-day commuting pattern, here is what a semester (roughly 13 teaching weeks) and a full study year (roughly 40 weeks, allowing for semester breaks) could cost:
| Melbourne, full fare | Melbourne, concession | Brisbane (any status) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per semester (13 weeks) | $370.50 | $185.25 | $65.00 |
| Per study year (40 weeks) | $1,140.00 | $570.00 | $200.00 |
For eligible international students in Melbourne, the ISTP offers an alternative to pay-as-you-go pricing: a 90-day statewide pass costs $154, a 180-day pass $351, and a 365-day pass $556, each covering unlimited travel rather than just a commute. Averaged out, that works out to roughly $12 to $14 a week depending on the pass length — cheaper than paying a full fare, and worth comparing against the concession rate if you travel widely outside your commute as well. Run your own numbers with the official myki fare calculator before deciding which option suits your travel pattern.
Why Brisbane Comes Out Ahead Right Now — and Why That Could Change
On these figures, Brisbane is clearly the cheaper city to commute in during 2026, for every category of student. There is no application process, no eligibility check and no waiting period to access the lowest fare, because everyone already pays it.
Melbourne’s comparison looks different depending on your timeline. If your course finishes before 1 January 2027, you will likely pay the half-price rates shown above for your entire enrolment. If your studies run past that date, budget with more caution: Transport Victoria has not yet announced what happens to fares after the half-price period ends, and there is no guarantee the current rate will continue. Based on the numbers already published on the half-price fares announcement, standard (non-discounted) fares before the half-price period were roughly double the current rates — so it is worth checking Transport Victoria’s website again closer to January 2027 rather than assuming today’s prices will last.
Queensland’s 50-cent fare, by contrast, was locked into law as a permanent arrangement, which gives Brisbane students more certainty when budgeting further into the future.
Beyond the Fare: What Else to Weigh Up
Cost is not the only factor worth considering if you are choosing between the two cities, or simply planning your weekly budget:
- Network coverage. Melbourne’s tram network gives dense inner-city coverage that Brisbane’s bus- and ferry-based system does not replicate in quite the same way, particularly around the CBD’s Free Tram Zone, where trams are free regardless of the wider fare structure.
- Journey frequency. Both cities run high-frequency services on core routes (Melbourne’s tram and train lines, Brisbane’s Metro and busway network), so travel time is likely to matter as much as ticket price for your day-to-day routine.
- Application effort. Getting the best rate in Melbourne takes some upfront admin — sorting a Concession myki or ISTP application. In Brisbane, there is nothing to apply for at all unless you specifically want a physical go card as a backup form of student ID.
- Predictability. Because Queensland’s fare is legislated as permanent, it is easier to budget years ahead. Melbourne’s rate is confirmed only until January 2027, so factor a possible fare increase into any longer-term budget.
A Practical Next Step
If you are new to either city, Evantaa’s first-week transport checklist walks through exactly what to set up in your first week, city by city, including how to apply for a Concession myki or ISTP in Melbourne and why you likely don’t need to apply for anything at all in Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is cheaper for public transport as a student in 2026?
Based on current published fares, Brisbane is cheaper for a typical commuting student, because its 50-cent flat fare applies to everyone automatically, while Melbourne’s cheaper rates depend on eligibility for a concession or the International Student Travel Pass.
Will Melbourne stay this cheap after January 2027?
Not necessarily. The half-price period is confirmed to run only until 1 January 2027, and Transport Victoria has not announced what fares will apply after that date. Check the official Transport Victoria website for updates as that date approaches.
Is Brisbane’s 50-cent fare a temporary trial?
No. It has been legislated as a permanent fare structure by the Queensland Government, not a limited-time discount.
Do I need a go card to get Brisbane’s flat fare?
No. Tapping a contactless bank card, phone or paper ticket all cost the same 50 cents as a go card.
Does the International Student Travel Pass beat paying as you go in Melbourne?
It depends on how much you travel. If you use public transport heavily, including outside your regular commute, an ISTP can work out cheaper per week than paying a capped daily fare — compare the pass price against your own likely usage using the official fare calculator before buying.
Final Thoughts
Right now, the numbers are clear: Brisbane’s permanent flat fare makes it the more affordable city for everyday student travel, and the more predictable one to budget around for the length of a full course. Melbourne’s half-price period still makes this a genuinely good time to be a student getting around the city, but it comes with a use-by date worth keeping on your radar if your studies extend past January 2027.
Whichever city you call home, sorting out the cheapest option available to you — a Concession myki, an ISTP, or simply tapping on with a go card — is one of the easiest ways to keep more of your weekly budget for the things that actually make student life enjoyable.
Have a question about transport costs for your specific enrolment? Drop by Evantaa Institute’s Student Services desk — our team can help you work out which option makes the most sense for your course and campus.
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price for everyone
- Transport Victoria — Students (myki types)
- Transport Victoria — Metropolitan train, tram and bus fares
- International Student Travel Pass portal
- TransLink — 50 cent fares
- TransLink — South East Queensland fares and zones
- TransLink — Concessions
- Ministerial Media Statement — Permanent 50 Cent Fares locked in law