Sharing a place in Sydney vs living alone, actual numbers

Six months of real figures, because every "cost of living" page I read before moving was optimistic. Sharehouse, own room, Marrickville: AUD 310 per week including bills and internet. One bedroom apartment, same suburb: AUD 620 per week, plus roughly AUD 60 a week for electricity, gas and internet. That is a difference of about AUD 1,500 a month. For a student or someone in their first year I would say do not even consider living alone unless somebody else is paying. Bond is four weeks rent, held by NSW Fair Trading, and you will need it in cash before you have a job.