THE soaring cost of living is forcing many university students to "couch surf" or sleep in tents, Monash Student Association says.

Association president Lauren O'Dwyer said students were calling on both sides of federal politics to commit to reducing the cost of rent, bills and grocery prices.

"Affordable student housing is the main issue; it affects everything else.

"The amount of rent charged is ridiculous."

Ms O'Dwyer said affordable student housing was becoming scarce.

"There are huge needs in the Monash area. More students are coming from interstate, rural areas or overseas.

"The landlords can charge huge amounts of rent because they know these students don't have a choice."

Ms O'Dwyer said the university held free food evenings to help out struggling students and even gave out bags of rice.

"Rent is prioritised over food and bills. If rent payments went down, it would make everything easier.

"Couch surfing and sleeping in tents are very big for students at the moment."

Qualifying for Youth Allowance payments should also be made easier, Ms O'Dwyer said.

"It's very difficult to qualify at the moment and it's not easy to maintain even a minimum standard of living on the payments.

"If the federal government would commit to changing these two issues, it would be a huge difference."

Greens Chisholm federal candidate Josh Fergeus said he would work to establish an affordable housing plan and

an Australian Student Card to provide all students with concession rates for public transport.

"Victoria currently offers students the most limited access to

concessions on public transport of any Australian state or territory."

Labor MP Anna Burke said she would focus on cutting rent and electricity costs. She said the government had cut taxes for low-income earners, students and families for three years in a row.

Liberal candidate John Nguyen said higher interest rates were hurting family budgets. "While talking to many people in Chisholm the issue of greatest concern which has been raised with me is the difficulty of keeping up with mortgage repayments.

"The diminishing quantity of groceries in the supermarket trolley has also affected many locals."