Cost of living in Adelaide

Use this Adelaide article to identify the questions and locations worth comparing for your household. This article was published on January 10, 2024. Prices, population figures, service frequencies and market comparisons below belong to that publication context; check current information before making a housing or moving commitment. No neighbourhood description guarantees the conditions at a particular property.

Are you thinking about making a move to South Australia?

When it comes to cost of living, Adelaide is one of the more affordable capital cities in the country.

While South Australia does have some of the highest utility costs in the country, housing prices are significantly less than the likes of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

It might have an unexciting nickname of ‘The City of Churches’, but Adelaide has plenty to see and do in the forms of festivals, sport, arts, culture, food and wine.

It’s a great place to live for those seeking reprieve from Australia’s bigger and busier capital cities – with the cheaper cost of living coming as a bonus.

Housing

Housing in Australia is the biggest factor when it comes to cost of living and Adelaide has a much more affordable property market.

In 2023, the median house price in Adelaide came in at $774,969 – compared to $1,395,218 in Sydney, $942,750 in Melbourne and $888,628 in Brisbane.

Adelaide’s median unit price was just $490,313 – compared to Sydney’s $828,525.

Rental prices are also more affordable than other cities.

For the December quarter of 2023, Adelaide’s median weekly rental price was $450 – below the national average of $600 and significantly less than Sydney’s average rent of $680.

For those living in Adelaide, housing is estimated to make up about 28 per cent of the total cost of living.

Food and Groceries

Residents in Adelaide spend the biggest portions of their household budgets on food and groceries.

One study showed that in 2023, South Australian households spent an average of $181 on groceries per week – lower than some other states.

However, price inflation of groceries in Adelaide has risen at a higher rate than other capital cities.

Utilities

While their houses might be cheaper than some other capital cities, South Australian’s pay more for their utility bills.

As of December 2023, Canstar Blue research showed that the average quarterly electricity bill in South Australia was $352 – the second-highest of any state.

Average quarterly gas bills came in at $224 – also the second-highest in the country.

However, some of those higher rates are negated by South Australia’s average quarterly water bill of just $200 – the second-cheapest of any state.

Transport

Adelaide enjoyed the second-cheapest petrol prices of any major city in 2023, with prices for a litre of unleaded fuel averaging just 186 cents.

Comparatively, Melbourne drivers paid an average of 191.9 cents per litre, with Sydneysiders forking out an average of 190.7 cents per litre.

As of April 2024, the cost of a single trip on public transport for adults was $4.25 during peak travel times or $2.40 off-peak, with a daily cap of $11.70.

Eating out and entertainment

Adelaide has a strong food scene with a variety of options at different price points.

A meal at an affordable restaurant will generally cost between $20 and $30 – comparable to other Australian cities.

In 2023, the average price of a 0.5 litres of draught beer in Adelaide was $11.50.

Total cost of living in Adelaide

While different studies show slightly different results, Adelaide is generally considered to be one of the most affordable cities to live in Australia.

A big reason for this is housing.

While housing costs have risen in Adelaide, the city is still far more affordable than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – particularly for those looking to buy.

Planning your move?

At Fragile Removals & Storage, we are trusted removalist experts and help dozens of Australians make local and interstate moves each and every week.

If you are ready to make your next move, call us today on 1800 500 584 for top-quality service at a highly-competitive price.

Build your own Adelaide budget from the categories

Treat housing, groceries, utilities, transport and discretionary spending as separate lines. Replace an article's estimate with the amount that applies to your household rather than adding figures with different assumptions. Check whether a number is per person or per household and whether it is weekly, monthly or annual before comparing totals.

Housing is a property-specific decision. Compare the rent or purchase arrangement for the actual address and identify other costs you are responsible for. A city-wide average does not establish the cost of a particular dwelling, and a historical comparison between capitals does not establish which option is cheaper today.

For utilities, check the provider and plan available at the address and the household usage behind any estimate. Ask about connection timing and any account changes when moving. For travel, compare the route and frequency you expect to use rather than assuming every resident has the same commute or vehicle costs.

For groceries, eating out and entertainment, use your own recent spending as a starting point and adjust for the household and location. Keep optional spending separate from the essentials so the budget remains useful if circumstances change. This article does not predict future prices or guarantee a particular total.

Separate the moving budget from ongoing living costs

Request a removal quote for the inventory, addresses, dates and access. Identify packing, dismantling, storage and other services separately. A lower ongoing housing cost does not establish the cost of getting your belongings to the new property.

Use measuring furniture volume to understand the load and the detailed quote form to organise the information. If the dates do not align, include storage in the comparison rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Resolve differences before relying on a total

If the examples in this article differ from current quotations or your own spending, check their date, household size, billing period and included items. Keep the assumptions beside each number so another person can see what the budget represents. Do not select only the lowest examples from incompatible scenarios.

Revisit the budget when the address, household needs or moving date changes. Use the actual provider or property documents to settle a disputed amount. Keep the change-of-address checklist alongside the plan so bills and notices reach the right place during the transition.

For the transport stage, review Adelaide moving services and request a detailed quote. Use the moving advice index for the next preparation decision.

Are the Adelaide prices and comparisons current quotes?

No. The figures are historical examples from the dates and sources stated in the Adelaide article. They are not current provider quotations or a prediction of your household’s total. The article contrasts housing with utility and transport expenses. Compare those categories separately instead of assuming a lower housing figure means every other cost is lower. Update each line with the relevant property, service or current spending information. Check whether the amount is per person or household, which billing period it covers and what it excludes before adding it to the budget.

What should I check for a particular address?

For the Adelaide address you are considering, check the housing payment and other charges you will be responsible for, the utility arrangements available at the address, and the trips your household makes regularly. Confirm any essential school or service access directly. A city-wide average cannot capture the cost of a particular dwelling or commute. Keep the supporting quote or agreement beside each budget line and mark anything still estimated so the total remains understandable.

What should I give the removalist after choosing a property?

Give the removalist your origin and Adelaide addresses, the inventory, dates and property access details, including lifts, stairs, parking and loading times. Request packing, dismantling, reassembly and storage explicitly where needed. If the dates do not align, obtain the storage and redelivery costs before treating the move budget as complete. Keep the removal quote separate from ongoing living expenses and update it when the address, goods or service scope changes.

How do I build a household budget for Adelaide?

Start with housing, groceries, utilities, regular transport and discretionary spending as separate categories. Use your own household size and routines, then update the article’s examples with information relevant to the chosen Adelaide address. Convert all figures to one period before adding them: for example, an annualised weekly amount uses 52 weeks, while a monthly amount uses 12 months. Keep assumptions and exclusions beside each line and review estimates after the move when actual bills become available.

What should I include in the one-off moving budget?

Include the removal quote, packing materials or packing help, any agreed furniture work, cleaning, travel and temporary accommodation. Add storage and redelivery if the old and new property dates do not align. Check connection or account-change charges directly with providers where relevant. These costs are separate from the regular Adelaide living budget, so a lower ongoing housing payment does not establish how much cash the move itself requires. Keep confirmed amounts and estimates clearly distinguished.

Why might my total differ from the article’s examples?

Your planned Adelaide household size, property type, consumption, travel habits and the date of the information can all differ. Compare one category at a time and resolve billing-period differences before deciding that a quote is inconsistent with the article. Avoid combining the lowest examples from different households as though they describe one achievable scenario. Use current documents for the actual address to settle a disputed amount, and revise the budget when your plans change.