Adelaide, Australia

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Cost of Living in Adelaide, Australia

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Adelaide costs approximately $1,849 per month for one person including rent. That is 14% above the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $2,171, Adelaide is cheaper than typical for Oceania. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,754 per month, or $1,460 outside the centre. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $17.73 and a monthly transit pass $82. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 164 Mbps and Adelaide scores 82/100 on safety (very safe). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Adelaide is a city in Australia, where a single person can expect to spend about $1,849 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,754 per month, or $1,460 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 164 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Adelaide scores 82/100 — very safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 85°F and winter highs around 59°F, with roughly 236 sunny days a year.

Top for Lowest Disaster RiskLGBTQ+ friendlyFamily friendlySafe tap water
Monthly Cost$1,849≈ $62/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$1,754
Internet164 Mbps
Safety82/100
Avg Temp72°F

Adelaide Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$17.73
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$95.39
McDonald's Combo Meal$10.64
Cappuccino$2.02
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$8.51
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$2.39

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$2.02
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$2.70
Eggs (12)$5.48
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$4.04
Apples (1 lb)$1.43
Bananas (1 lb)$1.28
Tomatoes (1 lb)$2.06
Potatoes (1 lb)$1.34
Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.83
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$14.18
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$33.69

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$3.19
Monthly Transit Pass$81.91
Taxi Start$3.55
Taxi (1 Mile)$2.80
Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.22
VW Golf (New)$28,081.56

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$188.87
Mobile Phone Plan$27.20
Broadband Internet$57.82

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$42.18
Cinema Ticket$15.60
Preschool (Monthly)$1,939.72
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$12,479.91

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$72.47
Nike Running Shoes$119.33

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$1,753.90
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$1,459.75
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$2,361.70
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$1,813.42
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$830.92
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$541.74

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$3,769.67
Mortgage Interest Rate6.36%

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Adelaide

Internet164 Mbps
Safety82/100
Healthcare88/100
Public Transit48/100
Walkability62/100
Nightlife55/100
Food Scene82/100
Fine Dining0/100
Coffee Culture60/100
Air Quality85/100
Green Spaces82/100
Culture78/100
Beaches72/100
Hiking58/100
Surfing42/100
Coworking Spaces35
US Visa-Free90 days

How Adelaide Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Adelaide ranks in the top 11% for safety.

MetricAdelaideWorld rankRank in Oceania
Monthly cost$1,849#202 of 340#2 of 12
Safety82/100#35 of 340#3 of 12
Healthcare88/100#60 of 340#1 of 12
Internet speed164 Mbps#170 of 340#4 of 12
Walkability62/100#135 of 340#4 of 12
Public transit48/100#133 of 340#6 of 12
Food scene82/100#79 of 340#2 of 12
Air quality85/100#114 of 340#10 of 12

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Adelaide

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Adelaide.

Adelaide FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Adelaide?

A single person should budget around $1,849 per month in Adelaide, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.

How much is rent in Adelaide?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Adelaide averages $1,754 per month, dropping to about $1,460 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $2,362.

Is Adelaide safe?

Adelaide scores 82/100 on safety, which is very safe. Tourist safety is rated 85/100.

How fast is the internet in Adelaide?

Median download speeds in Adelaide are around 164 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 35 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Australia offer a digital nomad visa?

Australia does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 90 days visa-free.

What is the weather like in Adelaide?

Adelaide sees summer highs around 85°F and winter highs near 59°F, with about 236 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 74 days.

Adelaide in our travel guides

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