{"id":14356,"date":"2026-10-15T07:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/?p=14356"},"modified":"2026-10-15T07:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:40:53","slug":"cost-of-living-in-adelaide-for-students-2026-rent-expenses-savings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/student-success\/cost-of-living-in-adelaide-for-students-2026-rent-expenses-savings\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living in Adelaide for Students (2026): Rent, Expenses &amp; Savings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14356\" class=\"elementor elementor-14356\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-502f6c80 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"502f6c80\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-340e1d9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"340e1d9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Adelaide is often easier on a student budget than Australia&#8217;s larger capital cities, particularly where rent is concerned. The city has several major universities, a relatively compact urban layout and a public transport network that makes it possible to live outside the CBD without making the daily commute unmanageable.<\/p><p>For anyone planning to study at the <a href=\"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/au\/student-accommodation\/university-of-adelaide\">University of Adelaide<\/a>, Flinders University or the <a href=\"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/au\/student-accommodation\/university-of-south-australia\">University of South Australia<\/a>, getting a realistic picture of the <strong><b>cost of living in Adelaide<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0is important before choosing where to live. Rent will usually take the largest share of the monthly budget, followed by food and household bills. Transport and personal spending can be kept relatively modest with the right choices.<\/p><p>The <strong><b>Adelaide cost of living<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0also varies considerably according to housing. Someone sharing a house near a university can manage on considerably less than a student renting a private apartment alone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db34045 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"db34045\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__db34045\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__db34045\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__db34045\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42597d24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42597d24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong><b>Is Adelaide an Expensive Place to Live?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Adelaide is generally less expensive than Sydney and Melbourne, particularly for students who share accommodation. Housing is the main reason. Rental prices remain more accessible in many Adelaide suburbs, while the city&#8217;s compact layout can also keep commuting costs under control.<\/p><p>Food prices are broadly comparable with other Australian cities, so the difference becomes more noticeable once rent and transport are included. A student cooking most meals at home and using concession public transport can keep regular weekly spending fairly moderate.<\/p><p>For a student living in shared accommodation, the source estimates a basic weekly budget of around <strong><b>AUD 370 to AUD 625<\/b><\/strong>, or approximately <strong><b>AUD 1,603 to AUD 2,708 per month<\/b><\/strong>. That covers accommodation, utilities, groceries, transport, mobile and internet costs, along with a moderate amount for personal and leisure spending.<\/p><p>Someone renting a private studio or one-bedroom property will need considerably more. A private arrangement can push the weekly budget to around <strong><b>AUD 550\u2013850<\/b><\/strong>, depending on the property and lifestyle.<\/p><h2><strong><b>How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Adelaide?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>A student living in shared accommodation should budget around <strong><b>AUD 370\u2013625 per week<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0for ordinary living expenses. That works out to roughly <strong><b>AUD 1,603\u20132,708 per month<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>A practical breakdown looks like this:<\/p><table><tbody><tr><td width=\"166\"><p><strong><b>Expense<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p><strong><b>Weekly estimate<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p><strong><b>Monthly estimate<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Shared accommodation<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 180\u2013290<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 780\u20131,257<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Utilities<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 30\u201350<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 130\u2013217<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Groceries<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 90\u2013150<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 390\u2013650<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Public transport<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 18\u201330<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 78\u2013130<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Mobile &amp; internet<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 12\u201325<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 52\u2013108<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p>Personal &amp; leisure<\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p>AUD 40\u201380<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 173\u2013347<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"166\"><p><strong><b>Total<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"126\"><p><strong><b>AUD 370\u2013625<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p><strong><b>AUD 1,603\u20132,708<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p>That range leaves room for ordinary social spending and personal purchases rather than covering only the bare essentials. Students renting independently should allow more because private housing starts at a much higher weekly figure.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Housing and Rent in Adelaide<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Accommodation is likely to be the largest single expense in the <strong><b>cost of living Adelaide<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0calculation. The amount depends heavily on whether you share a property, choose purpose-built student accommodation or rent a private apartment.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Shared Housing<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>A private bedroom in a shared house or flat can cost approximately <strong><b>AUD 180\u2013290 per week<\/b><\/strong>, or around <strong><b>AUD 780\u20131,257 per month<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>Suburbs such as Marion, Parkside and Mile End offer examples of the type of areas where students can find shared housing at lower price points. Sharing also spreads electricity, gas, water and internet costs across several people.<\/p><p>For a student trying to keep monthly expenses under control, this is usually the most straightforward way to reduce the housing portion of the budget.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Purpose-Built Student Accommodation<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>Purpose-built student accommodation in or around Adelaide&#8217;s CBD and university precincts generally falls around <strong><b>AUD 260\u2013420 per week<\/b><\/strong>, equivalent to roughly <strong><b>AUD 1,127\u20131,820 per month<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>These properties can be useful for students who want accommodation with furnishings and some household costs already incorporated into the rent. Some also include internet and other utilities, so the headline weekly rent needs to be compared with what you would otherwise pay separately in a private rental.<\/p><p>Students comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/au\/adelaide\/student-accommodation\">Student Accommodation Adelaide<\/a>\u00a0options should therefore look at the total weekly cost rather than rent alone.<\/p><p><strong><b>Compare Adelaide student accommodation by weekly rent, included bills and room type before you decide what fits your budget.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><h3><strong><b>Private One-Bedroom Apartments<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>A private one-bedroom apartment or self-contained studio in an inner suburb generally costs around <strong><b>AUD 350\u2013520 per week<\/b><\/strong>, or <strong><b>AUD 1,517\u20132,253 per month<\/b><\/strong>, before utilities.<\/p><p>That difference adds up quickly over a year. A student paying AUD 200 more each week than someone in shared accommodation is spending more than AUD 10,000 extra over twelve months.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Groceries, Utilities and Transport<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Rent gets the most attention, but smaller recurring expenses also shape the Adelaide budget.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Groceries and Food<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>A single student buying groceries for home cooking can expect to spend around <strong><b>AUD 90\u2013150 per week<\/b><\/strong>, or <strong><b>AUD 390\u2013650 per month<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>ALDI, Coles and Woolworths cover most routine supermarket shopping, while Adelaide Central Market is another option for fresh produce and other food items. Buying staples in larger quantities and cooking at home regularly can make a noticeable difference to weekly spending.<\/p><p>Eating out several times a week will push the food budget beyond this range. Students who keep restaurant and takeaway meals as occasional expenses will have much more control over the monthly total.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Utilities and Internet<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>Students sharing a private rental can expect electricity, gas and water to work out at around <strong><b>AUD 30\u201350 per person per week<\/b><\/strong>, or <strong><b>AUD 130\u2013217 per month<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>Home broadband and mobile services together add around <strong><b>AUD 12\u201325 per week<\/b><\/strong>, depending on the plans chosen and how the internet cost is divided between housemates.<\/p><p>Purpose-built accommodation can have a different structure because some properties include utilities and internet in the rent. That is one reason two rooms with apparently similar weekly prices may have quite different final monthly costs.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Public Transport<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>Adelaide Metro operates the city&#8217;s bus, train and tram network, and eligible full-time tertiary students can access concession fares.<\/p><p>The source places the cost of a <strong><b>28-Day Pass at approximately AUD 55\u201365<\/b><\/strong>, although actual transport spending depends on the student&#8217;s eligibility and travel pattern. The city also has free transport services within designated central areas, including the City Connector bus routes and the city-centre tram loop.<\/p><p>For students who live close enough to walk or cycle to campus, transport can take up a relatively small part of the monthly budget.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Personal Expenses and Leisure<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>A separate allowance of around <strong><b>AUD 40\u201380 per week<\/b><\/strong>, or <strong><b>AUD 173\u2013347 per month<\/b><\/strong>, covers things such as personal care, gym memberships, streaming subscriptions, occasional meals out and social activities.<\/p><p>Spending in this category is naturally the easiest to adjust when money gets tight. A student spending AUD 80 every week on leisure will have a very different annual budget from someone who keeps the same category closer to AUD 40.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Is Adelaide Cheaper to Live in than Melbourne?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Yes. The source estimates that Adelaide&#8217;s overall living costs are around <strong><b>8\u201312% lower than Melbourne&#8217;s<\/b><\/strong>, while residential rents are approximately <strong><b>12\u201318% lower<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>For students, housing makes the difference especially noticeable. Someone sharing a property in Adelaide can often keep rent below what they would face in comparable parts of Melbourne, while private accommodation also starts from a lower range.<\/p><p>Melbourne has a larger employment market and a much bigger metropolitan population, but those advantages come with higher housing costs in many student areas. Adelaide&#8217;s smaller scale can make the monthly budget easier to manage, particularly for someone whose priority is keeping fixed expenses down.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Which State in Australia Has the Most Affordable Housing?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>The source identifies <strong><b>South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0among the states with comparatively affordable housing, particularly when set against New South Wales and Victoria.<\/p><p>Adelaide and Hobart are also identified as capital cities with lower housing price points than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.<\/p><p>Regional areas can be cheaper again. The source specifically mentions parts of regional South Australia, including <strong><b>Mount Gambier and Port Augusta<\/b><\/strong>, alongside regional Queensland, as areas with comparatively low housing costs.<\/p><p>For students, however, the cheapest property is not necessarily the cheapest overall arrangement. A very low rent can become less attractive if reaching campus requires long daily journeys and additional transport costs.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Where Is the Cheapest but Nicest Place to Live in Australia?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>There is no single objective answer to this question because housing costs, employment, climate, transport and personal preferences all affect what makes a place suitable.<\/p><p>The source identifies <strong><b>Adelaide<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0as a comparatively affordable capital city with a combination of infrastructure, services and liveability. It also points to <strong><b>Hobart, Geelong, Toowoomba and Cairns<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0as other places where housing costs can be lower than those of Sydney or Melbourne.<\/p><p>For an international student, Adelaide has one practical advantage over many smaller locations: it still has several major universities within a relatively compact metropolitan area. That makes the lower housing costs easier to combine with access to higher education and public transport.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Where Is the Cheapest Place to Live in Adelaide?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Students looking to reduce rent have several options outside the central city. The most useful areas are those where lower rents can still be paired with a direct public transport connection to campus.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Northern Adelaide<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p><strong><b>Salisbury, Elizabeth and Mawson Lakes<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0sit along Adelaide&#8217;s northern corridor. The area is particularly relevant to students attending the UniSA Mawson Lakes campus.<\/p><p>Shared rooms in these suburbs can fall around <strong><b>AUD 170\u2013240 per week<\/b><\/strong>, making the northern corridor one of the lower-cost choices in the city&#8217;s student rental market.<\/p><p>Mawson Lakes has the strongest connection to students studying nearby, while Salisbury and Elizabeth can appeal to someone prepared to travel a little farther in exchange for lower housing costs.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Southern Adelaide<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p>Students attending <a href=\"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/au\/student-accommodation\/flinders-university\">Flinders University<\/a> can look towards <strong><b>Bedford Park, Clovelly Park and Marion<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p>These suburbs sit around the <a href=\"_wp_link_placeholder\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">southern university<\/a> corridor and are connected to the city through the Flinders railway line. The location can make a lower-cost share house more practical than choosing a cheaper property much farther away.<\/p><h3><strong><b>Western Suburbs<\/b><\/strong><\/h3><p><strong><b>Woodville and Kilkenny<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0offer another middle-ground option. They sit between Adelaide&#8217;s CBD and the western coastal suburbs, with rail connections towards Adelaide Railway Station.<\/p><p>For students who want to keep rent below inner-city levels without moving too far from central Adelaide, this part of the city is worth considering.<\/p><p>The cheapest suburb is not automatically the cheapest choice once commuting is included. A room that saves AUD 40 a week but adds lengthy daily travel may offer little practical saving. Location should therefore be judged against both rent and the student&#8217;s campus.<\/p><p><strong><b>Looking for cheaper accommodation in Adelaide? Compare rooms near your university and factor in transport costs before deciding that the lowest weekly rent is the best option.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><h2><strong><b>What Are the Rough Areas of Adelaide?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Adelaide&#8217;s crime patterns vary between suburbs, and a neighbourhood should not be labelled solely on the basis of its postcode. The source identifies some outer northern areas with higher rates of property theft, break-ins and public-order offences, including parts of <strong><b>Davoren Park, Smithfield and Elizabeth<\/b><\/strong>. Some outer southern areas, including <strong><b>Hackham and Morphett Vale<\/b><\/strong>, are also identified in the source as recording higher levels of certain offences.<\/p><p>The CBD has a different pattern. Areas around busy transport points and nightlife strips can record higher raw numbers of property offences partly because of the concentration of people moving through those locations.<\/p><p>That does not mean students should automatically avoid an entire suburb. Crime can vary significantly from one street or pocket to another, and the practical questions are usually more useful: Is the accommodation on a well-used route? How is the area after dark? Is the building secure? How far is the nearest transport stop?<\/p><p>Students comparing cheaper housing should consider those factors alongside rent rather than choosing purely on price.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Who Are the No. 1 Immigrants in Australia?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>The answer depends on what is meant by &#8220;number one&#8221;.<\/p><p>Looking at Australia&#8217;s <strong><b>overall overseas-born population<\/b><\/strong>, people born in the <strong><b>United Kingdom<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0represent the largest overseas-born group living in Australia, according to the source&#8217;s ABS-based figures.<\/p><p>Recent migration and international student arrivals show a different pattern. <strong><b>India<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0is identified as the leading source country for recent arrivals, followed by China, the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam.<\/p><p>This distinction matters because the country with the largest established migrant population is not necessarily the country sending the largest number of new arrivals in a particular period.<\/p><p>For international students, Australia&#8217;s migration profile also explains why university cities such as Adelaide have increasingly diverse student communities. The city has established migrant communities alongside newer arrivals coming through education and skilled migration pathways.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Adelaide Cost of Living: Complete Student Budget<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>Putting the individual expenses together gives a clearer idea of what a student actually needs each month.<\/p><table><tbody><tr><td width=\"144\"><p><strong><b>Cost category<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p><strong><b>Weekly<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p><strong><b>Monthly<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Shared rental room<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 180\u2013290<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 780\u20131,257<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Utilities<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 30\u201350<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 130\u2013217<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Groceries and food<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 90\u2013150<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 390\u2013650<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Public transport<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 18\u201330<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 78\u2013130<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Mobile and internet<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 12\u201325<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 52\u2013108<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p>Personal and leisure<\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p>AUD 40\u201380<\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p>AUD 173\u2013347<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"144\"><p><strong><b>Estimated total<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"110\"><p><strong><b>AUD 370\u2013625<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"134\"><p><strong><b>AUD 1,603\u20132,708<\/b><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p>The lower end of the range is achievable when accommodation is shared, meals are mostly cooked at home, and discretionary spending stays modest. The upper end gives more room for eating out, entertainment and other personal expenses.<\/p><p>Private accommodation changes the calculation considerably. A one-bedroom apartment can cost <strong><b>AUD 1,517\u20132,253 per month before utilities<\/b><\/strong>, compared with AUD 780\u20131,257 for a shared room.<\/p><p>That gap is why housing is the first place to look when trying to reduce the <strong><b>cost of living in Adelaide<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p><p><strong><b>Trying to bring your Adelaide budget down? Start by comparing shared student accommodation with private rentals.<\/b><\/strong><\/p><h2><strong><b>Which State in Australia Has the Most Affordable Housing?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>South Australia remains one of the states identified in the source as having comparatively accessible housing costs, alongside Western Australia and Tasmania. New South Wales and Victoria generally sit at higher price levels, particularly around their major metropolitan centres.<\/p><p>For students, Adelaide is particularly relevant because the lower housing costs come with access to several established universities rather than requiring a move to a small regional centre.<\/p><p>Regional South Australia can be cheaper still. <strong><b>Mount Gambier and Port Augusta<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0are among the locations identified as comparatively affordable, although they do not offer the same concentration of universities and student services as metropolitan Adelaide.<\/p><p>That creates a useful distinction: the cheapest place to rent and the most practical place for a university student are not necessarily the same.<\/p><h2><strong><b>How to Keep the Cost of Living in Adelaide Under Control<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>The biggest savings usually come from decisions made before signing a lease.<\/p><p><strong><b>Share accommodation where possible.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0The difference between a shared room and a private one-bedroom apartment can amount to several hundred dollars each month.<\/p><p><strong><b>Choose housing around your campus or a direct transport route.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Paying slightly more for a room near a railway station can make more financial sense than taking the absolute cheapest room in an area with poor connections.<\/p><p><strong><b>Use student transport concessions.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Eligible tertiary students can access Adelaide Metro concession fares, while free central transport services can reduce the need to pay for short CBD journeys.<\/p><p><strong><b>Cook most meals at home.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0A grocery budget of AUD 90\u2013150 per week is much easier to maintain when supermarket shopping forms the basis of the diet rather than regular restaurant and takeaway meals.<\/p><p><strong><b>Keep an eye on the small recurring costs.<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0Mobile plans, streaming subscriptions, gym memberships and frequent coffees may each seem minor, but together they can take a meaningful amount out of a student budget.<\/p><h2><strong><b>Is Adelaide a Good Choice for Students on a Budget?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2><p>The numbers make Adelaide relatively manageable compared with Australia&#8217;s most expensive capital cities. A student sharing accommodation can work with a monthly living budget of around <strong><b>AUD 1,603\u20132,708<\/b><\/strong>, while private accommodation requires a larger allowance.<\/p><p>Housing remains the variable that can change the budget most dramatically. Choosing a shared room in a well-connected suburb can keep monthly costs considerably below those of a student renting alone in an inner-city apartment.<\/p><p>The city&#8217;s transport network, university locations and smaller metropolitan scale also make it possible to control everyday spending without living completely outside the main student areas.<\/p><p>For someone planning ahead, the most useful approach is to start with rent, add utilities and groceries, then account for transport and personal spending. That gives a much more realistic picture of the <strong><b>Adelaide cost of living<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0than looking at an average figure in isolation.<\/p><p><strong><b>Planning your move to Adelaide? Compare student accommodation near your university, check what the weekly rent includes, and build the rest of your monthly budget around the option you choose.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f822120 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7f822120\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43cb1852 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"43cb1852\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41ecb8ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"41ecb8ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;expanded&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;one&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1100\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" open>\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1100\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Is Adelaide expensive for students? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1100\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63f16c00 e-con-full e-flex qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"63f16c00\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b91e641 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b91e641\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"55\" data-end=\"340\">Adelaide is generally more affordable than Sydney and Melbourne, especially for students sharing accommodation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1101\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1101\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What is the monthly student budget in Adelaide? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1101\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-615c6a9f e-con-full e-flex qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"615c6a9f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cbc2124 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3cbc2124\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"631\">Students sharing accommodation should budget around AUD 1,603\u20132,708 per month.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1102\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1102\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> How much is student rent in Adelaide? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1102\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a63e1ad e-con-full e-flex qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a63e1ad\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-678a4875 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"678a4875\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"638\" data-end=\"879\">A room in shared accommodation typically costs around AUD 180\u2013290 per week.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1103\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1103\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What are the main student expenses? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1103\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c220509 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c220509\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-617f30b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"617f30b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The main expenses are rent, utilities, groceries, transport, mobile and internet, and personal spending.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1104\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"5\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1104\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> How can students save money in Adelaide? <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1104\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1aceee14 e-flex e-con-boxed qodef-elementor-content-no e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1aceee14\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c322645 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c322645\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Students can share accommodation, cook at home, use eligible transport concessions, and choose housing near their university or a direct transport route.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is Adelaide expensive for students?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Adelaide is generally more affordable than Sydney and Melbourne, especially for students sharing accommodation.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the monthly student budget in Adelaide?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Students sharing accommodation should budget around AUD 1,603\\u20132,708 per month.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much is student rent in Adelaide?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A room in shared accommodation typically costs around AUD 180\\u2013290 per week.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the main student expenses?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The main expenses are rent, utilities, groceries, transport, mobile and internet, and personal spending.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How can students save money in Adelaide?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Students can share accommodation, cook at home, use eligible transport concessions, and choose housing near their university or a direct transport route.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adelaide is often easier on a student budget than Australia&#8217;s larger capital cities, particularly where rent is concerned. The city has several major universities, a relatively compact urban layout and a public transport network that makes it possible to live outside the CBD without making the daily commute unmanageable. For anyone planning to study at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[148,144,113],"tags":[168],"city":[171],"country":[116],"university":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14356","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-student-success","8":"category-highlights","9":"category-latest","10":"tag-student-success","11":"city-adelaide","12":"country-australia"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14356"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14363,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14356\/revisions\/14363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14356"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=14356"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=14356"},{"taxonomy":"university","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/houseofstudent.com\/juice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/university?post=14356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}