Cost Of Living In Adelaide For Students In 2026: Rent, Expenses & Savings

Adelaide has consistently ranked among the most affordable student cities in Australia, offering international students high-quality education and a relaxed lifestyle at a fraction of the cost compared toSydney orMelbourne. With world-class universities, culture, and a welcoming community, Adelaide is a popular choice for thousands of international students each year. But one of the most important questions students ask before moving is: What is the cost of living in Adelaide per month for students? This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the average cost of living in Adelaide Australia 2026, so you can budget wisely and avoid financial stress.

Adelaide is a city in Southern Australia that is very much in the news and tabloids for its long surfing coastline, sporting events, festivals, food, and wine, making it a perfect place for any student to reside. While living here comes with a price, here is the breakdown of the different aspects of the cost of living in Adelaide per month. 

The average student living expenses in Adelaide are from AU$1,500 to AU$2,000 per month, depending on lifestyle choices and type of accommodation. Compared to other Australian cities, this makes Adelaide one of the most budget-friendly options.

Here’s why: Housing in Adelaide is up to 20 or 25% cheaper than in Sydney or Melbourne. Public transport is reliable and discounted for students. Grocery and food costs are manageable if you cook at home. The city is compact, meaning shorter commutes and less spending on travel. Below is the detailed breakdown of expenses that add to the cost of living in Adelaide Australia. 

1. Rent 

Rent expenses are higher and dominate the cost of living in Adelaide Australia. The prices increase due to demand, and housing apartments are located near universities like the University of Adelaide and Flinders University. There is a peak in demand during orientation week, or events like Adelaide Fringe, and triples include short-term rates. Below is the breakdown of rent costs according to type of apartments.

How to Save on Rent?
Opt for shared apartments in student hubs like Mawson Lakes to split costs evenly. Target off-peak leases in suburbs like Prospect or Marion for AU$1,400 to AU$2,000 deals. Book early via platforms like amberstudent for discounts and unfurnished options, saving 10 to 15% on total expenses.

2. Housing and Student Apartments

Now that we have covered your tuition fees, another important part of your cost of living in Adelaide Australia, would be booking your student accommodation. Fortunately, the city of Adelaide has such student accommodations at the best prices. Depending on your type of room and location, your accommodation can range from $230 to $350 per week. It varies by proximity to university campuses, apartment type, and amenities, adding to expenses. Here is the breakdown of weekly or monthly costs.

On-campus housing: Students often find on-campus options like university halls. University halls at Adelaide cost from AU$280 to AU$450 per week or AU$11,500 to AU$18,000 yearly for 40 to 52 week contracts, including bills and sometimes gym access, with en-suites that cost around AU$350 per week. 

Off-campus housing: Single-bedroom apartments cost from AU$1,500 to AU$2,200 per month, and shared apartments cost from AU$700 to AU$1,200 per person, with suburbs like Prospect offering better value. Global housing platforms like amber provide 100% verified and fully-furnished student-friendly options with excellent utilities. Below are some of the convenient and modern properties offered by amber in Adelaide. 

1. Scape Adelaide Central, Adelaide from AU$299 per week
2. Scape Waymouth, Adelaide  from AU$269 per week
3. UniLodge Metro Adelaide, Adelaide  from AU$330 per week
4. Accolade On Waymouth, Adelaide from AU$309 per week
5. Dwell East End Adelaide, Adelaide from AU$344 per week

How to Save Costs on Student Housing?

If you want to save money on the cost of living in Adelaide Australia, you can use your network and find flatmates or urge your friends to move in with you. Always opt for a better option like the PBSAs. PBSAs like Scape or Iglu offer AU$300 to AU$450 per week with pools, study rooms, and cinema lounges. Share with 3 or 4 roommates to cut per-person rent by 40 to 50%. Book 6 to 9 months ahead for deals under AU$300 weekly. This will help to reduce the cost of living in Adelaide Australia. 

 3. Transportation and Travel Costs 

When considering the cost of living in Adelaide Australia, it is essential to look at the travel costs. Adelaide boasts a well-connected public transportation network via Adelaide Metro, including buses, trains, and trams such as the O-Bahn and Glenelg lines. 

1. Buses: There are Adelaide metro buses that operate from 5 am to midnight daily; these rides are less frequent on weekends and holidays, covering suburbs to the city and university campuses. They connect all key areas affordably. A monthly MetroCARD pass costs about AU$100 to AU$150. The South Australian government has slashed the Student 28-Day Pass price to just $10, which was previously $28.60.

Note: The unlimited travel for $10 in a month is a game-changer, a cost-saving tip for Adelaide’s affordability ranking compared to the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

2. Train/ Tram: Plan routes using the Adelaide Metro app or Google Maps. Single fares start at AU$2.40 during off-peak season, and day trips cost AU$5.80 to AU$10. Student MetroCARDs offer 50% discounts, with weekly passes costing from AU$30 to AU$50 or term passes costing AU$1.50 per day, suitable for long-term savings. 

3. Other options: The O-Bahn trams link the universities to the city centre, with student MetroCARDs at AU$70 to AU$100 monthly for unlimited travel. Free campus shuttles connect halls to classes at Uni Adelaide, while rideshares like Uber cost AU$8 to AU$15 for short trips, petrol costs around AU$1.70 to AU$1.90 per litre, making driving pricey. Bike paths and e-scooter rentals like Beam and Neuron thrive citywide for eco-friendly rides.

How can you Save on Travel Costs in Adelaide? 

Most buses and tram services are free in Adelaide, so you don’t need to worry about spending a cent on transportation. Purchase MetroCARD term passes or student concessions for 40 to 50% off regular fares to cut monthly travel expenses. University students qualify for major discounts via Adelaide Metro. Grab a concession MetroCARD for unlimited rides under AU$100 per month. Cycle with Adelaide Bike Hire schemes at AU$50 per year or walk in compact student hubs like North Adelaide.

4. Food and Groceries 

Food and grocery costs are a major part of the cost of living in Adelaide per month for students. Expenses vary depending on cooking frequency, eating choices, and dining-out habits. The charges are lower compared to cities like Sydney or Melbourne. Meals, takeaways, coffee, and staples usually cost from AU$80 to AU$140 per week. Adelaide's GST stands at 10% on most food and restaurant bills, though fresh groceries face a reduced 0% rate. Students should have 5 to 15% extra to spend while eating out or on processed items. The monthly grocery bills range from AU$300 to AU$450 for one person at supermarkets like Coles or Woolworths. Casual restaurant meals cost from AU$15 to AU$25 per dish, fine dining costs from AU$40 to AU$70+, and a standard coffee costs AU$4 to AU$6, depending on the spot, from indie cafes to chains.

How can you Save on your Food Expenses in Adelaide?
Cook in batches to cut takeaway costs, plan weekly meals, and shop at Aldi or IGA for bulk savings. Use student deals via UniDays, take advantage of pub offers, or use loyalty apps at Coles for packed lunches. Students need to spend AU$6 to AU$10 on campus snacks. Shop late evenings for discounts and choose own-brand over premium to stretch budgets amid the rising 2026 costs.

5. Utility Expenses

Utility expenses contribute to additional expenses in the cost of living in Adelaide Australia. These costs vary based on student accommodation type, usage patterns, and seasonal weather, with hot summers driving high air-conditioning use. Students in off-campus housing spend AU$150 to AU$250 per month on electricity, gas, water, heating/cooling, and waste services.

But, these costs can be reduced to nil if you decide to book with one of ourstudent housing in Adelaide. Amber provides all these amenities in student accommodations with no extra charge. All of them are included in the rent, leaving you with no worry about using extra WiFi or an extra 10 minutes of heating during chilly winter months. 

How can you Save on Utilities?

In the cost of living in Adelaide Australia, utility bills are never billed separately for each person; they are billed on the entire household, irrespective of the number of people staying in the accommodation. The best way to save money is to share apartments with housemates to split bills or choose university halls where utilities are included. Use energy-efficient appliances and opt for bill-capped housing common in PBSAs. Some of our accommodations, likeScape Adelaide Central, start with an affordable rent of $239/- with utility bills included! What a seal deal! Isn’t it? 

6. Tuition Expenses

Tuition fees account for a major chunk of your expenses and play an important role in determining the living cost in Adelaide as a student. Below are some of the a-lister top universities in Adelaide that will give you a range of tuition fees in Adelaide and help you build a healthy budget for the total cost of living in Adelaide.

1. University of Adelaide: A top group of eight universities with 27,000+ students, the University of Adelaide fees for undergrad domestic students are from AU$9,000 to AU$11,000 per year; for international students, AU$35,000 to AU$48,000 per year. The University of Adelaide tuition depends on the course.
2. Flinders University: This university has a practical focus on fields like health, engineering, and arts, for domestic students from AU$8,500 to AU$10,500 per year; for international students, it costs from AU$30,000 to AU$42,000 per year.
3. University of South Australia (UniSA): This university offers strong programs in business, IT, and design fields. For domestic students, undergrad fees cost AU$9,200 per year, and for international students, they cost AU$32,000 to AU$38,000 per year.

How can you Save on Tuition Costs in Adelaide? 

As previously mentioned, tuition fees account for a chunk of the living costs in Adelaide for students per month. You can apply for various Australian government and university scholarships to aid your studies and save extra money. Start with foundation courses at TAFE SA or local colleges, then transfer to reduce the first-year costs. In 2026, there will also be Stackable Certificates provided to students at the new Adelaide University. This allows students to pay the amount in smaller blocks. 

 7. Miscellaneous Expenses

Miscellaneous expenses form a major part of the total cost of living in Adelaide. These expenses would include your shopping days, concert tickets, gym memberships, books, stationery, and impromptu weekly trips to explore the city with your friends. All these costs do make a huge influence on your cost of living in Adelaide per month, so on average, a student living in Adelaide would grossly spend around $150 to $200.  Lifestyle costs like entertainment, clothing, gym, subscriptions, and outings are inevitable but add up quickly in Adelaide's vibrant scene. Students budget AU$150 to AU$350 per month, shaped by habits like beach trips or festivals.

Note: Small spends like daily coffee costs from AU$4 to AU$6 or takeaways push budgets over; track via apps like Pocketbook. 

How to Save on Miscellaneous Expenses? 

Choose free or low-cost fun like beach walks at Glenelg, free entry to the Art Gallery of SA, campus events, or student nights at bars. Use budgeting apps to track expenses, cancel unused subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify, and leverage ISIC discounts at shops, eateries, and transport for 10 to 20% savings. One thing you must keep in mind is that miscellaneous expenses are not a necessity. So, based on your priority and convenience, make sure you spend your finances wisely. The end fact is not about saving and being frugal during your university days; it is about having fun and being financially wise.

Student Accommodation in Adelaide

Finding affordablestudent accommodation in Adelaide can be overwhelming, but you don’t need to do it alone. Withamber, you can skip the confusion of contracts and hidden costs.

Book your next student home in Adelaide with amber and keep your living expenses in Adelaide stress-free. Students can trust amber to simplify every step of finding a home in Adelaide. From browsing 100% verified listings to managing bookings, contracts, and payments, Amber acts as a full-service housing partner. With transparent listings, personalised recommendations, and responsive support, students can focus on their studies while amber takes care of the rest. It’s housing made simple, safe, and stress-free.

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