Cost of Living

Adelaide’s Low Cost of Living

Adelaide is one of the least expensive cities in the world, according to a survey conducted by global economics consultants Mercer Consulting Group.

In fact, in Mercer’s international annual cost of living survey, Adelaide regularly achieves an excellent ranking as one of the most affordable cities. The survey measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location. These include food, clothing, household goods, health and personal care, together with transportation and entertainment.

Housing and rental costs are also lower in Adelaide than in most other modern cities of the world.

Adelaide is significantly less expensive than other Australian cities, particularly:

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth

And it is hugely more cost-effective than cities like:

• Toronto
• London
• Hong Kong
• Tokyo
• Kuala Lumpur
• Singapore


Cost of living fast facts
• A ticket to the theatre (e.g. the ballet) costs between $40 and $100.
• An adult ticket to the cinema is $15.30
• A main meal ranges from $10 at a cafe to $30 at a restaurant.
• A coffee can generally be bought for $3 - $4.
• A taxi fare from the city to the airport is about $20.
• A fashion haircut at an up-market hair studio costs about $70.
• An 18-hole round of golf at a public course is about $17.50.
• An annual golf club membership is about $635.
• A 10-trip bus/train ticket costs $26.90 (normal working week).
• Early bird parking is about $12