Insider’s Guide to Living in adelaide as a Student: Tips and Tricks

By UniAcco
Mar 13, 2023 •
Living in Adelaide as a Student

Adelaide is one of the world’s top ten most liveable cities, with a lively environment and natural beauty on its doorstep. There is so much to experience outside the classroom, including local fresh food markets, international sporting activities, and world-renowned arts festivals. And with a lower cost of living in Adelaide than other capital cities in Australia, you have more money to enjoy too. That’s why in Adelaide, over 40,000 students from 130 nations choose to learn, live, and work. A city that has been built for living. How many people live in Adelaide? A whopping 1,336,000!

Student life in adelaide

Planned to balance lifestyle and learning

The best place to live and study is Adelaide. Its compact size means less time to drive and more time to relax or visit the many attractions on the doorstep of Adelaide. Living in Adelaide is up to 12 percent more affordable than other major Australian towns, and this town has the lowest median rent in the world.

Built to deliver quality education

Adelaide is a leading educational city with proven institutions in all educational fields, including universities that rank globally in the top 2 percent. A world-class education in Adelaide gives you globally recognized credentials that are valued everywhere you go.

Crafted to translate aspirations into reality

Adelaide has a vibrant economy and hosts leaders such as Microsoft, BHP, and PwC from around the world. Adelaide will provide more opportunities to connect directly with businesses and develop useful job results because of its size.

In a wide range of fields, Adelaide has established leaders who have achieved success. Notable alumni include Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, former president of Singapore, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, president and group CEO of PETRONAS, and Angelica Cheung, editor in chief of Vogue China.

Food Culture

Adelaide has a vibrant food and wine industry that transforms the city into a paradise for food.

Home to over 900 restaurants, bars, and cafés, Adelaide is home to the Adelaide Central Market, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest underground markets.

For the Adelaide café and restaurant scene, the fertile land of the Adelaide Plains on which Adelaide sits has always meant an abundance of fresh produce.

Part-Time Job

When living in Adelaide, part-time jobs can be a perfect way to combine work with learning. Though studying to help with living cost in Adelaide for students, meeting new people, and gaining experience in an Australian workplace, most foreign students in Australia do some part-time jobs. There are many ways for you to work part-time in a wide variety of industries in Adelaide. It includes:

  • Retail – supermarkets, clothing shops, and departments
  • Hospitality – cafes, restaurants, and bars
  • Tourism – hotels, operators of tourism
  • Telemarketing and Distribution
  • Roles in Management or Clerical
  • Mentoring

Living cost in Adelaide for international students

What is the living cost in Adelaide for student? Adelaide is up to 12 percent more economical than other big Australian cities to live in and has the nation’s lowest average rent. You’ll be able to afford more of the wonderful lifestyle that Australia has to offer with lower rent, food, and public transport prices than most big Australian cities. The best places to live in Adelaide are Sheidow Park, Evandale, Aldgate, and Vale Park.

An approximate analysis of general weekly expenditures is given below. This is just a guide, and depending on one’s lifestyle preferences and needs, costs can vary.

Average Budget for Students

Below is a sample student budget focused on a single student living in a shared apartment in the city to help you understand the costs.

  • Rent (Shared): $185 per week
  • Energy Bill (Shared): $30 per week
  • Grocery store: $60 a week
  • Internet and phone: $25 per week
  • Public Transport: $15 a week   
  • Entertainment: $80 a week 

Accommodation for Students

You can enjoy student accommodation, which is affordable in Adelaide. Rental rates can differ depending on the location and type of accommodation that you want. A guide to housing costs in Adelaide is below:

  • Guesthouses and Hostels – $90 to $150 a week
  • Linked rental – $85 to $215 a week
  • On-campus – $90 to $280 a week
  • Homestay – $235 to $325 a week
  • Rental –  $165 to $440 a week
  • Boarding schools – Between $11,000 and $22,000 annually

You can find student friendly, affordable student accommodation in Adelaide on UniAcco. The student accommodation options include studios, ensuites, flats and more. Compare options and pick the one which suits you the best. 

Public Transportation

As a student living in Adelaide, due to the South Australian Government’s subsidies, one can enjoy substantial discounts on public transport.

The Adelaide Metro is the public transport system for Adelaide, offering cost-effective and reliable travel across the city and the wider metropolitan area. You’ll need to pay for the fare using either a MetroCARD or a MetroTicket to ride on the public transit system.

Adelaide Tertiary students can enjoy unrestricted travel with a 28-Day Pass for AUD 51.50 on all bus, train, and tram services, and AUD 25.50 for primary and secondary school students. The Adelaide Metro also offers several free public transit options for your convenience, serving the city and North Adelaide. The best suburbs to live in Adelaide are Henley Beach, Glenelg, Kensington, North Adelaide, Glenelg North, and Black Forest.

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