Cost of Living in Adelaide vs Melbourne: A Complete 2025 Comparison

As the owner of North Removals and someone who’s been helping people move for over 20 years, I know first-hand why folks choose to relocate. Sometimes it’s for a new job or to be closer to family; other times it’s simply the appeal of a fresh start in a different city. One thing that always comes up is finances — the cost of living in Adelaide vs Melbourne can heavily influence that big decision.

In my work, I’ve seen countless families and individuals weigh up Adelaide’s laid-back affordability against Melbourne’s bustling big-city allure. Both cities have their own appeal: Adelaide tends to offer lower housing costs, shorter commutes, and a relaxed pace, while Melbourne boasts a thriving job market and a vibrant cultural scene (albeit with higher living expenses). For anyone torn between these two cities, this comparison guide is here to help. If you are also considering Sydney, check out our guide: Cost of Living in Melbourne vs Sydney.

I’ll break down all the living expenses — from housing and transport to groceries and entertainment — using real numbers and a bit of my own experience. My goal is to share honest, practical insights so you can confidently choose the place that makes the most financial and lifestyle sense for you.

Find out how much you’ll spend in each city:

Rent and Salary Comparison: Melbourne vs 
Adelaide

Now let’s take a look at how some common jobs stack up in terms of monthly pay versus rent in Melbourne and Adelaide. It’s a practical way to see which city might be lighter on your wallet for housing. 

To make it easier to compare, I’ve pulled together a quick comparison chart for a few typical professions. It shows the average monthly salary in Adelaide and Melbourne, the average monthly rent in each city, and what percentage of that salary goes to rent. These figures are based on a one-bedroom place in the city centre for consistency. Here’s how Melbourne and Adelaide measure up:

Profession	Monthly Salary Adelaide	Monthly Rent Adelaide	% of Salary on Rent Adelaide	Monthly Salary Melbourne	Monthly Rent Melbourne	% of Salary on Rent Melbourne
Construction Worker	$4,480	$2,280	51%	~$5,600	$2,600	~46%
Traffic Controller	$4,160	$2,280	55%	~$5,200	$2,600	~50%
Waiter/Barista	$3,840	$2,280	59%	~$4,800	$2,600	~54%
Registered Nurse	$5,600	$2,280	41%	~$6,400	$2,600	~41%
Engineering Manager	$11,000	$2,600	24%	~$12,000	$3,300	~28%

(Salaries are gross monthly figures; Adelaide rents based on ~ $570/week, Melbourne rents based on ~ $600–650/week typical city rates.)

As you can see, the percentage of income spent on rent can vary a lot between Melbourne and Adelaide depending on your job. For lower-paid workers like waiters and baristas, rent takes up over half their pay in both cities – about 59% in Adelaide and a slightly lower 54% in Melbourne. That might surprise people who assume Melbourne is always more expensive; in this case, higher Melbourne wages help offset the higher rent.

Trades and mid-level professionals (like construction workers or nurses) tend to spend roughly 40-50% of their salary on housing in either city. Notably, a nurse ends up around the same 41% in both places, since Adelaide’s cheaper rent is balanced by Melbourne’s higher pay. Meanwhile, higher earners like engineering managers have a much easier time: around 24% in Adelaide vs 28% in Melbourne of their income goes to rent, comfortably under one-third in both scenarios.

Salaries in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Anyone planning a city relocation needs to look at both local living expenses and average salary rates. Your quality of life together with your ability to meet expenses depends heavily on the income variation between your former location and the new city. This is especially true when you’re moving from Adelaide to Melbourne or vice versa.

Average Salary: Adelaide vs Melbourne

Melbourne maintains an average annual compensation level of $85,000 because of its position as one of the country’s largest growing urban centres. The annual income in Adelaide amounts to about $75,000 per year. This salary disparity is a critical element for relocation decisions since it helps pay for the elevated living expenses.

Salaries by Sector in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Melbourne residents seeking top salaries usually find their best opportunities within technology, finance and healthcare sectors. Software engineers in Melbourne often receive annual earnings between $90,000 and $120,000. The salaries in Adelaide are typically lower but the city is seeing rapid growth in opportunities in developing fields, including green technology and community health.

Highest and Lowest Salaries in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Salary ranges vary significantly based on position between Melbourne and Adelaide. High-level executives in Melbourne receive annual earnings exceeding $200,000 whereas positions in retail and hospitality begin at $50,000. High-paying positions in Adelaide exist in managerial as well as specialised fields, but the lower-end jobs match the Melbourne pay scale.

Housing Market Differences: Adelaide vs Melbourne

The housing market is top of the list for consideration when deciding to relocate to a different city. Your choice of home depends on your personal needs together with what each city offers in terms of availability, property options and pricing. When preparing for your interstate move, it’s wise to consider all costs upfront—our Interstate Moving Cost Calculator can help you estimate expenses accurately.

Rent Comparisons: Adelaide vs Melbourne

Rental costs in Adelaide normally remain below those found in Melbourne. The monthly rental price of a one-bedroom apartment in Adelaide city centre stands at $1,930 whereas Melbourne residents pay $2,380 on average each month for a similar property..

The housing costs in Adelaide suburbs remain 15% to 20% below Melbourne prices thus providing residents with more economical housing options.

Unit Type	Adelaide Rent	Melbourne Rent
Apartment (1 bedroom) in city centre	$1,976.92	$2,240.70
Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of centre	$1,636.23	$1,885.75
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in city centre	$2,994.44	$4,231.72
Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of centre	$2,438.46	$2,702.37

Source: Domain

Buying Property in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Buying property in Adelaide is also more affordable. In Adelaide, the median house price is $856,856, while in Melbourne it’s closer to $900,000. Both cities have cheaper apartments, but Adelaide still has lower prices.

Unit Type	Adelaide Price Per SQM	Melbourne Price Per SQM
Apartment in city centre	$6,000 – $7,500	$10,000 – $12,000
Apartment outside of city centre	$4,000 – $5,500	$7,000 – $9,000

Source: CoreLogic

Adelaide continues to maintain reasonable property costs yet the increasing market demand pushes housing prices upward. The real estate market of Adelaide remains more stable than Melbourne’s market and experts predict positive growth prospects. If you want to know more about the worst suburbs in Adelaide read our article now.

If you are buying property, don’t forget to account for stamp duty, which is lower in Adelaide than in Melbourne. Homeowners in both cities will also need to budget for body corporate fees (if buying an apartment), council rates, and insurance.

After deciding on your future neighbourhood, you have to determine the volume and cost of the move; you can use our simple calculator for this task.

Transportation Costs: Adelaide vs Melbourne

The primary transport options in Adelaide’s public transit network consist of trains, buses and trams, and passengers can benefit from a weekly limit of $45 through their MetroCARD. The Myki card system in Melbourne enables train, tram and bus access but provides weekly access for $50 which is cheaper than driving even for regular commuters.

The tram systems in Adelaide differ from those in Melbourne as Adelaide operates a smaller network while Melbourne possesses the world’s largest tram network.

The following table shows you long-term transport costs for both cities.

Item	Cost in Adelaide	Cost in Melbourne
One-way ticket (local transport)	$4.40	$5.50
Monthly pass (regular price)	$160.60	$180.00
Taxi start (normal tariff)	$4.85	$5.50
Taxi per km (normal tariff)	$2.00	$3.00
Taxi per hour waiting	$40.00	$40.56
Gasoline (1 litre)	$1.90	$1.90

Vehicle registration in Adelaide leads to lower total costs as drivers avoid tolls unlike Melbourne residents. If relocating between SA and VIC, be sure to change your vehicle registration correctly to comply with state regulations.

Ride-Sharing and Other Options in Adelaide vs Melbourne

The cities of Adelaide and Melbourne offer rides through Uber and DiDi but their costs adjust based on passenger demand together with the distance travelled. Adelaide passengers experience lower fares for rides because its distances remain shorter, and its passenger demand remains lower than Melbourne during peak hours.

Groceries and Everyday Essentials in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Both Adelaide and Melbourne share their major supermarket brands and fresh produce vendors, so the regular necessity of buying groceries in stores makes for a smooth comparison between these cities. Weekly grocery expenses can be affected by minor price differences and product variations existing between each city.

The following infographic details the prices of food items in local stores:

The retail grocery market of Australia is controlled by Coles, Woolworths and ALDI. Both Adelaide and Melbourne provide their residents with fully equipped store outlets. Woolworths operates the largest chain of stores across Australia with more than 2,230 locations. Coles follows with over 1,530 stores.

Both cities have specialty stores and local markets among their commercial establishments. The Adelaide Central Market provides residents with numerous fresh produce choices together with affordable organic options at its local market. The Queen Victoria Market stands as Melbourne’s most famous market, providing fresh produce within a lively environment.

Overall, grocery prices tend to be slightly lower in Adelaide compared to Melbourne due to the generally lower cost of living in the region. The price of a typical grocery basket in Adelaide amounts to $217 based on recent data but Melbourne consumers pay $241 for the same items. However, the options and shopping experience are very similar thanks to the presence of the three major chains.

Dining Out and Restaurant Costs in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Regarding restaurants, both cities have plenty of restaurants and the same kinds of meals cost about the same:

Item	Price in Adelaide	Price in Melbourne
Meal, inexpensive restaurant	$22	$25
Meal for two people, mid-range restaurant, three-course	$90	$100
McDonald’s meal (or equivalent combo meal)	$14	$15
Domestic beer (0.5-litre draught)	$9.50	$12
Imported beer (0.33-litre bottle)	$12	$11
Cappuccino (regular)	$5.00	$5.23
Coke/Pepsi (0.33-litre bottle)	$3.50	$4.04

Utilities and Internet Costs: Adelaide vs Melbourne

Utility costs vary between Adelaide and Melbourne because of climate conditions. Such factors are essential to consider when planning an interstate move, and our comprehensive Moving Interstate Checklist ensures you won’t overlook important details during your relocation.

Item	Price in Adelaide	Price in Melbourne
Basic (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for an 85 sqm. apartment	$175	$229.16
Mobile phone monthly plan with calls and 10GB+ data	$40	$39.50
Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)	$75	$78.78

Adelaide is known to be more affordable than Melbourne in utilities, as its stable climate reduces the need for excessive heating in winter and air conditioning in summer. In the case of Melbourne, colder winters often translate into higher heating costs. This makes Adelaide a more economical choice for residents in terms of utility bills.

The prices for mobile phone and internet services are equal between these two cities. All major telecommunications companies, including Vodafone, Optus and Telstra, offer call and data packages. 

The less expensive cost of living in Adelaide creates an attractive environment for people looking to balance affordable living with excellent quality of life.

Healthcare and Medical Costs in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Health care is a fundamental aspect in the life of every person. Australia operates the public healthcare system, Medicare, throughout the nation. This system offers free or subsidised services for GPs, specialists and public hospitals. Without Medicare coverage, a visit to a GP can cost up to $80, although Medicare usually covers half the fee.

Medical benefits under Medicare do not extend to dental services, leading to routine dental check-ups costing between $160 and $300 AUD in both Adelaide and Melbourne. People in Adelaide and Melbourne pay similar rates for basic private health insurance, although the prices depend on age, existing conditions and financial status, along with the type of coverage selected. The cost for individuals, couples and families varies based on the plan chosen. The reduced expenses in Adelaide’s economy help residents handle their healthcare costs more efficiently.

Childcare and Early Education in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Childcare expenses, together with early education costs, will influence young families who want to relocate to Adelaide or Melbourne. Working parents who settle with young children depend on these services to allow them time to meet professional commitments while fulfilling family needs.

Childcare costs differ substantially depending on the place of residence, as well as on the childcare options chosen and any existing government assistance programs.

Childcare Costs in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Australian childcare expenses are considered high generally, and both Adelaide and Melbourne provide several childcare alternatives, including daycare facilities and after-school activities. Adelaide, with its lower cost of living, has more affordable childcare than Melbourne because the city has a lower population density and reduced customer demand compared to bigger urban centres.

The Australian government offers the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) as financial support for families to meet childcare expenses. The size of the subsidy payment depends on both family income level and the number of work hours each year. Adelaide families can make use of public, private and community-run childcare facilities which provide more affordable services than Melbourne, especially in places like South Yarra and the CBD.

To review the cost of pre-school and primary education in both cities, have a look the table below:

Item	Cost in Adelaide	Cost in Melbourne
Preschool (or kindergarten), full day, private, monthly, for 1 child	$2,600	$2,819.33
International primary school, yearly for 1 child	$27,000	$31,694.70

Entertainment and Leisure in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Both cities offer various entertainment options, but costs can vary significantly. For example, if you’re moving to Melbourne for its vibrant lifestyle, our expert interstate removalists from Adelaide can help ensure your belongings arrive safely, allowing you to quickly settle into your new life.

The Adelaide community embraces a lively atmosphere, hosting popular festivals including Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide at lower prices than Melbourne equivalents. The South Australian Museum and various additional galleries and museums in Adelaide present free entry for culture lovers who want to experience exhibitions on a budget. Melbourne prides itself as Australia’s cultural centre through its varied artistic offerings, that tend to be more expensive.

When it comes to sports and recreational activities, Adelaide also tends to be cheaper. For example, gym memberships and tennis court rentals are more affordable than in Melbourne. Here’s a comparative table:

Activity	Cost in Adelaide	Cost in Melbourne
Monthly gym membership	$71	$81.75
Tennis court rental (1 hour, weekend)	$25	$25
Cinema ticket (international release, 1 seat)	$20	$22

Comparing Work-Life Balance in Adelaide vs Melbourne

Adelaide offers a peaceful environment which is an excellent option for people looking to achieve better family time. Residents of Adelaide spend only 20 to 30 minutes commuting to work yet Melbourne citizens commute on average for 30 to 45 minutes. If you want to know more about the worst suburbs in Melbourne, read our guide.

The workplace stress levels tend to be lower in Adelaide because its employment market is less competitive when compared to Melbourne. The workforce opportunities in Melbourne extend across the arts, technology and business sectors, while Adelaide provides a relaxed atmosphere with job availability in healthcare, education and manufacturing sectors. People who value a well-balanced lifestyle more than intense professional activity may find Adelaide to be their ideal destination.

If you have read the whole blog till here is because you are looking the to save money in your new city, keep digging and read my blog how to save money in your interstate move!

Adelaide-Melbourne Relocation Services: Keep your Expenses Down with North Removals

Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer — it really depends on what you value most. If you’re after affordable living and a relaxed pace, Adelaide’s lower housing costs and laid-back lifestyle might suit you best. If you crave a buzzing city life and broader job opportunities (and can handle the higher expenses), then Melbourne could be calling your name.

I recently helped a family move from Melbourne to Adelaide for a more affordable lifestyle.  They were thrilled that their new home’s mortgage and bills were much lower, giving them more breathing room each month. On the other hand, I worked with a young professional who relocated to Melbourne for a dream job. Her rent went up, but she felt Melbourne’s vibrant food and arts scene made it worth every extra dollar.

Once you’re ready to organise your relocation, our detailed guide on Choosing the Right Truck Size for Your Move in Australia can help you select the best vehicle for your belongings.

I love helping people start new chapters in the right city. Whether you’ve decided or you’re still unsure, feel free to get in touch; I’m always happy to answer questions or provide a quote. My team at North Removals is ready to make your move easy and stress-free. When you’re ready, book your move with North Removals and let us handle all the heavy lifting while you focus on settling in.