Living costs in Adelaide
Once you have arrived in South Australia, found accommodation for yourself and started your studies at the University, you will start thinking about how to make the best use of your money while you are a student here. One of the big advantages of coming to the University of South Australia to study is that South Australia has a much lower cost of living than most other Australian cities. You will find that your dollars go much further in Adelaide when you have to pay for food, rent, transport and entertainment.
As a student, your minimum cost of living is estimated at around AUD$255 per week. When you calculate your weekly cost of living, don't forget that the decisions you make as a student will influence how much money you spend. For example, the amount of rent you pay will depend on whether you decide to live in a student residence, rent a small unit (or flat) by yourself or with one other person, or rent a whole house with three or four other students. You can reduce costs by sharing with other students. The following figures are only intended as a guide to your weekly cost of living in Adelaide.
Guide to average weekly expenses
- Rent $A90 - $A250
- Food $A60 - $A90
- Electricity/gas/phone $A30
- Transport $A15 - $A20
- Telephone / postage $A20 - $A30
- Other (including entertainment) $A40 - $A50
- Total weekly expense $A255 - $A470 per week.
It is useful to remember that some weeks, particularly the beginning of each study period, could be more expensive than usual.
One of the best advantages of Adelaide is that it is a well-planned city where all services, such as transport, banking, health or sport as well as shopping areas, are in easy reach of where you live or study. This will save a lot of time and money that you would spend in travelling to these facilities in some other cities.
However you may still find the cost of living in South Australia higher than in your home country. Most students usually budget carefully. If you need assistance with your budgeting please contact the Learning and Teaching Unit on your home campus.
For information about energy rating and water usage in South Australia please visit the following websites.