Pacific Center - Migration Services
ADELAIDE

ADELAIDE OVERVIEW:

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and the country's fifth-largest city, with a population of around 1.4 million. It sits on a coastal plain between the Adelaide Hills and the Gulf St Vincent.

The city is known for its planned grid layout, surrounding parklands, and proximity to some of Australia's most famous wine regions — the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and the Adelaide Hills are all within an hour. Adelaide is significantly smaller and quieter than the eastern capitals, with a more relaxed pace. Adelaide Airport is 15 minutes from the centre.

Adelaide is a small city, but did you know it only takes 20 minutes to get to any point in the city? Nicknamed the 20-minute city, Adelaide is one of the easiest cities to venture around. Test out the theory for yourself, trust us, everything really is only 20 minutes away!


Adelaide is the only capital city in Australia that was not settled by convicts, which has made the locals extremely smug. Established in 1836, the city was a planned capital for free British settlers. A majority of the people had no criminal history, the city was thought to have little crime compared to other areas. As a result, no prison was built for some time. Criminals took advantage of this decreased law enforcement and a prison was added soon after.


Throughout history, Adelaide has been at the centre of forward thinking. It was the first city to give women access to vote, recognise Indigenous land rights, as well as criminalise sexual and racial discrimination. Adelaide is the opal capital of Australia, famous both locally and internationally for the best-selling opals available. Lighten your wallets as you shop around to find the best-priced opal for you!

ADELAIDE WEATHER:

Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and mild wet winters — the most distinct seasons of any Australian capital. Summer (December–February) ranges from 16–29°C but regularly hits 35–40°C in heatwaves. Winter (June–August) is cool and damp at 8–16°C, with most of the year's rainfall.

Spring and autumn are pleasant and consistent. Adelaide is the driest of the major Australian cities, with low humidity year-round, which makes the heat more bearable than in Brisbane or Sydney.

ADELAIDE COST OF LIVING:

Adelaide is one of the most affordable Australian capital cities. A one-bedroom apartment in the inner suburbs averages AUD 1,400–1,900 per month; further out, AUD 1,100–1,500. A coffee costs AUD 5, a casual meal AUD 20–25, a sit-down dinner AUD 40–50.

Groceries and transport are slightly cheaper than in the eastern capitals. A realistic monthly student budget sharing accommodation is AUD 1,800–2,400.

ADELAIDE LIFESTYLE:

Adelaide has earned a reputation as Australia's festival city — the Adelaide Festival, Fringe, and WOMADelaide draw international audiences each year. The food and wine scene is exceptional given the city's size, with the surrounding regions supplying restaurants directly.

The pace is genuinely slower than Sydney or Melbourne, traffic is light, and the parklands ringing the CBD are a defining feature of daily life. Adelaide suits people who want a calmer city with strong cultural infrastructure. Beaches at Glenelg and Henley are 20 minutes from the centre by tram.

ADELAIDE TRANSPORT:

Adelaide has a smaller public transport network than the eastern capitals, but it's well-suited to the city's size. The Adelaide Metro system covers buses, trains, and the tram (which runs from the city to Glenelg beach and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre).

Most students live within 5–10 kilometres of the centre and use a combination of bus and bike. The city is famously easy to drive in by Australian capital standards — distances are short and traffic is light. The Metrocard works across all modes.

REQUEST A QUOTE FOR ADELAIDE:

OUR EXPERT TEAM AT THE MANLY OFFICE IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU WITH
YOUR PLANS TO COME LIVE ABROAD. BY FILLING THE FORM YOU HELP ONE OF
OUR EDUCATION AND VISA SPECIALIST TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND
FIND THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU!