Cost Of Living For a Family in Adelaide 2024

Average monthly spending for families in Adelaide

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Adelaide?

Families in Adelaide spend around 10,000 AUD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,500 AUD or as high as 65,000 AUD. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Adelaide

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Adelaide

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Adelaide spend around 92% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 82% of their income while some as high as 100%.

How do families spend their money in Adelaide?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Adelaide typically spend from 24% to 39% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 29% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,200 AUD with expenditure ranging from 1,100 AUD to 21,000 AUD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Adelaide ranges from 2% to 7% of total expenses with 4% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 500 AUD with 180 AUD and 3,300 AUD being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 350 AUD to 6,500 AUD in a month on commuting with 1,000 AUD being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 9%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Adelaide is 1,800 AUD. The cost of groceries can range between 630 AUD to 12,000 AUD. Families spend on average about 19% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 12% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Adelaide allocate 5% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 320 AUD to 5,200 AUD with 1,000 AUD being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 180 AUD to 3,300 AUD with 500 AUD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 14% of the monthly expenditure of families with 7% and 22% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,400 AUD per month with 490 AUD being the minimum spent amount and 9,200 AUD being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Adelaide are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 67% of surveyed families in Adelaide said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 33% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 11% to 30% of their monthly income to their savings, with 18% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 4,200 AUD with 1,500 AUD and 27,000 AUD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Adelaide

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Adelaide. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 7% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 10% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 19% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 9% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 16% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 10% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Adelaide

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Adelaide

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Adelaide?

Around 82% of surveyed families think that living in Adelaide is affordable with proper budgeting while 18% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Adelaide

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options64%

Few low-cost options36%

Based on the survey, 64% of the families living in Adelaide have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 36% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Adelaide whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes79%

No21%

Based on the survey, 21% of the families living in Adelaide said that they don't have an emergency fund while 79% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Australia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy73%

We asked family guardians and parents in Adelaide whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 27% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 73% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Australia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 27% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 73% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance27%

Easily manages finances73%

Financial goals of families in Adelaide

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Adelaide, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 6% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 31% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 7% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 9% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 16% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 9% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 12% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 8% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Adelaide

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 30% of the families in Adelaide have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 71% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Adelaide

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of a family's monthly income in Adelaide goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Adelaide pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 10% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 11% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 13% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 16% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Adelaide

14% of debtors in Adelaide confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 24% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 24% of people and personal loans rose at 35%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Adelaide.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Adelaide

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Adelaide how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Adelaide

Rent Cost in Adelaide

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

590 AUD

890 AUD

2,400 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390

$580

$1,500

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

890 AUD

1,400 AUD

3,600 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580

$920

$2,300

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,200 AUD

1,800 AUD

4,700 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$770

$1,200

$3,100

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 AUD

2,400 AUD

6,500 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$920

$1,500

$4,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

2,800 AUD

7,100 AUD

14,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,800

$4,600

$9,200

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,400 AUD

3,600 AUD

10,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$2,300

$6,600

House monthly rent cost

2,800 AUD

7,100 AUD

14,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,800

$4,600

$9,200

Villa monthly rent cost

3,600 AUD

8,900 AUD

14,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,300

$5,800

$9,200

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Adelaide ranges between 590 AUD and 2,400 AUD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 890 AUD to 3,600 AUD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,200 AUD and 4,700 AUD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,400 AUD to 6,500 AUD. The average rent of a townhouse in Adelaide is around 3,600 AUD while house rental costs can be as high as 7,100 AUD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,600 AUD to 14,000 AUD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Adelaide

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

120,000 AUD

180,000 AUD

360,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$77,000

$120,000

$230,000

1-bedroom apartment price

140,000 AUD

240,000 AUD

890,000 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$92,000

$150,000

$580,000

2-bedroom apartment price

240,000 AUD

710,000 AUD

1.4M AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150,000

$460,000

$920,000

3-bedroom apartment price

790,000 AUD

1.2M AUD

3.6M AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$510,000

$770,000

$2.3M

Townhouse price

1M AUD

2.4M AUD

8.9M AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660,000

$1.5M

$5.8M

House price

1.2M AUD

7.1M AUD

10M AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$770,000

$4.6M

$6.6M

Villa price

1.4M AUD

7.9M AUD

12M AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$920,000

$5.1M

$7.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Adelaide can range from 120,000 AUD to 360,000 AUD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 140,000 AUD to 890,000 AUD. A villa can cost you 7.9M AUD on average with prices ranging from 1.4M AUD to 12M AUD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Adelaide can be x130 to x226 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x130 multiples of the average monthly salary in Adelaide.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Adelaide is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 44% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Adelaide

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Adelaide

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

180 AUD

500 AUD

3,300 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$330

$2,100

Internet and cable cost

35 AUD

70 AUD

93 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$45

$60

Mobile phone bill and charges

28 AUD

47 AUD

140 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$30

$91

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 500 AUD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 35 AUD to 93 AUD with 70 AUD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 47 AUD but can range between 28 AUD and 140 AUD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Adelaide is around 5.3%. This means that people pay 5.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.1% to 9.5% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Adelaide

Prices and cost of goods and services in Adelaide

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

7 AUD

14 AUD

23 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.5

$9.1

$15

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Adelaide is approximatly 14 AUD with meal cost ranging from 7 AUD to 23 AUD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

24 AUD

35 AUD

71 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$23

$46

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 24 AUD and 71 AUD with 35 AUD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Adelaide.

Fine dining meal for one price

47 AUD

71 AUD

280 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$31

$46

$180

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 47 AUD to 280 AUD with the average cost being 71 AUD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Adelaide.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

5.8 AUD

9.3 AUD

14 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$6

$9.1

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Adelaide is around 9.3 AUD. Price ranges between 5.8 AUD and 14 AUD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

4.7 AUD

5.6 AUD

7 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3

$3.6

$4.5

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Adelaide is 5.6 AUD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 7 AUD and the minimum being 4.7 AUD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

3.5 AUD

4.7 AUD

7 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$3

$4.5

A dozen eggs costs around 4.7 AUD on average with 3.5 AUD and 7 AUD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

7.9 AUD

10 AUD

15 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.2

$6.7

$9.4

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Adelaide is between 7.9 AUD and 15 AUD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 10 AUD.

Pack of beef price

9.3 AUD

14 AUD

28 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6

$9.1

$18

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 14 AUD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

3.8 AUD

5.1 AUD

7.3 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$3.3

$4.7

A bag of rice in Adelaide costs around 5.1 AUD on average with prices rangeing between 3.8 AUD and 7.3 AUD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.4 AUD

1.9 AUD

3.5 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.91

$1.2

$2.3

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.4 AUD to 3.5 AUD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.5 AUD

3.3 AUD

5.4 AUD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.1

$3.5

A bag of apples costs 3.3 AUD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Adelaide is around 26%. This means that families spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families