If you are planning to live in Adelaide, this guide covers choosing an area, travelling around the city, the climate, education and the services to arrange after you move.
Choosing where to live
Compare specific homes by price, address and daily travel. Rent and purchase costs vary by date, dwelling type and area. A figure for Adelaide or Australia’s capital cities does not show the cost of a home in a particular suburb.
The ABS Consumer Price Index tracks changes in household costs, including rents and other housing expenses, across a weighted average of Australia’s eight capital cities. Check the release date, comparison period and geographic coverage before using a figure. The index shows broad price movements, not rent in a particular Adelaide suburb.
Compare each address with the places you need to reach, including work, study, childcare, health services, shops and recreation. Check public transport, driving and cycling routes at the times you expect to travel. A suburb name alone does not show whether a home suits your routine.
Renting in South Australia
An advertised rent is the weekly asking price for one property. Compare homes with similar bedroom numbers, condition and location. Include travel, parking and utility costs where they apply.
Before applying or signing a lease, check current bond, rent and tenancy rules with Consumer and Business Services South Australia. Read the proposed lease and confirm its terms with the landlord or agent. An advertisement does not mean the property remains available.
Buying a home
Compare recent sale prices for similar homes in the same or nearby areas. Check the date of the data and whether it covers Adelaide, Greater Adelaide or a wider market. The ABS Residential Property Price Index measures price movements across capital cities. It does not predict the sale price of an individual home.
Set separate budgets for the purchase price, transaction costs and ongoing council rates. Transaction costs include transfer duty, conveyancing, building and pest inspections, loan fees and insurance. South Australian transfer duty depends on the transaction. Use the RevenueSA calculator for an estimate, then confirm the amount before committing.
Council rates and property services depend on the council responsible for the address. The City of Adelaide serves only its own council area. Contact the relevant council for rates and services elsewhere.
Whether you rent or buy, weigh the full cost of a specific home against the travel and services you need.
Getting around Adelaide
Travel time and transport options differ between addresses, even within the same suburb. Check regular journeys before choosing a home.
Adelaide Metro runs buses, trains and trams across metropolitan Adelaide. Search the trip from the exact address to your workplace, school or other regular destination. Travel time, service frequency and transfers vary by route, day and time.
Plan public transport trips
Use Adelaide Metro’s Plan My Journey tool to compare bus, train and tram options. Enter the times you expect to travel and leave enough time to change services. Adelaide Metro’s My Next Service tool shows nearby stops and real-time arrival information.
Walking or cycling may cover all or part of a journey. Check the actual route for distance, hills, crossings and cycling infrastructure rather than relying on straight-line map distance.
Fares and city travel
Adelaide Metro accepts metroCARD, contactless Tap and Pay, and tickets bought through the Buy & Go app. Its fares and ticket information page lists current prices in Australian dollars, ticket types and concession eligibility. Fares depend on the payment method and time of travel.
Free City Connector buses run on routes 98A and 98C between the city centre and North Adelaide, seven days a week. Routes 99A and 99C operate weekday loops through the city centre. The free tram zone runs from South Terrace along North Terrace to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Check Adelaide Metro’s visitor information for current routes, operating times and conditions before travelling.
Driving and licences
Before driving, check South Australia’s traffic service for crashes, roadworks, closures and current traffic conditions.
International visitors and new residents should check the South Australian Government’s driving and transport information for licence conditions that apply to them. Rules for using a foreign licence depend on visa and residency status, so no single time limit applies to every driver. Read current South Australian road rules before driving, especially when local signs or rules are unfamiliar.
Adelaide’s climate
Adelaide’s summers are warm and dry, while winters are cooler and wetter. At the Bureau of Meteorology’s Kent Town weather station, long-term records for 1977–2020 show a mean maximum temperature of 29.6°C in January and 16.1°C in July. Mean minimum temperatures are 17.3°C in January and 7.6°C in July.
Kent Town received average annual rainfall of 547.1 mm over the same period. June was the wettest month on average, with 78.1 mm, while December averaged 28.4 mm. These figures describe long-term conditions at one weather station. They do not predict a particular day’s weather or represent every Adelaide suburb. The Bureau’s Kent Town climate records list the full monthly averages.
Prepare for Adelaide summers and winters
Summer suits light clothing, home cooling and outdoor activities earlier or later in the day. Winter calls for warmer layers, heating and rain-ready plans. Daily conditions differ from seasonal averages, so check the current Adelaide forecast and warnings before travelling or planning time outside.
Check the daily UV forecast before spending extended time outdoors. Temperature and rainfall averages do not show UV exposure. Use sun protection when the forecast advises it.
Schools and preschool
Confirm school or preschool arrangements before choosing where to live. An address does not guarantee a place.
Check the South Australian Department for Education’s school and preschool enrolment information, then contact the relevant school or preschool about your child’s address, intended intake year and enrolment steps. Requirements depend on the child’s circumstances and the individual school or service.
Preschool timing and fees
Use the Department’s current advice to check when your child can start government preschool. Prospect Kindergarten’s enrolment page states that children receive four terms of government preschool in the year before they start school, with intake dates based on their birthday. That information applies to Prospect Kindergarten and does not replace current statewide advice.
Ask the chosen preschool to confirm intake dates, available places and parent contributions. Fees and enrolment steps vary between services. South Australia is introducing preschool for three-year-olds in stages. Check the Department’s latest timetable and confirm that the chosen service offers the program before relying on a proposed start date.
Set up services after moving
Once you have an address, identify the local council and arrange the services you need. Metropolitan Adelaide includes several council areas, each with its own collection schedules, parking permits, rates and facilities.
Use the Local Government Association of South Australia’s council finder, then check the relevant council’s current service pages. The City of Adelaide serves only the City of Adelaide council area. Its rules and services do not apply across metropolitan Adelaide.
Check your local council
Check current council information about rubbish and recycling collection, along with hard-waste services and parking permits. Also check council rates and local facilities. Charges and eligibility depend on the address and service, so confirm details before making arrangements.
If you rent, ask the property manager which services the owner provides and which you must arrange. Property owners generally pay council rates. Tenants may need to apply and pay for parking permits or other local services.
Arrange essential services
Check visa conditions through the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs. Medicare enrolment and Services Australia payments have separate eligibility rules. Check Medicare eligibility and enrolment information before including either in your budget.
Ask the bank which identity documents it accepts before opening an account, then compare account fees and features. Moneysmart’s banking information lists useful points to compare. For electricity and gas, compare available plans through the government’s Energy Made Easy.
Use NBN Co’s address checker to see the internet technology listed for the property. Confirm plans, connection charges and installation requirements with the provider.
After moving, update your address directly with your bank, insurer, employer and relevant government services. Australia Post’s change-of-address service redirects mail but does not update details with other organisations.