Is Adelaide the ideal city for you?
Are you thinking about living in Adelaide? You may be feeling the pull of more appealing property prices, or maybe you’re just looking for somewhere safe to raise a family.
Adelaide provides more than safety and affordability. It’s a world-class city that is home to over 1.3 million people.
Unlike Australia’s larger cities, you won’t endure overcrowded shopping precincts, footpaths, or extreme road traffic conditions.
Providing the same creature comforts as other capital cities, Adelaide offers a strong community spirit, impressive schools and universities, a safe environment, and a well-connected transportation system.
But what really sets it apart from the rest? If you have never visited Adelaide, you’re going to need to polish up on your knowledge of this town.
Everything you need to know about living in Adelaide
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to this not-so-sleepy city.
Living in Adelaide: property affordability
If you currently own property in Sydney or Melbourne, you will be delighted to know that you could potentially purchase a similar property in Adelaide for half the cost of your current place.
This could mean extra equity left over for another property, or even that boat you’ve always wanted.
It’s also a smart move for those just entering the housing market. With Adelaide’s median house price sitting at $455,000, the prospect of first-home ownership becomes less daunting than what it would be if you were looking at Sydney’s $895,000 median house price, which is almost double by comparison.
For those not ready or even interested in buying property, the rental prices in Adelaide are also significantly less expensive than those of Melbourne.
Rental price comparison: Richmond VS Richmond
Let’s compare the pair. Both Melbourne and Adelaide have a suburb named ‘Richmond’, both of which have similar socioeconomic profiles and both are situated 5 km from their respective CBDs.
Recent property rental data calculates that to rent a 3-bedroom house in Richmond, South Australia, you would be paying approximately $398 per week.
Whereas, in Richmond, Victoria, the rental cost for a 3-bedroom house is approximate $750 per week.
This data tells us that if you opted for the equivalent suburb in Melbourne, you would be paying 90% more than you would in Adelaide.
These figures alone present an argument to move to Adelaide.
Although property prices are a huge driving factor, there are other important considerations when it comes to moving interstate and living in Adelaide.
The best things (and hidden gems) to discover when moving to Adelaide
Apart from super affordable housing, what else can you expect from living in Adelaide?
We’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know before moving to Adelaide. These points crush the criticism that Adelaide (sometimes) receives for being a smaller and less exciting city.
It’s diverse, rich with culture, and gets rowdy from time-to-time.
World Class Wine Regions
Food and wine lovers will feel whole again knowing that Adelaide offers one of Australia’s best wine regions.
It’s not just the quality of wine constantly being produced by makers in the region that makes this a wonderful wine region, it’s the culture and the pride of the winemakers who work hard to maintain their vines.
Get your playlists ready because the wineries in Adelaide will provide you with plenty of road trips for weekend adventures. Good times are guaranteed.
The drives from Adelaide to the wineries will provide you with sprawling views and landscapes that will take your breath away. There are also prize-winning menus on offer at restaurants located in Adelaide’s wine regions, offering dining experiences well worth the praise (and drive).
The wine regions to visit in Adelaide
Adelaide Hills
Turn a few corners and drive down a road and before you know it, you will find yourself in the lush Adelaide Hills. A picturesque 30-minute drive out of Adelaide CBD will present you with one of the most celebrated wine regions in South Australia.
Whether you’re moving to Adelaide, or visiting before your interstate relocation, this is a day trip you need to place high up on your list of things to do.
The varieties being produced out of this region are diverse. You will find Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon-Viognier, and even boutique spirits and cider.
With foodie delights and a cellar door at every corner, you will be making plans to revisit this vibrant region.
McLaren Vale
Roughly 40 km (45-minute drive) from Adelaide CBD, the McLaren Vale is a vast wine region with over 70 cellar doors to discover.
Due to the very warm climate, the McLaren Vale produces delectable Shiraz and Grenache varieties.
As well as vibrant green vines, this region also offers visitors beaming beach views.
Langhorne Creek
Driving deeper south of Adelaide will allow you to stumble upon one of the lesser known wine regions around Adelaide.
Langhorne Creek is located 65 km (1-hour drive) from the Adelaide CBD. You will feel the calm wash over you as you embark on one of the most relaxing escapes on offer from the state of South Australia.
Langhorne Creek is a special region, run by boutique wine producers. Although these winemakers are not producing a great mass of their product, what they do produce is exemplary.
Head to Langhorne Creek if you’re looking for a robust Cabernet Sauvignon, or if you’re looking to try something on the unique side.
Barossa Valley
With a world-class reputation for producing tantalising wines, the Barossa Valley is a national treasure.
Located approximately 70 km (1-hour drive) from the Adelaide CBD, you definitely need to set an entire day aside to explore.
With vines ageing over 160 years-old, the fertile land of Tanunda provides the perfect pick, year after year.
This blessed land is home to 80 cellar doors, including the prestigious Penfolds winery.
As well as Shiraz, the Barossa Valley is known for producing delicious fortified wine.
AFL Mania (…and rivalry)
Regardless of whether you’re a sporting fanatic or not, upon moving to Adelaide, you will be thrust into the AFL mania.
Adelaide’s first AFL (Australian Rules Football) team, the Adelaide Crows, were formed in 1990. Following years of building, in 1997 and 1998 they achieved great success by winning the Grand Final.
Around the time of the team’s greatest success, in 1997, Port Adelaide was formed. From this moment on, the city has been divided.
Since 1997, the rivalry between these teams has been rife. When these two teams play against each other, the game is officially labelled a ‘Showdown’.
If the prospect of living in Adelaide is on your radar, you will need to expect to be questioned about your team alliance.
When a Showdown is scheduled, expect to feel the energy of the community shift, with friendly competitiveness fuelling day-to-day conversations.
Come game day, as much as you try to avoid the ruckus, you will be hard-pressed to avoid the flags and fans filling the streets.
Brilliant blue beaches
As Summer settles in and the mercury rises, the beaches around Adelaide become a hot spot for residents.
Sydney’s coast is not the only place in Australia to find a spectacular patch of sand. Adelaide offers a coast with a stunning range of shorelines.
With pristine waters on the edge of Adelaide’s west suburbs, residents don’t need to drive (or even walk) far to find a spot on the shore to relax.
Offering family-friendly beaches, as well as surfing and bodyboarding hotspots, Adelaide also has some secret stretches of shoreline to uncover.
Here are the best beach locations to visit during summer.
Glenelg
Glenelg is the most popular and metropolitan beach in Adelaide and is set amongst bustling cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. Besides proving a perfect place to take in the ocean, you will find this beach is bursting with things to do. If you’re visiting Adelaide before making the interstate move, be sure to take the short tram from the CBD to Glenelg.
Brighton
Located 10-minutes from Glenelg beach is Brighton. This is an ideal spot for the family if you’re looking for somewhere less crowded, with more of a local atmosphere. Similar to Glenelg beach, you will enjoy the selection of cafes, alfresco dining, and casual food options available.
Port Noarlunga
Drive further down the coast (30 km from Adelaide CBD) and you will stumble upon crystal clear waters washing up on a long stretch of shore. Port Noarlunga and the surrounding stretches, Christies Beach and Moana, are the ideal spots for those who like to get out on a board and feel the surf.
This laid-back area offers a diverse mix of cafes and casual food options.
Festival fever
Be inspired by the thought-provoking art on display in the city of Adelaide during the festival season.
In the months when the weather is starting to cool down but is still balmy enough to head out and about, Adelaide puts on a dazzling festival.
The Adelaide Fringe is the largest open-access arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It runs over 31 days and nights every year during the months of February and March.
The festival invites artists from all walks of life to set up and showcases their talents for the whole community to discover.
From restaurants to random tents on the green in the park, there is entertainment in every pocket of Adelaide during the Fringe.
Other major festivals in Adelaide include:
- The Adelaide Show
- WOMAdeliade
- Garden of Unearthly Delights
A few more things you need to know about living in Adelaide
Living in Adelaide mostly has its perks and is a suitable move for families, retirees, and students.
Here are some other points you should note before deciding to move to Adelaide:
- The tap water is safe for drinking.
- Summer is very hot, with high UV ratings.
- The time zone is different to all other states; UTC+09:30, a ½ hour behind Victoria and NSW.
- There is an expectation to bring your own shopping bag when grocery shopping.
- Most cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, and shops are not allowed to operate after 5 pm on Sundays.
- Prospect, a suburb 5 km north of Adelaide CBD, has one of the fastest internet speeds in Australia.
- To get around with public transport in Adelaide you need to use a Metrocard.
- Clipsal 500 is a car race, which disrupts traffic with road closures for 2 weeks of the year.
With affordable property prices, beaches for days, and lands bursting with produce, living in Adelaide will have the whole family sorted.
When it comes to the daily grind, you will be pleased to know that Adelaide is also home to some of Australia’s best brews of coffee. As a result, you will be presented with an endless selection of hip cafes to explore in Adelaide.
