Adelaide ranks eighth on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index.
Rent is lower than in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and food and public transport cost less than in most major Australian cities. Full-time international students get the same discounted monthly public transport ticket as local students, with unlimited travel.
Students who complete a bachelor’s degree, a master’s or a PhD in Adelaide get an extra year of post-study work rights compared with Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. The state’s growing industries include health care, technology and agribusiness.
The main university campuses are close together, in and around the city centre, and student accommodation is near them.
Source: StudyAdelaide, South Australia’s international education agency. Rent comparison: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review, January 2025, as cited by StudyAdelaide.