Before You Arrive

Visas & Immigration

Adelaide welcomes migrants under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, employer-sponsored visas, and the South Australian DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement). Check the Department of Home Affairs website for current lists.

Shipping & Customs

Shipping a 20-foot container from the UK costs around AUD $4,000–$6,000; from the US around $5,000–$8,000. Allow 8–12 weeks. Duty-free personal effects are allowed if used for 12+ months.

Banking & Tax

Open an account with Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, or Westpac before arrival. Apply for a TFN (Tax File Number) at the airport or online — you'll need it to work.

First Week in Adelaide

Medicare: Enrol at a Medicare office. Reciprocal agreements exist with the UK, NZ, Italy, and several other countries.
Driver's Licence: You can drive on your overseas licence for 3 months (if in English or with an accredited translation). Then convert to a South Australian licence at Service SA.
Phone & Internet: Major providers include Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Prepaid SIMs are available at any convenience store.
AMEP: Free English classes are available through the Adult Migrant English Program if you've scored below functional English.

Cost of Setting Up

Expect to spend roughly AUD $3,000–$5,000 on initial setup (bond, rent advance, furniture, utilities connection). Adelaide is the most affordable mainland capital city in Australia.

Where Newcomers Settle

New arrivals cluster in a handful of areas depending on budget and lifestyle. The inner east (Norwood, Kensington, Burnside) suits professionals who want the cafe strip on The Parade and a 10-minute commute. The inner west (Henley Beach, Grange, West Lakes) attracts beach lovers. The inner north (Prospect, Nailsworth, Walkerville) offers period homes and village shopping at slightly lower prices. Students and younger renters head to the city fringe — the CBD itself, North Adelaide, and the East End — where one-bedroom apartments rent for $450–$550 per week.

For the best value in 2026, look at Mawson Lakes (tech jobs, train line, university), Seaton and Fulham Gardens (10 minutes from the beach, under $600/week for a 3-bedroom house), and the newer estates around Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, which remains one of SA’s fastest-growing towns despite the longer commute.

The First Month, Step by Step

Week one is about bureaucracy: apply for a TFN online, enrol in Medicare (reciprocal arrangements cover UK, NZ, Ireland, Italy, and several other countries), open a bank account, and buy a metroCARD. Week two: sort accommodation and utilities — electricity, gas, water, and NBN internet can be connected within a few days. Week three: register with GP clinics, join a superannuation fund (your employer will ask for one), and get your driver licence converted at Service SA if you plan to drive.

Budget around $3,000–$5,000 for the setup phase: bond (4 weeks), rent in advance (2 weeks), furniture, and connection fees. Adelaide is the cheapest mainland capital to settle in, but the upfront cash requirement is real.

Getting Around From Day One

The metroCARD covers buses, trains, and the Glenelg tram with a $3.50 two-hour peak fare and a $7.00 daily peak cap — one of the cheapest public transport systems in Australia. The free city tram zone and the free City Connector buses (98/98C) mean you can explore the CBD without spending a cent.

If you are commuting from the suburbs, learn your line early: Gawler and Outer Harbor lines serve the north, Seaford and Belair the south, and the O-Bahn express buses move north-eastern suburbs at up to 100 km/h on their dedicated guideway. Cycling is also a genuine option — the city has 700+ km of bikeways, and the Linear Park trail runs from the hills to the sea.

Cost of Living vs Where You Came From

Most newcomers find their money goes 20–30% further than in Sydney or Melbourne. The biggest single saving is housing: the median Adelaide house price of around $750,000 is roughly half the Sydney median, which means either a smaller mortgage or a much larger house. Rents follow the same pattern — expect to pay $100–$200 a week less than you would for an equivalent property in Melbourne, and $200–$300 less than in Sydney.

Utilities are the exception: South Australia’s electricity prices are among the highest in the country. Factor in $200–$400 a quarter for a typical household, less if your rental has solar. Groceries, dining, and entertainment are 5–10% cheaper than the eastern capitals, and public transport is among Australia’s cheapest at $7.00 for a daily peak cap.