How much do you need to earn to live here, after Australia takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Australia's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Adelaide is roughly $3,045/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think $3,544/month gross ($3,149 net after ~11% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,550 Cheapest neighborhood (Prospect) | $1,800 Median neighborhood | $1,975 Premium neighborhood (North Adelaide) |
| Groceries | $510 | $612 | $765 |
| Transport | $135 | $135 | $135 |
| Utilities | $265 | $265 | $265 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $280 | $336 | $420 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $2,740 | $3,148 | $3,560 |
$3,045/month gross
$3,544/month gross
$4,106/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 6 neighborhoods in Adelaide.
Prospect
15 min by bus
$1,550 - $1,800
Unley
10 min by bus
$1,600 - $1,850
Norwood
10 min by bus
$1,650 - $1,900
North Adelaide
10 min by walk
$1,850 - $2,100
Adelaide CBD
0 min by walk
$1,750 - $2,000
Glenelg
25 min by tram
$1,700 - $1,950
All 6 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore AdelaidePlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Australia's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $3,045/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Adelaide. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $3,544/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Australia.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 6 neighborhoods in Adelaide is approximately $1,808/month. Rents range from $1,550 in Prospect to $2,100 in North Adelaide.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Adelaide cost approximately $510. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Australia are progressive. At the budget salary level of $3,045/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 10%. At the comfortable level of $3,544/month, it rises to approximately 11%. This includes income tax and social contributions.