Cost of Living: Adelaide vs Melbourne for Indian Students (2026)

Deciding between Adelaide and Melbourne for your studies? This comparison breaks down monthly living costs for both cities — rent, food, utilities, and transport — converted to INR so you can plan your education loan with confidence.

Monthly Cost Comparison — Adelaide vs Melbourne (2026)

Category Adelaide Melbourne
Accommodation (3BR outside ÷ 3) ₹56,241 ₹60,425
Food ₹35,064 ₹38,372
Utilities ₹26,830 ₹21,115
Transport ₹0 ₹0
Total / month ₹1,18,135 ₹1,19,912
Total / year ₹14,17,625 ₹14,38,952

Note: Budget preset: shared 3BR outside city centre ÷ 3 people, 5 meals/week, basic utilities. Comfortable preset: 1BR city centre, daily restaurant meals, full utilities, gym.

Which City is Cheaper for Indian Students?

Adelaide is 1% cheaper than Melbourne per month — saving approximately ₹1,777 every month or ₹21,324 annually on a budget lifestyle.

Adelaide ₹1,18,135
Melbourne ₹1,19,913

Cost of Living in Adelaide vs India

Accommodation Type Adelaide India (metro avg)
1BR, city centre (full cost) ₹1,31,214 ₹35,000
1BR, outside centre (full cost) ₹1,09,288 ₹25,000
3BR, city centre ÷ 3 people ₹65,883 ₹21,000
3BR, outside centre ÷ 3 people ₹56,241 ₹15,000

Note: 3BR costs shown per person ÷ 3 occupants by default. Use the calculator to adjust the split.

Explore Each City in Detail

Full Adelaide Breakdown

Moderate

From

₹118,135/mo

View full breakdown

Full Melbourne Breakdown

Moderate

From

₹119,912/mo

View full breakdown

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FAQ's

Is Adelaide or Melbourne cheaper for students?
Adelaide is 1% cheaper than Melbourne per month — saving approximately ₹1,777 every month or ₹21,324 annually on a budget lifestyle.
How much more expensive is Adelaide vs Melbourne?
Check the monthly comparison table and the savings block for the latest difference per month and per year in INR.
Which city is better for Indian students — Adelaide or Melbourne?
That depends on your university shortlist, rent tolerance, and funding plan. This page is designed to make the living-cost tradeoff obvious.
Do these comparison totals include tuition fees for Adelaide or Melbourne?
No. The compare page covers recurring living costs only, so tuition and one-time destination expenses still need to be added separately.
What education loan do I need after using this comparison?
Use the cheaper-vs-costlier view here as your living-cost input, then combine it with tuition to estimate the total funding requirement before checking loan eligibility.

These figures are planning estimates and can vary by lifestyle, location within city, and market conditions.

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