ABS Data · Sep 2026
Adelaide
Cost of Living
Real ABS data on what it costs to live in Adelaide. CPI, wages, jobs, earnings, and property — no spin.
3rd most expensive
of 8 capital cities by CPI inflation0.0%
CPI Inflation (YoY)
vs
+4.3%
National Average
105.0
CPI Index
Source: ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
CPI Trend
Adelaide CPI over time
All Groups CPI index for Adelaide vs the national average. Higher = more expensive. Hover for detail.
Adelaide
National (dashed)
Inflation Breakdown
What's getting more expensive in Adelaide?
Year-on-year inflation by CPI subcategory. Red = prices rising fast. Green = prices falling.
Automotive fuel
+26.3%
Electricity
+21.2%
Utilities
+16.2%
Private motoring
+10.8%
Transport
+10.6%
Water and sewerage
+7.5%
Housing
+7.3%
Beef and veal
+6.0%
Medical and hospital services
+5.4%
Milk
+4.7%
Gas and other household fuels
+4.5%
Take away and fast foods
+4.3%
Rents
+4.0%
Alcohol and tobacco
+4.0%
Meals out and take away foods
+3.4%
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
+2.9%
Restaurant meals
+2.6%
Bread
+2.4%
Communication
+2.3%
Poultry
+1.3%
Motor vehicles
+0.8%
Cheese
+0.8%
Pharmaceutical products
-0.2%
Eggs
-0.2%
Coffee, tea and cocoa
-0.6%
City Comparison
Cost of living vs other cities
All Groups CPI YoY inflation across capital cities. Higher = prices rising faster.
#1
Hobart
+5.3%
#2
Darwin
+5.2%
#3
Adelaide you are here
+5.0%
#4
Canberra
+4.7%
#5
Perth
+4.5%
#6
Brisbane
+4.4%
#7
Sydney
+4.3%
#8
Melbourne
+4.0%
Wage Price Index
Wages in SA
WPI measures wage growth. SA vs national. Are wages keeping up with Adelaide inflation?
162.0
Latest WPI Index
+3.6%
SA WPI YoY
+3.2%
National WPI YoY
-1.4%
Real Wage Growth
SA WPI
National (dashed)
Job Market
Employment in SA
Unemployment rate and labour force participation for South Australia.
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
National Unemployment
64.1%
Participation Rate
66.8%
National Participation
SA Unemployment
National (dashed)
Average Weekly Earnings
What SA earns
Full-time adult average weekly earnings for South Australia. ABS Cat. 6302.0.
$2,034
Weekly (SA)
$105,763
Annual (SA)
$2,157
National Weekly
11.4%
Gender Pay Gap
$2,130/wk
Males
$1,887/wk
Females
Property Market
Housing in SA
Mean dwelling price and affordability for South Australia. ABS Cat. 6432.0.
$979,600
Mean Dwelling Price
▲ 12.9% YoY
$1,100,400
National Average
9.3x
Price / Annual Earnings
9.8x
National Ratio
SA Mean Price
National (dashed)
Dwelling Prices by State
New South Wales $1,304,900
Queensland $1,130,600
Western Australia $1,123,700
Australian Capital Territory $981,700
South Australia $979,600
Victoria $918,400
Tasmania $733,200
Northern Territory $614,400
Explore
Other capital cities
Compare the cost of living across Australia.