Adelaide on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, with care: Adelaide is one of the cheaper Australian cities, and the free museums, gardens and tram help a lot. A realistic minimum is about A$125 a day per person sharing a room — around A$55 for a bed, A$45 for food, A$15 for sights and A$8 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | A$55 | A$110 | A$230 |
| Food & drink | A$45 | A$90 | A$170 |
| Sights & tickets | A$15 | A$60 | A$180 |
| Local transport | A$8 | A$20 | A$70 |
| Per person, per day | A$123 | A$280 | A$650 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Adelaide day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace
- South Australian Museum, including the Aboriginal Cultures gallery
- Adelaide Botanic Garden and its waterlily house
- State Library of South Australia and its Mortlock Wing reading room
- Browsing the Adelaide Central Market (closed Sundays and Mondays)
- Glenelg beach and the walk along the Holdfast Shores jetty and foreshore
Cheap eats
- Laksa or noodles in Chinatown on Gouger Street — about A$18–25
- Fish and chips on Henley Square — about A$15–25
- Market lunch from the Central Market stalls — about A$12–20
- A pie floater or meat pie from a bakery — about A$6–10
- Pub meal specials (schnitzel night, burger night) — often about A$15–25
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in the West End around Hindley Street and Grote Street, close to the Central Market and the bus station, where hostel dorm beds typically run about A$30–55 a night and simple doubles about A$90–150. The area is lively and noisy on weekend nights, so ask for a quiet room.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the flat city grid and use the free city tram. Buy a Metrocard for buses, trams and trains; a fare is about A$4–6 and lasts two hours. From the airport, the JetExpress or regular Adelaide Metro buses cost a few dollars, against about A$25–35 for a taxi. For the wine regions, a small-group tour is often cheaper than hiring a car for one day.
A sample budget day
- Morning: coffee and a pastry at the Central Market (about A$12), then the free SA Museum and Art Gallery on North Terrace
- Lunch: laksa on Gouger Street (about A$20)
- Afternoon: free Botanic Garden, then the Glenelg tram to the beach (about A$5)
- Evening: fish and chips by the sea (about A$20) and one drink (about A$12)
- Total: about A$125 including a hostel or shared room (about A$55)
More ways to save
- Cook at least one meal a day if your hostel has a kitchen; supermarket prices are much lower than café prices.
- Look for pub weekday specials, which often halve the cost of a main meal.
- Choose one paid day — Cleland Wildlife Park or a wine tour — and keep the rest of your days free.
- Fill a water bottle from taps and fountains instead of buying bottled water.
- Check for free events: during the Fringe many outdoor shows and the Garden of Unearthly Delights entrance area are free to wander.
- Travel in winter (June–August) for lower room rates.
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Common questions
Can you visit Adelaide on a budget?
Yes. The main museums, the Botanic Garden and the city tram are free, and Chinatown and the Central Market have cheap meals. Plan on about A$125 a day.
How do I get from Adelaide Airport to the city cheaply?
Take the JetExpress or a regular Adelaide Metro bus for a few dollars. A taxi costs about A$25–35.
Can I visit the Barossa without a car?
Public transport is limited, so the easiest option is a small-group tour, about A$150–250 with lunch.