Known for the stunning Barossa Valley, the Fringe Fest and hosting the AFL Gather Round festival, Adelaide is becoming more than simply a wonderful place for Melbournians to visit. It’s now a popular moving destination for individuals and families seeking new opportunities as well as an enjoyable lifestyle. Moving interstate is incredibly exciting, however turning the dream of relocating into a reality can take some work and organisation.
Fortunately, Allied has the right expertise and experience to ensure that your relocation from Melbourne to Adelaide goes off without a hitch! Due to our extensive knowledge of the area and previous track-record in helping relocate interstate, we know the ins and outs of moving to Adelaide. We’ve put together this handy guide with everything you need to know about moving, including what to expect when living in Adelaide and how to best prepare for your move.
Life in Adelaide
Recently rebranded as the ‘Festival City’ (previously thought of as the ‘City of the Churches’), Adelaide offers some of the best beaches, food, wines and landscapes that Australia has to offer! As the gateway to many beautiful places including Kangaroo Island, the Limestone Coast and Eyre Peninsula, you’ll find Adelaide is the perfect place to explore more of South Australia as well as the rest of the country due to its central position. But what is everyday life like in Adelaide and how does it compare to Melbourne?
WORK & CAREER
Adelaide is continuing to expand and offer new career opportunities through the growth of innovative sectors and industries. The primary thriving industries in Adelaide have been tourism, mining, education, hospitality and health. Now with support, industries such as manufacturing, renewable energy, machine learning, aerospace and medical technology are quickly growing and providing exciting employment.
There are also ample opportunities for investment and support in new businesses in Adelaide, with many Melbournians who are interested in starting their own business choosing to relocate to take advantage of new initiatives and benefits offered.
HOUSING
A significant factor in moving to Adelaide is the affordability of the housing market (when compared to Melbourne). The median house value in Adelaide was estimated at $702,392 by the ABC, while Melbourne’s average was $915,005. The average rent is also cheaper with a 3-bedroom apartment in Adelaide’s city centre costing around $2,572 a month (compared to $3,168 in Melbourne).
In Adelaide, the closer a suburb is to the beach and CBD the more expensive it will be. Some popular family friendly suburbs that won’t break the bank and don’t compromise on lifestyle include North Brighton, Kensington, and North Adelaide. Some of the city's most desirable (and expensive) suburbs are Toorak Gardens, College Park and Fitzroy.
THE CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
Adelaide offers the unique combination of being a quieter city with the benefits of a large city with a thriving arts, sporting and hospitality scene. The mild weather means it’s easy to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities year round and you won't need to plan for Melbourne’s unpredictable weather. As the new host of the Gather Around fest, the passion for AFL in Adelaide almost rivals Melbourne! You’ll also find many different local sporting clubs and teams across the city.
Melbourne can be tough to beat when it comes to the mix of arts, hospitality and sport, however Adelaide is a strong contender. The city comes alive with the multiple creative and music festivals hosted there throughout the year, including Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide, Adelaide Fringe and IndoFest. There’s also over 900 restaurants, pubs, and cafes in Adelaide, and the renowned Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest undercover markets in the Southern Hemisphere.
TRANSPORTATION
You can easily get around Adelaide with use of the local public transport system of buses, trains and trams. The metroCARD is Adelaide’s version of the Myki and enables you to pay your way, although the tram is free in Adelaide city centre between Entertainment Centre Station and South Terrace Station. Driving in Adelaide is popular for those living in the suburbs and petrol is marginally cheaper than in Melbourne at $1.64 a litre compared to $1.70.
CLIMATE
The weather is another key reason why so many ex-Melbournians love living in Adelaide! Mild winters (from 8℃ to 16℃) and warm dry summers (from 16℃ to 28℃), Adelaide is the driest Australian capital city as well as enjoying the lowest humidity. Adelaide is in the Australian Central Daylight Time zone and is 30 minutes behind Melbourne.
Planning your move to Adelaide
Now that you have an idea of what life will be like in Adelaide, now it is time to begin preparing for your interstate relocation!
PACKING BELONGINGS AND FURNITURE
Adelaide is over 726 kilometres from Melbourne so your belongings and furniture need to travel a far way to arrive at your new home interstate. While it’s a common mistake, don’t leave your packing to the last minute! A rushed packing job adds stress to your relocation and may mean your belongings are not secure for the journey, leading to lost, damaged and broken items.
When packing, items like clothes and books can be easily packed into suitcases or boxes, but other household items such as furniture, electronics, and other fragile items need to be packed properly. Ensure you have the right packing materials such as boxes, bubble wrap, labels and packing tape, you can request moving boxes from your removalists. The easiest way to ensure that your items are safe for the trip and take the stress off of you, we recommend using a professional packing service.
MOVING A CAR OR VEHICLE
Relocating with a car to Adelaide can make your life a lot easier, but first you need to decide how you’d like to transport it to your new home. You can drive your car to Adelaide from Melbourne via the National Highway which takes roughly eight hours. If you don’t have the time or stamina to do so, it’s best to use a vehicle transportation service. By using the professionals, your vehicle will be safely transported interstate saving you the excessive driving and cost of petrol, accommodation and food along the way.
RELOCATING WITH PETS
Before you relocate, take your pet to the vet for a check-up and let them know about your move. You can bring your cat or dog with you into Adelaide without quarantine requirements, however it’s important to note some breeds and pet species are prohibited. As it is such a long way to drive with a pet, it is highly recommended that you use a pet transportation service. They will have the right expertise and resources to get your pet to their new home in Adelaide, safely and efficiently.
STORAGE
Storage is a great option if you are unsure about what items and furniture you’d like to take with you to Adelaide. Short-term storage is recommended as you are able to securely store your belongings until you are more settled into your new home, providing you with much needed flexibility. Otherwise, you can opt for long-term storage to keep your items safe and sound for as long as you need. Either way, ensure that you choose a storage provider, such as Allied, who can deliver your stored belongings and furniture to your new interstate home when you require.
REMOVALISTS VS DIY
When deciding to relocate interstate, you will be faced with the ultimate question - do you handle the move yourself or enlist the help of experts. Moving interstate from Melbourne to Adelaide can be incredibly expensive and time consuming, with multiple logistics to keep track of so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Usually, the decision depends on whether it is cheaper to move by yourself.
The majority of people assume it’s cheaper to move yourself, but there is a myriad of costs you must account for when moving yourself, such as petrol, packing materials, the time taken to pack and move yourself (including taking time off work), renting a truck or van, and any other incidental expenses. After adding up these significant costs, it can end up being much more valuable to use professional movers. The major upside is also the time and energy you save when trusting the professionals. Removalists will have the experience, a high level of training and the right professional equipment to handle your interstate move and carefully look after your belongings, not to mention they will be significantly more efficient.
There is also the added benefit of removalists offering multiple services (such as pet relocation, storage, and transit insurance) which can provide a more competitive deal compared to using numerous service providers. Getting the highest quality work for the lowest price will always be amongst an important factor to consider. Working with the cheapest removalists available also comes with risks as inexperienced movers have a higher likelihood of losing or damaging your belongings. If the quality of work is shoddy, the cheapest option may actually end up costing you more.