Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Australia Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Australia Property Pack
If you're a foreigner looking to buy property in Adelaide in 2026, you need to know one thing first: the rules have changed, and most established homes are now off-limits to you.
In this guide, we break down current housing prices in Adelaide at every budget level, from $100k all the way to luxury, and we update this blog post regularly so the numbers stay fresh.
We also explain what you can actually buy as a foreign buyer under the new restrictions, plus the real costs beyond the purchase price.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Adelaide.
What can I realistically buy with $100k in Adelaide right now?
Are there any decent properties for $100k in Adelaide, or is it all scams?
At around $100,000 USD (about A$146,000), you cannot realistically buy a standard residential property in metropolitan Adelaide in 2026, because the median dwelling value in Adelaide sits near A$868,000 and even the median unit price is around A$634,000.
If you were a local buyer, the cheapest suburbs like Elizabeth, Davoren Park, Smithfield, Salisbury, and Hackham West would be where you'd look first, but even there, A$146,000 is well below the entry point for most homes.
As a foreign buyer, the situation is even more limited because from April 2025 to March 2027, Australia bans most foreign purchases of established dwellings, meaning you're restricted to new or near-new properties, which rarely exist at this price point in Adelaide.
What property types can I afford for $100k in Adelaide (studio, land, old house)?
At A$146,000, you won't find a typical studio apartment, house, or even vacant land in metropolitan Adelaide in 2026, though you might find a small block well outside the metro area in regional South Australia if you search hard enough.
If something does appear near this price in metro Adelaide, expect it to be either unlivable without major renovation work or structured as a non-standard ownership arrangement like a retirement lease, which is not the same as normal freehold ownership.
The most realistic use of $100,000 USD in Adelaide's property market is as a deposit, where it could cover 20% down on a property around A$500,000 or serve as a 10% off-the-plan deposit on a new apartment, with the balance due at settlement.
What's a realistic budget to get a comfortable property in Adelaide as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the minimum budget to buy a comfortable property in Adelaide is around A$550,000 to A$750,000 (roughly $375,000 to $515,000 USD or €345,000 to €475,000) for a solid apartment or townhouse, or A$750,000 to A$1.1 million ($515,000 to $755,000 USD or €475,000 to €695,000) for a comfortable family house.
Most buyers looking for something move-in ready in a decent Adelaide neighborhood should expect to spend somewhere in this range, with the median dwelling value across Adelaide sitting at approximately A$868,000 and the median house at around A$924,000.
In Adelaide, "comfortable" typically means a property in good condition with at least two bedrooms, modern or updated interiors, a functional layout, and located in a safe suburb with reasonable access to shops, schools, and public transport.
However, the required budget varies significantly depending on the neighborhood, with inner-east suburbs like Norwood or beachside areas like Glenelg commanding higher prices than outer northern suburbs like Salisbury or Elizabeth.
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What can I get with a $200k budget in Adelaide as of 2026?
What "normal" homes become available at $200k in Adelaide as of 2026?
As of early 2026, a $200,000 USD budget (approximately A$292,000) is still below the entry point for most normal homes in metropolitan Adelaide, though a local buyer might find an older one-bedroom unit in cheaper pockets like Elizabeth or Salisbury if they search carefully.
At this price point in Adelaide, if you do find something, expect a compact space of around 40 to 55 square meters (430 to 590 square feet), likely an older-style unit or apartment that needs updating.
For foreign buyers in early 2026, A$292,000 remains below the realistic entry point for new or near-new dwellings in Adelaide, so this budget is still more useful as deposit money rather than a complete purchase amount.
By the way, we have much more granular data about housing prices in our property pack about Adelaide.
What places are the smartest $200k buys in Adelaide as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the smartest suburbs for local buyers with around A$292,000 in Adelaide include Salisbury, Elizabeth, Smithfield, Morphett Vale, and Christies Beach, where older units and small homes occasionally appear at or near this price.
These areas offer smarter value compared to other $200k options in Adelaide because they have established infrastructure, public transport links to the city, and ongoing government investment in urban renewal, particularly in the northern corridor.
For foreign buyers who can only purchase new or near-new properties, the smart move at $200k is not really about choosing a suburb but about targeting new apartment developments in urban renewal areas like the CBD, West End, Bowden, or Port Adelaide, and using your A$292,000 as a deposit toward a larger purchase.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Australia. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
What can I buy with $300k in Adelaide in 2026?
What quality upgrade do I get at $300k in Adelaide in 2026?
As of early 2026, moving from $200k to $300k USD (from A$292,000 to approximately A$438,000) in Adelaide means you enter real property territory where you can potentially purchase a small unit in a middle or outer-ring suburb, rather than just having deposit money.
At A$438,000, you can sometimes find a property in a newer building in Adelaide, particularly a small one-bedroom apartment in inner urban areas like the CBD, West End, or Bowden, though choice remains limited and you'll need to shop carefully.
At this budget, you start seeing features like secure parking, modern kitchens and bathrooms, air conditioning, and access to building amenities like a gym or rooftop terrace, though you'll likely trade off on size to get these finishes.
Can $300k buy a 2-bedroom in Adelaide in 2026 in good areas?
As of early 2026, finding a two-bedroom property for $300k USD (A$438,000) in a good area of Adelaide is quite unlikely, because good-area two-bedrooms typically price much closer to or above Adelaide's median unit value of around A$634,000.
If you do find a two-bedroom at this price, it will most likely be in more affordable outer suburbs like Salisbury, Elizabeth, or Morphett Vale, rather than desirable inner or coastal areas.
A two-bedroom unit at A$438,000 in Adelaide would typically offer around 55 to 70 square meters (590 to 750 square feet) of living space, and for foreign buyers restricted to new or near-new stock, options at this price for two bedrooms are very rare.
Which places become "accessible" at $300k in Adelaide as of 2026?
At the $300k USD (A$438,000) price point in Adelaide, you start gaining access to inner-urban renewal areas like the CBD, West End, Bowden, and Port Adelaide for smaller new apartments, as well as established suburbs like Kilburn, Blair Athol, and Mansfield Park for older stock.
These newly accessible areas are more desirable than lower-budget options because they offer better proximity to Adelaide's city center, more walkable neighborhoods, newer infrastructure, and stronger long-term growth potential tied to ongoing urban development projects.
In these areas, foreign buyers can typically expect a compact one-bedroom new or near-new apartment with modern finishes, while local buyers might find older two-bedroom units or small townhouses that need some updating.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Adelaide.
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What does a $500k budget unlock in Adelaide in 2026?
What's the typical size and location for $500k in Adelaide in 2026?
As of early 2026, a $500,000 USD budget (approximately A$730,000) in Adelaide typically buys a two-bedroom apartment of around 75 to 95 square meters (800 to 1,020 square feet) in many parts of the city, or a smaller house or townhouse in middle-ring suburbs.
At A$730,000, you can potentially buy a family home with outdoor space in Adelaide, but it will usually be in middle-to-outer ring suburbs like Salisbury Heights, Morphett Vale, Hallett Cove, Reynella, or Wynn Vale rather than in premium inner-city or beachside locations.
At this budget, a typical Adelaide property offers two to three bedrooms and one to two bathrooms, with newer apartments often including secure parking and building amenities, while houses or townhouses may include a small garden or courtyard.
Finally, please note that we cover all the housing price data in Adelaide here.
Which "premium" neighborhoods open up at $500k in Adelaide in 2026?
At $500k USD (A$730,000) in Adelaide, premium neighborhoods that open up for apartment purchases include beachside areas like Glenelg, Henley Beach, and Brighton, as well as inner character suburbs like Norwood, Prospect, and North Adelaide.
These neighborhoods are considered premium in Adelaide because they offer proximity to the beach or the city center, tree-lined streets with heritage character, excellent cafes and restaurants, top-rated schools, and strong community appeal that consistently drives buyer demand.
At A$730,000 in these premium Adelaide neighborhoods, foreign buyers restricted to new or near-new stock can realistically expect a well-appointed two-bedroom apartment with modern finishes, while local buyers might also find smaller character cottages or townhouses on quieter streets.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Australia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What counts as "luxury" in Adelaide in 2026?
At what amount does "luxury" start in Adelaide right now?
In Adelaide in 2026, luxury real estate typically starts at around A$1.5 million (approximately $1,030,000 USD or €950,000) for houses and around A$1 million ($685,000 USD or €630,000) for apartments or penthouses in standout buildings or locations.
At the entry point to luxury in Adelaide, you typically see features like premium finishes such as stone benchtops and European appliances, high ceilings, large floor plans, private outdoor entertaining areas, secure parking for multiple cars, and addresses in the city's most sought-after streets.
Compared to Sydney or Melbourne, Adelaide's luxury threshold is significantly lower, meaning you can access genuine prestige properties for roughly half the price you would pay in Australia's largest cities.
Mid-tier luxury in Adelaide generally ranges from A$2 million to A$4 million ($1.4 million to $2.7 million USD or €1.3 million to €2.5 million), while top-tier luxury properties in Adelaide's most exclusive areas can exceed A$5 million ($3.4 million USD or €3.2 million).
Which areas are truly high-end in Adelaide right now?
The truly high-end neighborhoods in Adelaide in 2026 include the inner-eastern prestige suburbs of Toorak Gardens, Burnside, Unley Park, Medindie, Walkerville, and St Peters, along with prime beachside locations in Glenelg, Henley Beach, and Brighton, and the Adelaide Hills enclave of Stirling.
These areas are considered truly high-end in Adelaide because they combine heritage streetscapes with large established homes on generous lots, excellent private school access, mature gardens, privacy, and a strong sense of established wealth and community prestige.
The typical buyer in Adelaide's high-end areas is a successful business owner, senior executive, medical specialist, or established professional family seeking a long-term home, as well as some interstate buyers attracted by Adelaide's relative affordability compared to Sydney and Melbourne's equivalent suburbs.
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How much does it really cost to buy, beyond the price, in Adelaide in 2026?
What are the total closing costs in Adelaide in 2026 as a percentage?
As of early 2026, the total closing costs for a foreign buyer purchasing property in Adelaide typically range from 12% to 16% of the purchase price, which is significantly higher than what local buyers pay.
For most standard transactions in Adelaide, local buyers can expect closing costs of around 4% to 6%, while foreign buyers face the higher range due to additional surcharges and federal fees.
The main fee categories making up these costs in Adelaide include stamp duty (transfer duty), the 7% Foreign Ownership Surcharge imposed by South Australia, the FIRB application fee (commonly A$15,100 for purchases up to A$1 million), plus legal and conveyancing fees and Lands Titles Office registration fees.
To avoid hidden costs and bad surprises, you can check our our pack covering the property buying process in Adelaide.
How much are notary, registration, and legal fees in Adelaide in 2026?
As of early 2026, legal and conveyancing fees in Adelaide typically cost between A$1,200 and A$3,000 ($820 to $2,050 USD or €760 to €1,900), while Lands Titles Office registration and lodgement fees add several hundred to a few thousand dollars more.
In total, these fees usually represent around 0.5% to 1% of the property price in Adelaide, which is a relatively small portion compared to stamp duty and foreign buyer surcharges.
In Australia, property transfers use conveyancers or solicitors rather than notaries, and the legal and conveyancing component is typically the larger expense, while registration fees charged by Land Services SA are more modest but still a required budget line item.
What annual property taxes should I expect in Adelaide in 2026?
As of early 2026, annual property taxes in Adelaide include council rates, which typically range from A$1,500 to A$3,500 ($1,030 to $2,400 USD or €950 to €2,200) per year for a standard residential property, depending on your council area and property valuation.
Council rates in Adelaide generally represent around 0.2% to 0.5% of your property's value each year, though this varies based on how each local council sets its rates and how your property is valued.
Property taxes vary significantly across Adelaide, with City of Adelaide rates differing from suburban councils like Salisbury or Marion, and land tax may also apply if you own investment property or have aggregated land holdings above certain thresholds set by RevenueSA.
There are some exemptions available in South Australia, with the main one being that your principal place of residence is generally exempt from land tax, though council rates apply to all properties regardless of use.
You can find the list of all property taxes, costs and fees when buying in Adelaide here.
Is mortgage a viable option for foreigners in Adelaide right now?
Getting a mortgage as a foreigner in Adelaide is possible but harder than for local residents, with fewer lenders willing to offer financing and stricter requirements across the board.
Foreign buyers in Adelaide typically face loan-to-value ratios of around 60% to 70%, meaning you'll need a deposit of 30% to 40%, and interest rates may be slightly higher than standard residential rates, often around 1% to 2% above what locals pay.
To qualify for a mortgage as a foreign buyer in Adelaide, you typically need to provide extensive documentation including proof of income, tax returns from your home country, bank statements, a valid passport, FIRB approval, and evidence that the property meets foreign ownership requirements.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Australia.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Australia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What should I predict for resale and growth in Adelaide in 2026?
What property types resell fastest in Adelaide in 2026?
As of early 2026, the property types that resell fastest in Adelaide are move-in-ready homes and well-presented apartments in the entry-level and mid-market segments, along with two-bedroom apartments near jobs and amenities that attract broad buyer demand.
The typical time on market to sell a property in Adelaide is around 30 to 35 days for a correctly priced, well-presented home, based on a median of approximately 32 days reported in late 2025.
Properties sell faster in Adelaide when they require no renovation work, are priced at or just below the median for their suburb, and sit in suburbs with good public transport connections like those along the train lines to Gawler or Seaford.
The slowest properties to resell in Adelaide tend to be quirky or unusual homes that appeal to a narrow buyer pool, properties in areas with limited infrastructure like outer fringe suburbs, and apartments in older buildings with high strata fees or deferred maintenance.
If you're interested, we cover all the best exit strategies in our real estate pack about Adelaide.
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What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Adelaide, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can ... and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve Bank of Australia | Australia's central bank publishes official exchange rates. | We used the AUD/USD rate to convert your USD budgets into realistic Australian dollar buying power. We then kept all property cost estimates consistent by quoting in AUD after conversion. |
| NAB Adelaide Property Market Update | A major Australian bank summarizing market data from Cotality. | We used it for Adelaide median dwelling, house, and unit values as our price anchors. We then built budget tier estimates around these medians so our figures reflect actual market conditions. |
| RevenueSA Foreign Ownership Surcharge | South Australia's official revenue authority for state taxes. | We used it to quantify the 7% surcharge foreign buyers pay on top of standard stamp duty. We then incorporated this into our closing cost calculations for foreign purchasers. |
| Australian Taxation Office | The ATO administers Australia's foreign investment rules day-to-day. | We used it to explain the core constraint that most foreigners cannot buy established dwellings from April 2025 to March 2027. We then tailored all property advice to new or near-new stock accordingly. |
| Foreign Investment Schedule of Fees | The Australian Government's official FIRB fee schedule. | We used it to price the FIRB application fee bands for residential purchases by foreign buyers. We then included these fees in our total closing cost estimates. |
| SA.GOV.AU Property Transfer Calculator | An official South Australian government tool for buyer costs. | We used it to validate stamp duty and Lands Titles Office fee categories. We then referenced it as the baseline for what buyers will actually pay beyond the purchase price. |
| PropTrack Market Reports | A major Australian housing data publisher with transparent methodology. | We used it to confirm that Adelaide has been among Australia's stronger-growth capital cities recently. We then kept our growth and resale commentary consistent with these broader market trends. |
| RevenueSA Land Tax Rates | The official schedule for South Australian land tax obligations. | We used it to explain when land tax applies and how it depends on aggregated land holdings. We then provided practical guidance for ongoing cost planning. |
| City of Adelaide Rates Document | An official council document showing how local rates are set. | We used it to explain that council rates are real annual costs that vary by council and property valuation. We then advised budgeting a range rather than a single fixed number. |
| Canstar Non-Resident Home Loans | A trusted Australian comparison site for consumer finance research. | We used it to support that mortgages are possible for non-residents but come with stricter requirements. We then translated this into practical expectations around deposits and documentation. |
| ASIC MoneySmart | Australia's consumer finance regulator's education resource. | We used it to keep the buying process explanation straightforward and aligned with official guidance. We then mapped the typical steps from offer to settlement to the fees involved. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Australia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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