Study Showdown: Adelaide vs Perth for International Students
- Is Adelaide better than Perth for international students?
- Does Adelaide have better universities than Perth?
- Does Adelaide have a lower cost of living for international students than Perth?
- Does Adelaide have more employment opportunities for international students than Perth?
- Which industries are the largest in Adelaide?
- Which industries are the largest in Perth?
- Is Adelaide more welcoming for international students than Perth?
- Which countries do most overseas-born residents in Adelaide and Perth come from?
- Does Adelaide have more scholarships for international students than in Perth?
- What are the requirements for an international scholarship in Adelaide and Perth?
Australia is one of the most welcoming countries in the world for international students. It’s home to 500,000 students in 2023!
Among the country’s capital cities, Adelaide and Perth are two of the most recommended. After all, they’re both homely, culturally diverse, and affordable options!
If you’re considering studying in either of these cities, I’ve got you covered! In this article, I’ll give you an in-depth comparison of Adelaide and Perth so you can make an informed decision about which city is right for you.
Is Adelaide better than Perth for international students?
Overall, Perth is a better city for international students based on university ranking, cost of living, employment, and diversity.
Adelaide’s only advantage is in the number of scholarships available.
| Which city is better? | |
| University ranking | Perth |
| Cost of living | Perth |
| Employment | Perth |
| Diversity | Perth |
| Scholarships | Adelaide |
Does Adelaide have better universities than Perth?
Based on QS World University Rankings, Perth has better universities than Perth.
| Rank | University | City |
| 90th | University of Western Australia (UWA) | Perth |
| 109th | University of Adelaide | Adelaide |
| 193rd | Curtin University | Perth |
| 363rd | University of South Australia | Adelaide |
| 425th | Flinders University | Adelaide |
| 561st-570th | Murdoch University | Perth |
| 601st-650th | Edith Cowan University | Perth |
Perth’s highest ranking university ranks higher than Adelaide’s (90th vs 109th). It also has 4 entries in the list, compared to Adelaide which only has 3.
This ranking, according to QS, comes from comparing academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international population, and employer reputation.
Does Adelaide have a lower cost of living for international students than Perth?
Perth is more budget-friendly for international students than Adelaide. This is based on a comparison of the two city’s cost of living based on data from Numbeo and Expatistan.
A comparison of the cost of living between the two cities can be seen below.
| Perth | Adelaide | |
| Food | ||
| Restaurant meal | $26.50 | $35 |
| Fast food combo meal | $15 | $14.80 |
| Domestic beer | $11 | $11.50 |
| Water bottle | $3.55 | $3.32 |
| Milk | $2.61 | $2.44 |
| Dozen eggs | $6.20 | $6.17 |
| Utilities | ||
| Basic utilities for apartment (gas, electricity, water) | $329.81 | $445.33 |
| Internet | $90.10 | $90.39 |
| Monthly rent | ||
| Apartment in CBD | $2,422.70 | $2,150.76 |
| Apartment outside CBD | $1,815.28 | $1,568.70 |
As we can see in the table, Perth has more affordable rates overall.
Does Adelaide have more employment opportunities for international students than Perth?
Perth has better employment opportunities than Adelaide. This is based on the unemployment rate and number of employed people provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The specific statistics provided by the source can be seen below.
| Perth | Adelaide | |
| Number of employed people | 1,524,100 | 941,100 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| Underemployment rate** | 5.7% | 7.1% |
*All data is updated as of March 2023
**Pertains to individuals working low-paying jobs unwillingly due to lack of job opportunities in their preferred fields
Adelaide has long been plagued by low unemployment rates even before the COVID pandemic. In fact, according to Grad Australia, it’s the city in Australia where fresh graduates have the most difficulty in finding employment.
As we’ll see in the next section, there are industries where fresh graduates are more likely to find employment in both cities.
Interestingly, Adelaide’s biggest industries are in human services, while Perth leans more on raw materials and production.
Which industries are the largest in Adelaide?
The industries with the largest workforce in Adelaide, according to Informed Decisions are
- Public Administration and Safety
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Financial and Insurance Services
- Education and Training
Which industries are the largest in Perth?
Perth has the most employees in these sectors according to Informed Decisions:
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Mining
- Public Administration and Safety
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Financial and Insurance Services
Is Adelaide more welcoming for international students than Perth?
Perth is more welcoming for international students based on the number of international students and diversity statistics.
The specific numbers for both of these can be seen below:
| Perth | Adelaide | |
| Number of international students | 29,354 | 29,519 |
| Percentage of population born outside Australia | 35% | 24% |
In Perth, the suburb with the highest number of residents born overseas is Canning. If you want to live in this neighborhood, I advise applying to Canning College or Curtin University.
Which countries do most overseas-born residents in Adelaide and Perth come from?
In both Adelaide and Perth, most overseas-born residents are from England. This is based on data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Does Adelaide have more scholarships for international students than in Perth?
As of 2023, there are more scholarships available in Adelaide than in Perth according to Good Universities Guide.
We gathered this data by comparing the total of offered scholarships in both cities as listed in the website.
| City | Number of scholarships |
| Adelaide | 325 |
| Perth | 159 |
This is taking into consideration all fields of study, from accounting to veterinary science.
Most of Adelaide’s scholarships are for students of The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.
On the other hand, most of Perth’s scholarships are under Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.
Keep in mind, though, that scholarship opportunities vary depending on your field of interest. Newer scholarship opportunities may also arrive any time of the year.
What are the requirements for an international scholarship in Adelaide and Perth?
Most scholarships in Adelaide and Perth require the following:
- Good academic standing
- English proficiency (usually measured through TOEFL or IELTS)
- If applying for a master’s degree, a feasible research proposal
- Admission to a university in the city
- Letter of recommendation
