How much does it cost to travel to Alice Springs?
You should plan to spend around $100 (AU$146) per day on your vacation in Alice Springs. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $25 (AU$37) on meals
- $21 (AU$31) on local transportation
- $106 (AU$154) on hotels
A one week trip to Alice Springs for two people costs, on average, $1,400 (AU$2,044). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Alice Springs has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Alice Springs expensive to visit?
Prices in Alice Springs are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, Alice Springs is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in the Pacific for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Lake Tekapo, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Sydney.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Alice Springs Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Alice Springs?
The average Alice Springs trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Alice Springs travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
AU$154
($106)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
AU$31
($21)
|
|
Food 2
|
AU$37
($25)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
AU$22
($15)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
AU$13 -
39
($9 - 27)
|
Accommodation Budget in Alice Springs
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Alice Springs can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Alice Springs is $53 (AU$77). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Alice Springs is $106 (AU$154). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Alice Springs? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Alice Springs include:
- Ooraminna Station Homestead starting at $152
- Kathys Place Bed and Breakfast starting at $54
Transportation Budget in Alice Springs
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Alice Springs is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $21 (AU$31) per person, per day, on local transportation in Alice Springs.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$21
AU$31
Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) Coach Transfer for $133 details
- Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer for $132 details
How much does it cost to go to Alice Springs? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Alice Springs will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Alice Springs
Calculated from travelers like you
If you want to experience the culture in Alice Springs, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner for $241 details
- From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner for $238 details
Entertainment Budget in Alice Springs
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Alice Springs typically cost an average of $15 (AU$22) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$15
AU$22
A nice way to explore destinations in Alice Springs is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- West MacDonnell Ranges Small-Group Full-Day Guided Tour for $246 details
- East MacDonnell Ranges 1 Day 4WD Tour for $246 details
- Historical Alice Tour for $115 details
Alcohol Budget in Alice Springs
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $18 (AU$26) on alcoholic beverages in Alice Springs per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$18
AU$26
Typical prices for Alcohol in Alice Springs are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Alice Springs, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Alice Springs on a Budget
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.
Alice Springs has a desert climate with highly variable weather from year to year. In particular, yearly rainfall can differ dramatically from one year to the next. Summer temperatures in Alice Springs can reach into the mid 40s Celsius with winter temperatures dropping to 6 degrees Celsius. There are about 12 freezing nights a year.
Sights
In addition to having Uluru, the surrounding landscape around Alice Springs is quite fascinating. It is made up of gorges and desert features that are striking in color, particularly at sunrise and sunset. There are also Aboriginal communities that have a fascinating and very informative history that they are eager to share. Visitors should also consider heading to Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon in addition to the famed Uluru.
Other places worth visiting include the Alice Springs Desert Park, the Reptile Centre, and the Olive Pink Botanical Garden.
Historic sights in the area include the Adelaide House, the Old Timer's Museum, the Residency, the National Pioneer Womens Hall of Fame, the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, and the Alice Springs Cemetery.
Neighborhoods
Alice Springs is very near the center of the continent. It's about 1200 kilometers from the nearest ocean and 1500 kilometers from the nearest cities of Darwin and Adelaide. It's also the midway point for the Adelaide-Darwin Railway. The McDonnell Ranges are to the south. The roads in the area are quite flat and usually go around, instead of over the hills, in part to respect the sacred sites of the local Indigenous people.
Activities
There are a decent number of adventure activities that you can enjoy in and around Alice Springs. Balloon Rides are popular at sunrise. Bicycle or motorcycle tours are also available. Pyndan Camel Tracks is a unique one hour or half day camel tour of the area.
If you're itching to get in a round of golf, there's also a golf course in the area, complete with a clubhouse which offers drinks and snacks.
Food and Dining
As a growing tourist destination, Alice Springs offers a decent supply of restaurants and cafes. There are a few good sit down restaurants including a Thai restaurant and an excellent grill, Red Ochre Grill, which uses many indigenous ingredients. Other options include a steakhouse, Indian food, pizza, and pasta. If you just want to grab a drink, head to Town and Country, which is a pub that has a great atmosphere and some light meals.
There are also several fast food options available. McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, and Red Rooster are the main chains available, and several other less popular options as well. You can also pick up some food at Ling's Supermarket. They have Asian food such as noodles, rice, kim chi, and several frozen meals.
Transportation
You can reach Alice Springs by plane, train, bus, or private car. Obviously the easiest way to travel to Alice Springs is by plane. There are flights in to Alice Springs from many major cities, but do note that Uluru actually has its own airport. If you're making a quick trip simply to see the rock, do not bother passing through Alice Springs.
Train tickets are actually more expensive than flights. The Ghan is the private tourist train that makes the trip from Adelaide and is quite an enjoyable experience, although not cheap. It does continue on to Darwin.
If you're planning to drive, you can expect a 17 hour trip from Darwin and an 18 hour trip from Adelaide. Coming from Adelaide, the Stuart Highway is in good condition and will pass through several towns including Coober Pedy.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.