Travel Budget for Canberra Visit Canberra on a Budget or Travel in Style

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

How much does it cost to travel to Canberra?

You should plan to spend around $134 (AU$205) per day on your vacation in Canberra. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $35 (AU$53) on meals
  • $24 (AU$37) on local transportation
  • $165 (AU$253) on hotels

A one week trip to Canberra for two people costs, on average, $1,873 (AU$2,866). 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.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $134
    AU$205
  • One Week Per person
    $937
    AU$1,433
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,873
    AU$2,866
  • One Month Per person
    $4,014
    AU$6,142
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,873
    AU$2,866
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,746
    AU$5,732
  • One Month For a couple
    $8,027
    AU$12,284
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Canberra cost?

A one week trip to Canberra usually costs around $937 (AU$1,433) for one person and $1,873 (AU$2,866) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Canberra on average costs around $1,873 (AU$2,866) for one person and $3,746 (AU$5,732) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Canberra will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Canberra on average costs around $4,014 (AU$6,142) for one person and $8,027 (AU$12,284) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Canberra 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 Canberra expensive to visit?

Prices in Canberra 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, Canberra is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Whitsundays or Hobart.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Canberra Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Canberra?

The average Canberra trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Canberra travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) AU$253 ($165)
Local Transportation 1 AU$37 ($24)
Food 2 AU$53 ($35)
Entertainment 1 AU$26 ($17)
Alcohol 2 AU$12 - 36 ($8 - 23)
Accommodation Budget in Canberra
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Canberra is $83 (AU$126). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Canberra is $165 (AU$253). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $83
    AU$126
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $165
    AU$253

Hotel Prices in Canberra

Looking for a hotel in Canberra? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Canberra based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $122. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Canberra
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Canberra is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $24 (AU$37) per person, per day, on local transportation in Canberra.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $24
    AU$37

Recommended Services


Flights to Canberra
How much does it cost to go to Canberra? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Canberra
The price of renting a car in Canberra 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 Canberra
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Canberra can vary, the average cost of food in Canberra is $35 (AU$53) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Canberra should cost around $14 (AU$21) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Canberra is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $35
    AU$53

What did other people spend on Food in Canberra?

Typical prices for Food in Canberra are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Canberra, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Lunch
    AU$25


Entertainment Budget in Canberra
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Canberra typically cost an average of $17 (AU$26) 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.
    $17
    AU$26

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Canberra
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $16 (AU$24) on alcoholic beverages in Canberra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $16
    AU$24

Recommended

What did other people spend on Alcohol in Canberra?

Typical prices for Alcohol in Canberra are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Canberra, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Drinks at a Bar
    AU$14


Canberra On a Budget
Canberra Canberra (Tourism Australia)
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."

When it was first built it was filled with politicians and people who worked for the government so it took a while for Canberra to develop its own culture.
Sights
While the capital city is a sight in and of itself, there are plenty of things to add to your sightseeing list. For starters you'll want to learn the history and culture of the city at the National Capital Exhibition. Here you'll learn about the planning and building of Canberra with a great view of Lake Burley Griffin.

The Australian War Memorial is more than a memorial – it's one of the country's leading museums displaying Australia's military history. You c an easily spend an entire day wandering through exhibits of equipment, memorabilia and battle scenes.

To see the largest collection of plants and wildlife in the country, spend some time at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. This is a great way to spend an afternoon – pack a picnic and enjoy. If you happen to be around n the summertime, look into the jazz evenings held in the gardens.

If it's a full view of Canberra you're after, head to the Black Mountain Tower. This communication tower rises above the summit of Black Mountain giving visitors a 360 view of the whole city and surrounding countryside.
Neighborhoods
Canberra is divided in half by Lake Burley Griffin – named for the architects that designed the city. The north side of the lake is home to the central shopping and commercial area known as "the civic." On the south side of the lake you'll find the parliamentary triangle and embassy area. Additionally, there are several suburbs surrounding central Canberra. Belconnen and Gungahlin are closer to the north while Tuggeranong and Woden are more southern.

Activities
The beautiful man made Lake Burley Griffin offers plenty of activities for tourists of every kind. You can hire a paddleboat, canoe, kayak, or take a scenic cruise or simply walk around the lake.

There are several spots just perfect for mountain biking in Canberra. Many of them are considered some of the best in the whole of Australia. If you're visiting in October, check out the world's largest 24-hour Mountain Bike Race.

For a little more relaxing activity, try touring the wineries around Canberra. These cool climate wines are well known and respected, and there are 33 within 35 miles of Canberra. Take your pick.
Food and Dining
There are plenty of places to eat in Canberra, but remember that most places will be closed on Sundays. Given this city's unique past and growth, the restaurants really do run the gambit. You'll find influences from every major culture – Italian, French, American, Asian, etc. Along with that, you'll find prices from top to bottom. Whatever you're in the mood for can likely be found in Canberra.

Transportation
Riding the bus around Canberra is cheap and relatively simple. Beware of the heavy traffic on inter-town routes. During weekends and off-peak hours, schedules can vary, so be sure to double-check your timetable. If you're going to need to change buses, you'll want to ask for a transfer ticket that allows you to board as many buses as you need to arrive at your final destination. Before getting on board, tell the driver where you're going and ask for your options. Some buses take longer routes to get to relatively close places. Also, note that buses don't run between midnight and 6 am, or after 7 pm on Sundays or public holidays.

Canberra has a very well developed network of cycling paths, should you decide biking is more your style. There are bike racks to lock up your bikes at most shopping centers and tourist attractions, and you must wear a helmet.

Renting a car is also an option, but beware your lead foot. Canberra takes speeding very seriously with the most speed cameras per capita in the whole country. Also, bear in mind that there are very few fuel stations on the main roads.


Related:

Looking for a party? Find a hostel in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, or along the Gold Coast.

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.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.