Is Australia expensive to visit?
Australia is a moderately priced travel destination. Compared to the rest of the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced country to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of countries in the Pacific for its travel costs, and is comparable to places like New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.
As this is a very popular country for tourists, you'll find a number of great places in Australia to visit, all at a variety of price ranges. Some of the most expensive places to visit are Sydney, Rockhampton, and Fraser Island. If you're looking for lower cost destinations, you can visit places like Torquay, Alice Springs, and Cairns.
Average daily price of selected cities in Australia, by affordability
| City | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Fraser Island | $267 |
| Rockhampton | $226 |
| Sydney | $226 |
| Melbourne | $213 |
| Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) | $203 |
| Byron Bay | $190 |
| Coffs Harbour | $189 |
| Canberra | $174 |
| Adelaide | $145 |
| Surfers Paradise | $135 |
| Gold Coast | $129 |
| Newcastle | $129 |
| Cairns | $126 |
| Alice Springs | $124 |
| Torquay | $115 |
Darwin, Northern Territory (Tourism Australia)
How expensive is Australia?
On average, visitors spend about $188 per day during their visit to Australia (U.S. Dollars). Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Australia here.
How expensive is a one week trip to Australia?
A one week trip to Australia costs about $1,315 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $2,629.
How expensive is a two week trip to Australia?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a two week trip to Australia costs around $2,629 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a two week trip costs $5,259.
How expensive is a month long trip to Australia?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one month trip to Australia will cost around $5,635 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one month trip would cost $11,269.
Canberra (Tourism Australia)
Is it expensive to backpack in Australia?
Australia is a popular backpacker destination with more than 250 hostels around the country. Hostels cost, on average, $31 per night for a dorm. (See hostel prices in Australia here.) In particular, many backpackers head to Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns. You'll find the most expensive hostels in Byron Bay, Airlie Beach, and Sydney, which average $35, $34, and $33 a night. The cheapest hostels are in Cairns, Adelaide, and Melbourne which average $26, $26, and $26 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Australia.
- $48 for a dorm bed at Wake Up! Sydney Central in Sydney
- $20 for a dorm bed at Flinders Backpackers Melbourne in Melbourne
- $27 for a dorm bed at Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns in Cairns
Where to find affordable hostels in Australia
| City | Number of Hostels | Average Price for a Dorm |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 60 | $33 |
| Melbourne | 33 | $26 |
| Cairns | 20 | $26 |
| Perth | 20 | $33 |
| Brisbane | 20 | $33 |
| Byron Bay | 9 | $35 |
| Adelaide | 7 | $26 |
| Townsville | 6 | $29 |
| Airlie Beach | 6 | $34 |
Are hotels expensive in Australia?
From our analysis of hotel prices in Australia, we can see that they are moderate in cost and have somewhat average prices compared to other countries. The average rate for a room is approximately $176 per night. Keep in mind that pricing can vary across cities in the country, with places like Byron Bay commanding a higher average of $321 per night. Conversely, there are more economical options like Canberra, Adelaide, and Rockhampton, where hotel prices average around $126, $111, and $106 per night.
Where to find affordable hotels in Australia
| City | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|
| Byron Bay | $321 |
| Noosa Heads | $297 |
| Alice Springs | $227 |
| Airlie Beach | $214 |
| Fraser Island | $204 |
| Newcastle | $134 |
| Sydney | $129 |
| Canberra | $126 |
| Adelaide | $111 |
| Rockhampton | $106 |
Three Sisters Lookout, Echo Point Katoomba, Blue Mountains
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Australia?
In Australia, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the country. On average, previous travelers have spent around $34 per day on sightseeing and entertainment.
- Flying Fox Experience, Thousands of Australia's Largest Bat: $56
- Sunset Sail Cruise Airlie Beach: $85
- Private Canberra Winery Tour with lunch: $229
- Brisbane Sightseeing Tour by Bus: Scenic Locations & Morning Tea: $88
- Kangaroos, Rainforest & Waterfalls Experience - Small Group: $130
- Historical True Crime Walking Tour of East Sydney: $32
- Hahndorf food and wine E-Bike Tour: $187
- Sydney’s Badass Women: Inspiring History Walking Tour: $42
Is food expensive in Australia?
In Australia, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $62 per day on food, per person.
- Silver-Tails Rail Sunset With Smithy's Dinner & Show in Longreach: $120
- Evening Dinner Cruise: $117
- Melbourne's Laneways Evening Food Tour & Hidden Speakeasy Bar: $155
- Longreach: Country Classics Buffet Dinner: $35
- Foodie’s Guide to Footscray: Private Food Tour in Melbourne: $67
- Healesville e-Ride, Bar Hop and Dinner eXperience: $194
The Blue Mountains, Australia
Is transportation expensive in Australia?
Local transportation in Australia can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $33 on local transportation per person per day. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
Expenses for intercity transportation within Australia can vary based on the type of transportation used and the distance traveled. On average, previous travelers have spent $141 per person per day for intercity transit. To save money, it's advisable to choose long-distance buses or trains over air travel. This is generally a more cost-effective choice despite the potential increase in travel time.
More for Australia
If you're planning a trip to Australia, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.