Travel Budget for Gold Coast Visit Gold Coast on a Budget or Travel in Style

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

How much does it cost to travel to Gold Coast?

You should plan to spend around $99 (AU$151) per day on your vacation in Gold Coast. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $27 (AU$42) on meals
  • $23 (AU$35) on local transportation
  • $110 (AU$169) on hotels

A one week trip to Gold Coast for two people costs, on average, $1,379 (AU$2,111). 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
    $99
    AU$151
  • One Week Per person
    $690
    AU$1,055
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,379
    AU$2,111
  • One Month Per person
    $2,956
    AU$4,523
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,379
    AU$2,111
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,759
    AU$4,222
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,912
    AU$9,046
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 Gold Coast cost?

A one week trip to Gold Coast usually costs around $690 (AU$1,055) for one person and $1,379 (AU$2,111) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Gold Coast on average costs around $1,379 (AU$2,111) for one person and $2,759 (AU$4,222) 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 Gold Coast will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Gold Coast on average costs around $2,956 (AU$4,523) for one person and $5,912 (AU$9,046) 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 Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast expensive to visit?

Prices in Gold Coast 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, Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Gold Coast?

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


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) AU$169 ($110)
Local Transportation 1 AU$35 ($23)
Food 2 AU$42 ($27)
Entertainment 1 AU$29 ($19)
Alcohol 2 AU$4 - 12 ($3 - 8)
Accommodation Budget in Gold Coast
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Gold Coast is $55 (AU$84). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Gold Coast is $110 (AU$169). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $55
    AU$84
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $110
    AU$169

Hotel Prices in Gold Coast

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

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

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



Transportation Budget in Gold Coast
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Gold Coast is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $23 (AU$35) per person, per day, on local transportation in Gold Coast.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $23
    AU$35

Recommended Services


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

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

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Gold Coast can vary, the average cost of food in Gold Coast is $27 (AU$42) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Gold Coast should cost around $11 (AU$17) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Gold Coast is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $27
    AU$42

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Gold Coast
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Gold Coast typically cost an average of $19 (AU$29) 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.
    $19
    AU$29

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Gold Coast
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $5.23 (AU$8.00) on alcoholic beverages in Gold Coast per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $5.23
    AU$8.00

Recommended


Gold Coast On a Budget
Gold Coast Gold Coast, Queensland
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier destinations. Famous for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, watersports, and plenty of activities for all ages, millions of tourists from Australia as well as everywhere in the world flock to this region every year. With beaches, national parks, theme parks, shopping and dining, nice resorts, boating, fishing, diving, theme parks and more, the Gold Coast offers something for everyone.

This region is both a city (Gold Coast) as well as the entire region of smaller towns encompassing Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, Southport, Broadbeach, plus other areas. Brisbane is about 75km to the north.

Generally, the region can be a bit expensive due to the high tourism demand, pricey hotels and resorts, and plethora of activities. However, it's possible to visit the area if you're on a tight budget by staying at less expensive accommodation options (hostels and budget hotels), eating at less expensive restaurants and fast food places, and using public transportation.
Sights
The beach is the main attraction here, as much of the area's hotels and resorts are located on the shore. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also very popular, as the water is clear enough to see much of the undersea life. And don't forget about surfing. Several surfing schools can be found in the area if you're a beginner.

But the Gold Coast area offers plenty of other things to do and see. Several national parks are in the area, including Burleigh Head, Nerang, Tamborine, Sarabah, and more. Several of these parks are in the "Hinterland" region which is the inland area of Gold Coast. Here you'll find a rain forests and mountains with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and even visiting vineyards and wineries.

If you stick closer to the beach, plenty of theme parks can be found here. From Sea World to Dreamworld (a zoo-like experience), to Warner Bros. Movie World, you'll have no trouble finding something to do. In fact, so many more activities for families in the Gold Coast are available for kids of all ages. For example, Wet 'N' Wild and Whitewater World are two great water parks full of slides, pools, and splash pads.

And if you want a great view, check out the Sky Point Observation Deck.

Activities
In addition to the sights listed above, other activities include hot air balloon rides, skydiving, fishing, boating and sailing, golf, hiking, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), and numerous other activities both on and off the water.

You can also visit several wildlife areas such as the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you can meet birds, koalas, and other native animals.

Or check out the Botanic Gardens which make for a nice, relaxing stroll through native flowers and plant species.
Food and Dining
The Gold Coast has no shortage of dining options. You will find everything here, and you will eat all of it! Don't attempt to lose weight on this trip.

From high-end restaurants to affordable fast food and quick dining options, everyone can eat on their respective budget here. And you'll also find cuisine that is not just local (plenty of seafood), but also global, with restaurants serving food from around the world.

If you're on a budget, you can always grab food from one of the many grocery stores or markets and cook your own food.

For less expensive options, try Fishmongers for some fish and chips, Bonita Bonita for some great tacos, or one of the many Breweries for some affordable burgers with your beer. A few other not-too-expensive places include Hideaway Kitchen, Ally Chow, or Wahoo's Fish Tacos.

For a splurge, check out the Social Eating House at Broadbeach, Rick Shores, Little Truffle, or Bisque.

Transportation
The Gold Coast is served by several airports, including the Gold Coast International Airport and the smaller Southport airport. It's also possible to fly into Brisbane, as it's not too far away. The AirTrain connects you from Brisbane's airport into the heart of Surfers Paradise with a connection at Helensvale.

Public trams and buses circulate around all areas of the Gold Coast daily. For $10 a daily pass can be purchased allowing you unlimited rides throughout the region on trams and buses. It's possible to take a bus or tram combination from the Gold Coast airport at the southern end of the Gold Coast all the way up to Brisbane (with a few transfers). The Gold Coast Tram runs from Broadbeach up to Helensvale and takes around 45 minutes. Other bus routes go pretty much everywhere else. For more details read the Gold Coast guides on Translink's website.

Having your own vehicle is the most convenient way to get around.

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.