Should you visit Adelaide or Katoomba?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Adelaide and Katoomba can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
Which city is cheaper, Katoomba or Adelaide?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Adelaide is $97, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $119. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Adelaide and Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $116 for a double occupancy room in Adelaide If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $138 for a double occupancy room in Katoomba.
Food
The price of a meal in Adelaide can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $27 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $15 per day in Katoomba for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Adelaide $27
Katoomba $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The F Factor: Adelaide food tour:
$36
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Adelaide Central Market The Collaborators Dinner Tour:
$154
Local Transportation
To get around in Adelaide, the average visitor spends $16 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Katoomba is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $44 per person, per day, on local transportation in Katoomba.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Adelaide Airport Private Chauffeured Transfer:
$29
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Adelaide Airport:
$40
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Corporate transfers and wine tours:
$43
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Adelaide Airport Departure Transfer in a Tesla Model3 EV:
$44
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Transfer in private vehicle from Adelaide Downtown to Adelaide Airport:
$61
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Transfer in private minivan from Adelaide Downtown to Adelaide Airport:
$61
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Private Transfer: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport (ADL):
$64
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Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Business Car:
$67
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Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Business Car:
$71
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Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Van:
$99
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Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Luxury Van:
$99
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Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car:
$121
Is it cheaper to fly into Adelaide or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Adelaide change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
In Adelaide, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Katoomba typically cost an average of $47 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Australian Wine Discovery Tour Ticket:
$12
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Adelaide Scavenger Hunt: Adelaide Adventure:
$12
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Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Adelaide Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Torrens River Cruise in Adelaide:
$19
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Jimmy C Street Art Walking Tour:
$20
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Cultural Caper Adelaide Walking Tour:
$24
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Adelaide Walking Tour: East End Escapade:
$24
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Around the Square Adelaide Walking Tour:
$24
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Adelaide Gaol Adults Ghost Tour & Investigation:
$28
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Australian Wine Discovery Tour with Tastings:
$32
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Adelaide Gaol Ghost Tour and Paranormal Investigation:
$32
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
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Amazing Full Day Abseiling Adventure in the Blue Mountains:
$198
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Bathurst Wine Trail Full-Day Private Tour with Tastings:
$371
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Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters:
$111
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Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and Bilpin Tour from Katoomba with Cider Tasting:
$167
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Blue Mountains Explorer Bus: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$35
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Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides:
$43
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Blue Mountains Secret Places Adventure:
$118
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Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillac Tour with Local Guide:
$502
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Blue Mountains: 4WD Adventure Tour with Local Guide:
$195
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Blue Mountains: Private Scenic Tour with Optional Stops:
$184
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From Sydney: Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour Picnic & Hike:
$185
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Full-Day Canyoning Experience at Stunning Empress Canyon:
$205
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Adelaide spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
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McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon):
$55
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Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour:
$78
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Adelaide Hills Wine Tour:
$81
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The Lane Vineyard: Panorama Private Wine Tasting Experience:
$103
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From Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour:
$107
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Barossa Valley Wine Tours - Small Private Groups:
$119
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Barossa Valley Cellar Doors Luxury Wine Tour:
$121
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McLaren Vale Wine Tour by Bike:
$126
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Small-Group Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour:
$126
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McLaren Vale Luxury Wine Tour:
$155
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McLaren Vale Winery Small Group Tour with Wine Tasting and Lunch:
$158
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Small-Group Full-Day Adelaide Hills and Hahndorf Wine Tour from Adelaide:
$158
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Adelaide and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Adelaide much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Adelaide would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adelaide and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Adelaide.
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