A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Alice Springs vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Alice Springs or Katoomba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Alice Springs and Katoomba can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Alice Springs

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.

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 Alice Springs?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Alice Springs is $82, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $117. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Alice Springs and Katoomba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alice Springs $44
    Katoomba $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alice Springs $88
    Katoomba $134

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alice Springs $17
    Katoomba $43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs

Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) Coach Transfer: $118
  • From Ayers Rock Resort to Luxury Transfer: $130

Is it cheaper to fly into Alice Springs or Katoomba?

Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Alice Springs 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alice Springs $21
    Katoomba $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs

For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • From Uluru Full-Day Tour with BBQ Dinner: $191
  • Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Sunset BBQ Dinner: $209

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alice Springs $12
    Katoomba $46

Tours and Activities in Alice Springs

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.

  • Skip the Line: Alice Springs School of the Air Guided Tour Ticket: $9.48
  • Alice Springs Telegraph Station Entry and Tour Ticket: $12
  • Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $29
  • Alice Springs Camel Tour: $64
  • Alice Springs Highlights Half-Day Tour: $92
  • 4WD Palm Valley Tour with Lunch: $126
  • Palm Valley 4WD Day Tour: $138
  • Palm Valley 4WD Tour from Alice Springs: $141
  • Best of Alice Springs Full Day Tour: $142
  • West MacDonnell Ranges Small-Group Full-Day Guided Tour: $178
  • Rainbow Valley Sunset Half -Day 4WD Tour: $225
  • East MacDonnell Ranges: Small Group 4x4 Tour & Picnic Lunch: $234

Tours and Activities in Katoomba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:

  • Amazing Full Day Abseiling Adventure in the Blue Mountains: $198
  • Bathurst Wine Trail Full-Day Private Tour with Tastings: $371
  • Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $111
  • Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and Bilpin Tour from Katoomba with Cider Tasting: $167
  • Blue Mountains Explorer Bus: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $35
  • Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides: $43
  • Blue Mountains Secret Places Adventure: $118
  • Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillac Tour with Local Guide: $502
  • Blue Mountains: 4WD Adventure Tour with Local Guide: $195
  • Blue Mountains: Private Scenic Tour with Optional Stops: $184
  • From Sydney: Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour Picnic & Hike: $181
  • Full-Day Canyoning Experience at Stunning Empress Canyon: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alice Springs $15
    Katoomba -
Typical Alcohol prices in Alice Springs

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:


  • Glass of Wine in Alice Springs
    $4.94

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alice Springs and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Alice Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alice Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alice Springs 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 Alice Springs.

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Alice Springs vs. Katoomba Travel Comparison

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