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

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Should you visit Alice Springs or Surfers Paradise?

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 Surfers Paradise 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.

Surfers Paradise

A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.

Which city is cheaper, Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise is $90. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alice Springs $44
    Surfers Paradise $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alice Springs $88
    Surfers Paradise $114

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alice Springs $17
    Surfers Paradise $9.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise

Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Brisbane Airport Departure Transfer From Gold Coast: $177
  • Gold Coast: Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $33
  • One-Way Shared Transfer to Byron Bay: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Alice Springs or Surfers Paradise?

Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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
    Surfers Paradise $23

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise

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

  • Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak and Dinner: $40
  • Dinner Buffet Cruise on the Gold Coast: $70
  • Gold Coast: Spirits of the Red Sand Aboriginal Show & Dinner: $87

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alice Springs $12
    Surfers Paradise $20

Tours and Activities in Alice Springs

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

  • 3-Day Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) via Kings Canyon Tour: $662
  • 3-Day Uluru Camping Tour from Alice Springs Including Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon: $340
  • 3-Day Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon 4WD Small-Group Eco-Tour from Alice Springs: $2,707
  • Alice Springs Camel Tour: $64
  • Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $29
  • Alice Springs Highlights Half-Day Tour: $92
  • Alice Springs Telegraph Station Entry and Tour Ticket: $12
  • Alice Springs, Uluru Ayers Rock & Kings Canyon 8 Days Touring Package: $2,686
  • 4WD Palm Valley Tour with Lunch: $126
  • Best of Alice Springs Full Day Tour: $142
  • Chambers Pillar and Rainbow Valley 1 Day 4WD Tour: $394
  • East MacDonnell Ranges 1 Day 4WD Tour: $257

Typical Entertainment prices in Surfers Paradise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surf Lesson
    $85

Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise

For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $32
  • Aquaduck Secrets, Scandals and Sunset Tour: $47
  • Body Massage Experience in Gold Coast: $160
  • Byron Bay and the Crystal Castle Day Tour from Gold Coast: $97
  • Full Day Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Gold Coast: $126
  • Full-Day Moreton Island 4x4 Sightseeing Tour: $259
  • Glow Worms Private Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk: $466
  • Glow Worms Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk - Small Group: $78
  • Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $20
  • Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $21
  • Gold Coast Hydrofoil Tours: $131
  • Gold Coast Morning Tea Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alice Springs $15
    Surfers Paradise $9.71
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

Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:

  • Private Half Day Wine Tour from Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain: $119
  • Hipster Sipster Brewery and Distillery Tour: $154

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Alice Springs and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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Alice Springs vs. Surfers Paradise Travel Comparison

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