Should you visit Byron Bay or Brisbane?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Byron Bay and Brisbane can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Byron Bay
South of Brisbane, off the Pacific Highway, is the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is close to Cape Byron, which is the easternmost point in mainland Australia. Byron Bay makes its way onto most traveler's itineraries because of its wonderful beach activities. The area is world famous for its waves, making it popular with surfers, but it also has incredible scuba diving, whale watching, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The area continues to rise in popularity with travelers and as such, amenities and facilities are popping up everywhere.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
Which city is cheaper, Brisbane or Byron Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Byron Bay is $123, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $115. 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 Byron Bay and Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Byron Bay is $118. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $142 in Brisbane For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Byron Bay food costs typically run travelers around $42 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Brisbane cost around $27 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $11.
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Food
Meals for one day
Byron Bay $42
Brisbane $27
Typical Food prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:
-
Dinner at Olivo (for 2)
$65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Byron Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Byron Bay.
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Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner:
$166
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Byron Bay Kayaking with Dolphins and Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner:
$224
-
Byron Bay Surfing Lesson and Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner:
$224
Typical Food prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch
$5.77
-
Cup of Coffee
$2.16
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Chinese Food Lunch
$9.01
-
Ice cream
$3.96
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Japanese Meal
$15
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Smoothie
$4.68
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Japanese Soup
$8.29
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Coffee & Muffin
$5.04
-
Morning Mint Tea
$2.52
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Veggie Burger & Chips
$10
-
Bread
$1.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Guided Food Tour with Coffee and Wine Tastings:
$184
-
Brisbane Food Tour: A Taste of Queensland:
$202
-
3-Course Progressive Dinner Experience in Brisbane:
$237
-
Queensland Food Tour: Farm-to-Table Indulgence:
$375
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Byron Bay is $29 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Brisbane's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $15 per person, per day on transportation in Brisbane.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Byron Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Byron Bay:
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Private Byron Bay Transfer to Gold Coast Airport 7am-6pm:
$79
Typical Local Transportation prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City
$11
-
Go Card
$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Sunshine Coast Airport Arrival transfer to Hotels:
$14
-
Brisbane Arrival Transfer Shuttle from Brisbane Airport to Hotel:
$16
-
Brisbane Departure Transfer Shuttle from Hotel to Brisbane Airport:
$16
-
Brisbane Airport Private Transfer to or from Brisbane CBD Maxmium 10 Person:
$29
-
Brisbane Airport to Brisbane City Round-trip Shuttle Transfer:
$32
-
Brisbane Airport Private Transfer to or from Brisbane CBD Maxmium 10 Person:
$33
-
Brisbane Private Chauffeured Airport Transfer:
$37
-
Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast:
$39
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Brisbane Airport:
$40
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel:
$40
-
Brisbane Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer to the Sunshine Coast Hotels/addresses:
$41
-
Brisbane Airport Arrival transfer to Gold Coast shared shuttle:
$43
Is it cheaper to fly into Byron Bay or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane and Byron Bay 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
Byron Bay's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $31 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Brisbane can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $21 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Byron Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:
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3-Hour Sea Turtle Snorkeling Experience in Byron Bay:
$78
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3-Hour Small-Group Byron Bay Tour:
$67
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5 hour - Byron Bay Cycling Tour + Lunch:
$150
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5-Hour Byron Bay Introductory Scuba Diving Tour:
$170
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Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour:
$134
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Byron Bay 3-Hour Certified Dive Tour:
$119
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Byron Bay Combo: Hinterland Tour Including Minyon Falls and Kayaking with Dolphins:
$182
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Byron Bay Hinterland Tour Including Rainforest Walk to Minyon Falls:
$124
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Byron Bay Hinterland: National Park and Waterfalls Tour:
$122
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Byron Bay Lighthouse and Hinterland Tour:
$74
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Byron Bay Waves To Waterfalls Adventure Tour:
$172
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Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruise:
$87
Typical Entertainment prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
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Newstead House General Entry Ticket:
$9.48
-
Green Cabs Brisbane Tours:
$16
-
Midday River Sightseeing Cruise:
$24
-
True Crime Tour:
$25
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Brisbane Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$35
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Guided River Kayak Tour:
$47
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River Cruise with Lunch:
$50
-
Express Segway Tour of Brisbane:
$50
-
Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit:
$61
-
Byron Bay Day Tour:
$78
-
Brisbane to Moreton Island Return Ferry & Adventure Day Pass:
$86
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Wine & Food Pairing Experience:
$87
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Byron Bay per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Brisbane, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $44.
Sample the Local Flavors in Byron Bay
Also in Byron Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Afternoon session Brewery and Distillery tour in Byron Bay:
$116
-
Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour:
$141
-
Byron: Pub, Brewery and Distillery Tour:
$172
Typical Alcohol prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar
$11
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Sixpack of Beer
$10
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Guiness Beer
$6.13
-
Sixpack of Beer
$9.36
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
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Deluxe Wine Tasting Tour Mt Tamborine Includes 2 course Lunch:
$94
-
Morning or Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour:
$111
-
Mt Tamborine Wine Tour:
$119
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Brisbane Half-Day Private Brewery Tour:
$119
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Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour:
$119
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Northern Rivers food & Wine Tour from Brisbane:
$119
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Two Day xxxx Brewery and Tamborine Winery Tour:
$198
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Private Full Day Wine Tour from Brisbane to Tamborine Mountain:
$474
When comparing the travel costs between Byron Bay and Brisbane, we can see that Byron Bay 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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