Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Byron Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Byron Bay and Whitsundays 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.
Where Should I go: Byron Bay or Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayByron Bay $139Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Byron Bay is $139, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Byron Bay and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personByron Bay $66Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomByron Bay $132Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Byron Bay and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Byron Bay or Whitsundays? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Byron Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Byron Bay $32Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Byron Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Byron Bay:
- Byron Bay Tandem Skydive with Transfer Options: $236
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $122
Is it cheaper to fly into Byron Bay or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayByron Bay $47Whitsundays $30
Typical Food Prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Dinner at Olivo (for 2)$58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Byron Bay $35Whitsundays $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Buddha Gardens Spa (for 2)$123
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Surf Lesson$42
Tours and Activities in Byron Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:
- 3-Hour Small-Group Byron Bay Tour: $65
- Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $130
- Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $44
- Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $46
- Brunswick River: Byron Sunset Eco Rainforest River Cruise: $61
- Byron Bay Dolphin Tour - Ocean Safari: $62
- Byron Bay Half-Day Tour: $64
- Byron Bay Hinterland Tour Including Rainforest Walk to Minyon Falls: $112
- Byron Bay Hinterland: National Park and Waterfalls Tour: $108
- Byron Bay Lighthouse and Hinterland Tour: $65
- Byron Bay and Beyond Tour Including Cape Bryon Lighthouse Crystal Castle and Bangalow: $124
- Brunswick Heads Sunset Rainforest Eco-Cruise: $63
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $90
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $147
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $192
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,852
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayByron Bay $14Whitsundays $12
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:
- Arvo Session Brewery and Distillery Tour: $96
- Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session : $98
- Full-Day Brewery and Distillery Tour with Lunch: $125
- Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour: $128
When comparing the travel costs between Byron Bay and Whitsundays, 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Byron Bay Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Byron Bay as well as Whitsundays. Many travelers come to Byron Bay for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Byron Bay is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Byron Bay average around 23°C (74°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Byron Bay receives a lot of rain in the summer. Byron Bay usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundays. Byron Bay gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryByron Bay 23°C (74°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Byron Bay are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Byron Bay in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Byron Bay is cooler than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Byron Bay averages around 20°C (69°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Byron Bay. In April, Byron Bay usually receives less rain than Whitsundays. Byron Bay gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilByron Bay 20°C (69°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Byron Bay during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Byron Bay for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Byron Bay is cooler than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Byron Bay in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F).
Byron Bay usually gets more rain in July than Whitsundays. Byron Bay gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyByron Bay 14°C (58°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Byron Bay or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Byron Bay and Whitsundays. The spring months attract visitors to Byron Bay because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In October, Byron Bay is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Byron Bay average around 19°C (67°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In October, Byron Bay usually receives more rain than Whitsundays. Byron Bay gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberByron Bay 19°C (67°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Byron Bay
| Byron Bay | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (74°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 32 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.