Should you visit Canberra or Byron Bay?
Should I visit Canberra or Byron Bay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
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.
Which city is cheaper, Byron Bay or Canberra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Canberra is $118, while the average daily cost in Byron Bay is $123. 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 Canberra and Byron Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $146 in Canberra For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
Food
Food in Canberra costs travelers about $31 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Canberra $31
Byron Bay $42
Typical Food prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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)
$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
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Byron Bay Surfing Lesson and Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner:
$224
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Canberra than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Canberra on average per day.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Canberra to Canberra Airport (CBR):
$33
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Canberra - Sydney Private Transfers:
$474
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Canberra -> Sydney -> Jindabyne -> Perisher Ski Resort : Private Transfer:
$474
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Canberra or Byron Bay?
Prices for flights to both Byron Bay and Canberra 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
Sightseeing expenses in Canberra, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
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.
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Telstra Tower Observation Deck Ticket:
$5.93
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Building and Architecture Tour | 10am Daily:
$12
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Ultimate Museum Experience | Tour + Dine + Shop (10am daily):
$51
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Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay - with Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour:
$178
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Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay With Indigenous Experience:
$180
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Capture Canberra Photography Tours:
$371
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Canberra - Southern Highlands Winery Tour:
$422
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Batemans Bay Overnight Kayak Camping Tour from Canberra - All Inclusive:
$513
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Canberra - Murrumbateman Private Group Winery Tours:
$522
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Private Canberra Secrets Highlights Tour:
$789
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
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Canberra spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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.
Typical Alcohol prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour:
$123
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From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$144
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
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Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour:
$141
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Byron: Pub, Brewery and Distillery Tour:
$172
When comparing the travel costs between Canberra and Byron Bay, 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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