Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Canberra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Canberra or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Canberra or Whitsundays? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Canberra or Whitsundays?
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."
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 Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia, and The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCanberra $133Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Canberra is $133, 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 Canberra and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCanberra $82Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCanberra $164Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Canberra and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Canberra 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: Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Canberra $24Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $115
- Osaka Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Downtown: $90
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $82
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $82
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $67
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $34
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
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 Canberra or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCanberra $34Whitsundays $30
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$16
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.Canberra $17Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $29
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $14
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $97
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $13
- Canberra Floriade Tour: $117
- Canberra Small Group Winery Tour: $147
- Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tasting Tour: $109
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $87
- City Highlights Day Tour with Entrance Fees: $115
- Capital Christmas: Private Festive Tour in Canberra: $639
- Discover Canberra’s Heritage: A Full-Day Private Tour: $861
- Discover Pearls of Canberra - Private Walking Tour: $133
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,852
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $192
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $90
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $147
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCanberra $16Whitsundays $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Bar$9.08
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $96
- Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour: $111
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $119
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $121
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $144
- Canberra Wine Tour: $156
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $160
When comparing the travel costs between Canberra and Whitsundays, we can see that Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Canberra or Whitsundays?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Canberra or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Whitsundays. The summer months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Canberra is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 20°C (68°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Canberra usually receives less rain than Whitsundays. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryCanberra 20°C (68°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Whitsundays. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.
Canberra is cooler than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Canberra usually gets less rain in April than Whitsundays. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilCanberra 17°C (63°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Canberra is cooler than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Canberra in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F).
In July, Canberra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundays. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyCanberra 11°C (52°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Canberra during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Canberra in the spring for the activities around the city.
In October, Canberra is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 15°C (60°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Canberra usually gets more rain in October than Whitsundays. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberCanberra 15°C (60°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Canberra
| Canberra | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (67°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (53°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.