Should you visit Darwin or Hobart?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Hobart, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
Hobart
Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. It is small compared to the mainland's larger cities and has a cooler climate with four distinct seasons. Hobart is also the second oldest capital, behind Sydney, with remnants of its past visible in old sandstone warehouses now home to cafes and galleries, as well as a historic district with narrow lanes and colonial-era cottages.
Which city is cheaper, Hobart or Darwin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $105, while the average daily cost in Hobart is $116. 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 Darwin and Hobart in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Darwin is about $118 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $146 for a double occupancy room in Hobart If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Darwin costs travelers about $35 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.
The price of a meal in Hobart can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $20 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $8.00 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Darwin $35
Hobart $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hobart
For Hobart, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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East Coast Splendour Gourmet Food Tour:
$233
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Highlights Of Gourmet Food Tour:
$258
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Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and Derwent Valley Gourmet Food Tour:
$261
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Darwin is $11 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Hobart than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $22 on transportation in Hobart on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station
$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
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Wildman Fishing Tours - Fishing + Scenic Flight Transfer:
$1,146
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Private Arrival Transfer: Darwin Airport to Hotel:
$142
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Darwin Airport:
$142
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hobart
Also for Hobart, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Hobart and Port Arthur One-Way Transfer:
$37
Entertainment
Darwin's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 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 expenses in Hobart, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $13 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
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1-Day Wetlands + Wildlife Adventure:
$114
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1-Day Wildlife Park + Berry Springs experience:
$81
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11-day Darwin to Cairns tour:
$1,580
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2-Day Kakadu and Arnhem Land Tour from Darwin:
$753
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3-Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Glamping Tour:
$688
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3-Day Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land Explorer Tour from Darwin:
$1,028
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4-Day Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield 4WD Glamping Tour:
$1,030
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5 Day Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land Tour:
$2,837
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9 Day Darwin to Broome Adventure:
$1,779
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9-Day Kimberley Offroad Adventure from Darwin to Broome:
$1,580
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Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise with Roundtrip Helicopter from Darwin:
$545
-
Arnhem Land Injalak Hill Full-Day Tour from Darwin:
$213
Tours and Activities in Hobart
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hobart.
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Private Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Walking Tour:
$12
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Skip the Line: Mawson's Huts Replica Museum General Entry Ticket:
$12
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kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus - One Way Tour:
$21
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Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart:
$22
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Splendid! Historical Tours of Hobart:
$23
-
Salamanca Walk - History Tour:
$26
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Kunany / Mt Wellington Explorer Bus - 2 Hour Return Tour:
$28
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Hobart Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour:
$28
-
2-Hour Small-Group Walking Tour of Hobart:
$30
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Cruise Ship Special from Shuttle to Bonorong Wildlife Park.:
$30
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Hobart Historic Walking Tour:
$30
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Cruise Ship Special from Richmond Shuttle:
$30
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Darwin 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 Hobart, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.19.
Typical Alcohol prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar
$19
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Glass of Wine
$5.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Darwin
Also in Darwin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Heli Pub Crawl – 4 Pubs:
$782
Sample the Local Flavors in Hobart
Also in Hobart, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Old Hobart Pub Walking Tour:
$30
-
Tasmania's Domaine Simha Wine Tasting Experience:
$47
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Hobart Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Cascade Brewery Tour:
$51
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48-Hour Hobart City Loop Tour & Cascade Brewery:
$53
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Hobart Brewery Walking Tour:
$111
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Tasmanian Wine Tour:
$118
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7- 8 Hour StelaVino Guided Wine Tours From Hobart:
$187
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Tasmanian Whisky Distillery Tour:
$236
When comparing the travel costs between Darwin and Hobart, we can see that Hobart 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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