Should you visit Darwin or Katoomba?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Katoomba, 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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
Which city is cheaper, Katoomba or Darwin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $98, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $119. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Darwin is about $110 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $138 for a double occupancy room in Katoomba.
Food
Food in Darwin costs travelers about $33 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 average traveler spends about $15 per day in Katoomba for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Darwin $33
Katoomba $15
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Darwin is $10 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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Katoomba is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $44 per person, per day, on local transportation in Katoomba.
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
$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
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Private Arrival Transfer: Darwin Airport to Hotel:
$142
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Darwin Airport:
$142
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Wildman Fishing Tours - Fishing + Scenic Flight Transfer:
$1,146
Is it cheaper to fly into Darwin or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Darwin 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
Darwin's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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.
Entertainment and activities in Katoomba typically cost an average of $47 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
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Royal Flying Doctor Service Tourist Facility: Two Iconic Territory Stories:
$20
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Darwin Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket:
$28
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Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour:
$30
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Darwin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tickets:
$33
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Darwin City Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Cruise:
$52
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Darwin City + Northern Beaches Tour:
$56
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Discover the City of Half-Day City Coach Tour:
$77
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Darwin Half-Day City Sightseeing Tour:
$79
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1-Day Wildlife Park + Berry Springs experience:
$81
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Adelaide River Half-Day Jumping Crocs Cruise:
$81
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Jumping Crocs & Nature Adventure Cruise from Darwin:
$94
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
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Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides:
$43
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Ninety Minute Wombat Adventures Guided Tour:
$67
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Small-Group Half-Day Abseiling Adventure from Katoomba:
$99
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Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters:
$111
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Blue Mountains Secret Places Adventure:
$118
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Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park:
$119
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Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and Bilpin Tour from Katoomba with Cider Tasting:
$167
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Small-Group Full-Day Rock Climbing Adventure from Katoomba:
$174
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Small-Group Full-Day Canyoning and Abseiling Adventure from Katoomba:
$174
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Blue Mountains: 4WD Adventure Tour with Local Guide:
$197
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Amazing Full Day Abseiling Adventure in the Blue Mountains:
$198
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Juggler Canyon and Abseiling Adventure Blue Mountains:
$198
Alcohol
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Darwin per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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
$17
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Glass of Wine
$5.04
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darwin and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Darwin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darwin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darwin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Darwin.
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