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 $100, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $122. 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 $112 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $140 for a double occupancy room in Katoomba.
Food
Food in Darwin costs travelers about $34 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 $16 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Darwin $34
Katoomba $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
-
Mexican Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Katoomba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Katoomba.
-
Private Pizza Making Class in Hunter Valley:
$48
-
Pizza Paddle Sunset Kayak Tour in Bateman's Bay:
$66
-
Dinner Cruise at Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience:
$72
-
Cairns Dinner Cruise by Spirit of Cairns:
$73
-
Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner Show Ticket:
$74
-
Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise:
$75
-
Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook:
$77
-
Dumpling Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$80
-
Cairns Aquarium Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner:
$88
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour:
$109
-
Private Cooking School in the Hunter Valley:
$114
-
Mexican Cooking Class in Melbourne:
$122
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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Katoomba is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $45 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:
-
Shuttle to Train Station
$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
-
Shared City Transfers from Darwin to Stokes Hill Wharf:
$6.65
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Cairns Airport Transfer (CNS) from and to Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove:
$13
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Hobart International Airport (HBA) Express Bus Transfers by SkyBus:
$14
-
Sea World Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$15
-
Shared Brisbane Airport Transfers (BNE) for Brisbane :
$15
-
Avalon Airport (AVV) Express Transfer by SkyBus for Melbourne City:
$15
-
Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast:
$17
-
Harbour Town Premium Outlets Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Movie World Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Katoomba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Katoomba:
-
Shared City Transfers from Darwin to Stokes Hill Wharf:
$6.65
-
SkyBus Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfer Ticket:
$11
-
Shared Sunshine Coast Airport Transfers (MCY) for Sunshine Coast:
$12
-
Shared Cairns Airport Transfer (CNS) from and to Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove:
$13
-
Shared Sydney Airport Transfers (SYD) for Sydney:
$13
-
Hobart International Airport (HBA) Express Bus Transfers by SkyBus:
$14
-
Sea World Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$15
-
Shared Brisbane Airport Transfers (BNE) for Brisbane :
$15
-
Avalon Airport (AVV) Express Transfer by SkyBus for Melbourne City:
$15
-
Shared Gold Coast Airport Transfers (OOL) for Gold Coast:
$17
-
WhiteWater World Return Shared Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
-
Movie World Shared Shuttle Transfer from Gold Coast Hotels:
$18
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 $48 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:
-
North Stradbroke Island Water Taxi Ferry Ticket:
$7.95
-
Bridestowe Lavender Estate Tour:
$8.85
-
Searoad Ferry Tickets between Queenscliff and Sorrento:
$8.85
-
Koala Conservation Reserve Tickets in Phillip Island:
$9.95
-
Margaret River Region Lighthouse Tours:
$11
-
Hunter Valley Wine Theatre Experience:
$11
-
Sydney Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour with Mobile App:
$12
-
Kuranda Bird World General Admission Ticket in Cairns:
$13
-
Kuranda Koala Gardens General Admission Ticket in Cairns:
$13
-
Melbourne Sports Lovers Tours:
$13
-
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory Ticket:
$13
-
Private Hunter Valley Wine Barrel Rolling Experience:
$13
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
-
North Stradbroke Island Water Taxi Ferry Ticket:
$7.95
-
Bridestowe Lavender Estate Tour:
$8.85
-
Searoad Ferry Tickets between Queenscliff and Sorrento:
$8.85
-
Koala Conservation Reserve Tickets in Phillip Island:
$9.95
-
Margaret River Region Lighthouse Tours:
$11
-
Hunter Valley Wine Theatre Experience:
$11
-
Sydney Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour with Mobile App:
$12
-
Kuranda Koala Gardens General Admission Ticket in Cairns:
$13
-
Private Hunter Valley Wine Barrel Rolling Experience:
$13
-
Kuranda Bird World General Admission Ticket in Cairns:
$13
-
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory Ticket:
$13
-
Melbourne Sports Lovers Tours:
$13
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.
Typical Alcohol prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
-
Evening at a Bar
$18
-
Glass of Wine
$5.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Darwin
Also in Darwin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Wine Tasting at Horner Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Talits Estate Cellar Door Wine Tasting Experience:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Katoomba
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Katoomba:
-
Savannah Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tempus Two Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Hanging Tree Wines Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Capercaillie Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Misty Glen Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Tintilla Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Hunter’s Dream Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$3.69
-
Pokolbin Estate Wine Tasting Experience:
$3.69
-
Wine Tasting at Horner Wines in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Talits Estate Cellar Door Wine Tasting Experience:
$7.39
-
Wine Tasting at Wine House in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
-
Glandore Estate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley:
$7.39
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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