Should you visit Darwin or Torquay?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Torquay, 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.
Torquay
Located on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a seaside town of Victoria famous for its surfing and beaches. Surf town through and through, it is also the headquarters for the Quiksilver and Rip Curl surf gear companies, and home to the Rip Curl Easter Pro, the world's longest running surf contest held on Bells Beach.
Which city is cheaper, Torquay 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 Torquay is $82. 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 Torquay in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Darwin is about $118 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
The prices for places to stay in Torquay can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $37, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $74.
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 Torquay can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $24 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $9.60 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
Torquay $24
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 Torquay than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $37 on transportation in Torquay 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
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 Torquay, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $10 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
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Arnhem Land Injalak Hill Full-Day Tour from Darwin:
$213
Tours and Activities in Torquay
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Torquay.
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Great Ocean Road & 12 Apostles Tour:
$83
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Great Ocean Road Tour Plus Koalas, Forest Walk And Morning Tea.:
$105
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Private One Day Great Ocean Road Tour:
$377
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Private Great Ocean Road Full Day Tour - 1 Day Tour:
$421
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Private Express Experience - 12 Apostles:
$445
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Cruise Ship Shore Excursion - Private Great Ocean Road Full Day Tour (12 Hour):
$448
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Great Ocean Road Sunset Private Experience:
$561
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Great Ocean Road Full Day Private Experience:
$561
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3 Day Private Tour Of Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road & Mornington Peninsula:
$1,040
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 Torquay, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.05.
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darwin and Torquay, we can see that Darwin is more expensive. And not only is Torquay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Torquay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torquay 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin than you might in Torquay.
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