Which place is cheaper, Wollongong or Darwin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Darwin vs. Wollongong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Darwin or Wollongong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Wollongong, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Darwin or Wollongong?
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.
Wollongong
Wollongong is south of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the third largest city in the state. Wollongong has a unique geography in that it is only six kilometers wide at its widest point and is forty kilometers long. It is squeezed in between the mountains and the ocean and in the process of growth, has swallowed several coastal towns between Dapto and Port Kembla. Wollongong is home to the University of Wollongong and has a diverse population that includes people of Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Turkish descent among other nationalities. The influence of these cultures is obvious in the city's restaurant and entertainment options. Throughout the city you'll find some wonderful beaches with few crowds and some decent surfing opportunities.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarwin $110Wollongong $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $110, while the average daily cost in Wollongong is $120. 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 Darwin and Wollongong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarwin $61Wollongong $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarwin $122Wollongong $128
Compare Hotels in Darwin and Wollongong
Looking for a hotel in Darwin or Wollongong? 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: Darwin Hotel Prices and Wollongong Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darwin $12Wollongong $39
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$9.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $140
- Crocodile Jumping Wetlands Cruise with Transfer from Darwin: $88
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Darwin City Hotels to Darwin Cruise Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin city hotels: $58
- Private Transfer from Darwin Airport (DRW) to Darwin Cruise Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Darwin or Wollongong?
Prices for flights to both Wollongong 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDarwin $37Wollongong $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $64
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $84
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $85
- Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise on Cape Adieu: $101
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $103
- 3.5 Hour Small Group Walking Food & Art Tour with LUNCH or DINNER: $162
Typical Food prices in Wollongong
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wollongong:
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Lunch$7.72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darwin $15Wollongong $22
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- 3 Days Kakadu Cultural Rock Art Experience: $1,562
- 1 Day Corroboree Billabong Wetland Experience including 2.5 hour cruise + lunch: $127
- 1 Day Litchfield National Park Tour & Berry Springs Max. 10 Guest: $114
- 1 Hour Darwin Adventure Boats Tour: $124
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $29
- 17-Day Darwin to Cairns Tour: $3,885
- 3-Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Camping Adventure from Darwin: $526
- 3-Day Tour of Top End Highlights in Northern Territory, Australia: $579
- 3.5-Hour Gourmet Bar & Street Art Tour: $162
- 4 Day Kakadu 4WD Adventure Tour from Darwin with Billabong Wetlands Cruise: $1,354
- 4-Day Litchfield, Katherine and Kakadu Guided Tour From Darwin : $1,041
- 45-Minute Darwin Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarwin $13Wollongong $17
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$15
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Glass of Wine$4.50
When comparing the travel costs between Darwin and Wollongong, we can see that Wollongong 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.
Which is Bigger, Darwin or Wollongong?
Wollongong is bigger, and its population is about 2.8 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the population of Darwin vs. Wollongong, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Darwin or Wollongong?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Darwin or Wollongong in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Darwin as well as Wollongong. Many visitors come to Darwin in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Darwin is a little warmer than Wollongong. Typically, the summer temperatures in Darwin in January average around 29°C (83°F), and Wollongong averages at about 23°C (74°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wollongong. In the summer, Darwin often gets less sunshine than Wollongong. Darwin gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wollongong receives 236 hours of full sun.
Darwin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Darwin usually gets more rain in January than Wollongong. Darwin gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryDarwin 29°C (83°F)Wollongong 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Darwin or Wollongong in the Autumn?
Both Wollongong and Darwin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Darwin for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In April, Darwin is generally much warmer than Wollongong. Daily temperatures in Darwin average around 29°C (84°F), and Wollongong fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Darwin. Darwin usually receives more sunshine than Wollongong during autumn. Darwin gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Wollongong receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Darwin usually receives more rain than Wollongong. Darwin gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilDarwin 29°C (84°F)Wollongong 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Darwin or Wollongong in the Winter?
Both Wollongong and Darwin during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Darwin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Darwin is much warmer than Wollongong in the winter. The daily temperature in Darwin averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Wollongong fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In Wollongong, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Darwin. In the winter, Darwin often gets more sunshine than Wollongong. Darwin gets 312 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wollongong receives 208 hours of full sun.
Darwin usually gets less rain in July than Wollongong. Darwin gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 47 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyDarwin 25°C (77°F)Wollongong 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Darwin or Wollongong in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Darwin and Wollongong. The beaches are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.
In the spring, Darwin is much warmer than Wollongong. Typically, the spring temperatures in Darwin in October average around 29°C (85°F), and Wollongong averages at about 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wollongong this time of the year. In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Darwin usually receives more sunshine than Wollongong during spring. Darwin gets 291 hours of sunny skies, while Wollongong receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Darwin usually receives around the same amount of rain as Wollongong. Darwin gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Wollongong receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberDarwin 29°C (85°F)Wollongong 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Wollongong and Darwin
| Darwin | Wollongong | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 29°C (83°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 343 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 342 mm (13.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 47 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (85°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 30°C (85°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 29°C (85°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
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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.
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