Which place is cheaper, Canberra or Newcastle?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Newcastle vs. Canberra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Newcastle or Canberra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Newcastle or Canberra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Newcastle or Canberra?
Newcastle
Newcastle is 150 kilometers north of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the second largest city in the state, and serves as a central point to explore the area's beaches, wineries, and beautiful natural landscape. North of the city is Stockton beach, which has many miles of isolated, beautiful beaches, stretching all the way up to Nelson Bay. The wineries are inland to the west and have some of Australia's finest wine which you can taste. If you want to see rainforests, you can head northwest to Barrington Tops National Park, which has great rainforests and freshwater streams. You may even get to see a platypus. The city also has the country's oldest sea port. In the past the city's economy was centered around the steel industry, but today the University of Newcastle is one of the area's most important employers.
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNewcastle $93Canberra $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Newcastle is $93, while the average daily cost in Canberra is $136. 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 Newcastle and Canberra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNewcastle $46Canberra $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNewcastle $92Canberra $168
Compare Hotels in Newcastle and Canberra
Looking for a hotel in Newcastle or Canberra? 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: Newcastle Hotel Prices and Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Newcastle $8.55Canberra $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Newcastle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Newcastle:
- Private Transfer from Newcastle to Belfast City Airport (BHD): $128
- Private Transfer from Newcastle to Belfast Airport (BFS): $148
- Newcastle Airport (NCL) Departure Private Transfer from Hotels: $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer: from Canberra to Canberra Airport (CBR): $33
- Canberra - Sydney Private Transfers: $474
- Canberra -> Sydney -> Jindabyne -> Perisher Ski Resort : Private Transfer: $474
Is it cheaper to fly into Newcastle or Canberra?
Prices for flights to both Canberra and Newcastle 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 dayNewcastle $36Canberra $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Newcastle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Newcastle.
- Looking for a fun experience, hit the sweet spot with beer and pizza at Slice!: $73
Typical Food prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Newcastle $16Canberra $18
Tours and Activities in Newcastle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Newcastle are as follows:
- From Hunter Valley Beer & Wine Small Group Tour: $136
- Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle: $78
- Hunter Coastal Adventure Tour by Boat from Newcastle: $78
- Maitland's True Crime Tour: $25
- Newcastle Dark Stories True Crime Tour: $27
- Harbor and Coast 2.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise: $71
- True Crime Guided Walking Tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Telstra Tower Observation Deck Ticket: $5.93
- Building and Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $12
- Ultimate Museum Experience | Tour + Dine + Shop (10am daily): $51
- Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay - with Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour: $178
- Day Tour from Canberra to Batemans Bay With Indigenous Experience: $180
- Capture Canberra Photography Tours: $371
- Canberra - Southern Highlands Winery Tour: $422
- Batemans Bay Overnight Kayak Camping Tour from Canberra - All Inclusive: $513
- Canberra - Murrumbateman Private Group Winery Tours: $522
- Private Canberra Secrets Highlights Tour: $789
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNewcastle $10Canberra $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Newcastle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Newcastle:
- From Hunter Valley Brewery Tour with Lunch: $136
Typical Alcohol prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Bar$9.31
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $123
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Newcastle and Canberra, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Newcastle much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Newcastle would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Newcastle 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra than you might in Newcastle.
When is the best time to visit Newcastle or Canberra?
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 Newcastle or Canberra in the Summer?
Both Canberra and Newcastle during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Newcastle is generally a little warmer than Canberra. Temperatures in Newcastle average around 22°C (72°F), and Canberra stays around 20°C (68°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. Newcastle usually gets more rain in January than Canberra. Newcastle gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryNewcastle 22°C (72°F)Canberra 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Canberra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Newcastle and Canberra.
Newcastle is a little warmer than Canberra in the autumn. The temperature in Newcastle is usually 19°C (67°F) in April, and Canberra stays around 17°C (63°F).
Canberra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Newcastle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Newcastle usually receives around the same amount of rain as Canberra. Newcastle gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilNewcastle 19°C (67°F)Canberra 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Canberra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Newcastle as well as Canberra.
In the winter, Newcastle is a little warmer than Canberra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Newcastle in July are around 13°C (55°F), and Canberra is about 11°C (52°F).
Newcastle usually gets more rain in July than Canberra. Newcastle gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyNewcastle 13°C (55°F)Canberra 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Newcastle or Canberra in the Spring?
Both Canberra and Newcastle are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Newcastle is generally a little warmer than Canberra. Temperatures in Newcastle average around 18°C (64°F), and Canberra stays around 15°C (60°F).
In October, Newcastle usually receives less rain than Canberra. Newcastle gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberNewcastle 18°C (64°F)Canberra 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Canberra and Newcastle
| Newcastle | Canberra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (71°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (67°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
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