A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Perth vs. Airlie Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Perth or Airlie Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Perth and Airlie Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Perth or Airlie Beach?

Perth

Capital of Western Australia, Perth is a city that sits where the Swan River meets the sea, and given its ocean side location there is plenty to see and do on the water and beyond. Spend a day on Perth's sandy beaches or get lost in its parks and gardens, sail down the river or enjoy the city's history and culture visiting museums and historic sites, shopping, dining, and much more.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.

Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Perth?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Perth is $129, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $139. 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 Perth and Airlie Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Perth $74
    Airlie Beach $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Perth $148
    Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Perth and Airlie Beach

Looking for a hotel in Perth or Airlie Beach? 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.

Hotels in Perth


Hotels in Airlie Beach


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: Perth Hotel Prices and Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Perth $24
    Airlie Beach $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Perth

Also for Perth, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Perth city to Perth Airport (PER) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer from Perth City Hotels to Fremantle Cruise Port : $32
  • Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth Airport(PER): $32
  • Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth city hotels: $32
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Perth Airport: $40
  • Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport: $49
  • Perth Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Perth: $53
  • Hillarys Boat Harbour: Rottnest Island Ferry Transfer: $57
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Perth International Airport to Perth City: $67
  • Private Departure Transfer from Perth City to Perth Int Airport: $67
  • Departure Private Transfer: Perth City to Perth Airport PER in Business Car: $76
  • Departure Private Transfer: Perth City to Perth Airport PER in Luxury Van: $102

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:

  • Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $309
  • Luxury Mercedes Private Airport Transfer (Return): $259
  • Mirage Whitsundays Hotel Private Airport Transfer (Return): $259
  • Luxury Mercedes Private Airport Transfer (one way): $130
  • Mirage Whitsundays Hotel Private Airport Transfer (one way): $130
  • Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $115
  • Whitehaven Beach Camping Shared Transfer: $111
  • Private Transfer Whitsunday Coast Airport To Airlie Beach: $109
  • South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $49
  • Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $31
  • Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
  • One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Perth or Airlie Beach?

Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Perth 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Perth $35
    Airlie Beach $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Perth

For Perth, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • American BBQ Food Tour: $77
  • Half-Day Low and Slow BBQ Food Tour in Perth: $78
  • Swan River Dinner Cruise with Beverages & Live Music: $110
  • Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise: $111
  • From Pinnacles Sunset and Stargazing Tour with Dinner: $113
  • Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Experience a Small Group Tour: $115
  • Pinnacle Desert Sunset and Stargazing with Dinner: $126
  • The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $158

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.

  • 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $71
  • Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Perth $13
    Airlie Beach $158

Tours and Activities in Perth

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Perth.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $2.66
  • Perth Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $3.36
  • Perth Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $4.33
  • Escape Game and Tour: $6.40
  • Perth Bell Tower Entry Ticket and Bell Chiming Experience: $12
  • Skip-the-Line: Perth Bell Tower Experience Ticket: $12
  • Skip the Line: Perth Video Game Console Museum Ticket: $12
  • Perth Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • The Perth Mint Gold Tour: $14
  • Wonderful Perth Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
  • Fabulous Fremantle Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
  • Female trailblazers: self-guided women's history tour of Perth: $16

Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:

  • Private Helicopter Tour Heart Reef and Whitehaven : $678
  • 2 Day Great Barrier Reef "Reefsuites" Experience : $688
  • 2 Night Whitsunday Islands Cruise on New Horizon from Airlie Beach: $405
  • 2 night Whitsunday Islands Cruise on Atlantic Clipper from Airlie Beach: $419
  • 2-Day Great Barrier Reef "Reefsleep" Experience: $426
  • 2-Day Whitsundays Sailing Adventure: Summertime: $314
  • 2-Night Whitsunday Islands Catamaran Cruise: Entice/O'Nice: $442
  • 2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar: $347
  • 2-Night Whitsunday Sailing Adventure: Eureka: $406
  • 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef: $320
  • 3 Day & 2 Night Whitsunday Islands Maxi Sailing Adventure on Broomstick: $472
  • 3 Day & 2 Night Whitsunday Islands Maxi Sailing Adventure on Hammer : $472

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Perth $7.34
    Airlie Beach $8.91

Sample the Local Flavors in Perth

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Perth:

  • Perth Bar Crawl: $13
  • Little Creatures Brewery Tours : $16
  • Afternoon Swan Valley Wine Tasting with Transportation: $61
  • Swan Valley: Half-Day Wine Tour From Perth: $61
  • Swan Valley Boutique Wine Tour: Half-Day Small Group Experience: $62
  • Sunday Afternoon Swan Valley Wine & Brewery Tour from Perth: $62
  • Mandoon Winery and Kayak Tour with wine tasting: $62
  • Half Day Swan Valley Wine Tour: $62
  • Swan Valley Half Day Wine Tour from Perth: $63
  • Half-Day Swan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings - From Perth: $68
  • Small-Group Gin Distillery Tour in Perth: $88
  • Swan Valley: Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $90


When comparing the travel costs between Perth and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach 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.


When is the best time to visit Perth or Airlie Beach?

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 Perth or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

Both Airlie Beach and Perth during the summer are popular places to visit.

Perth is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Perth averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Perth. In the summer, Perth often gets more sunshine than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun.

Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Perth usually gets less rain in January than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Perth 25°C (76°F) 
    Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Perth or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Perth and Airlie Beach.

In the autumn, Perth is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Perth in April average around 19°C (67°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In Perth, it's very sunny this time of the year. Perth usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Airlie Beach during autumn. Perth gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Perth usually receives less rain than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Perth 19°C (67°F) 
    Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Perth or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Perth as well as Airlie Beach.

In July, Perth is generally cooler than Airlie Beach. Daily temperatures in Perth average around 13°C (55°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the winter, Perth often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun.

Perth receives a lot of rain in the winter. Perth usually gets more rain in July than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Perth 13°C (55°F) 
    Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)

Should I visit Perth or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

Both Airlie Beach and Perth are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Perth is cooler than Airlie Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Perth averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Perth. Perth usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during spring. Perth gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Perth usually receives more rain than Airlie Beach. Perth gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Perth 17°C (62°F) 
    Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Perth

Perth Airlie Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (76°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 26°C (78°F) 377 mm (14.8 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 312 mm (12.3 in)
Apr 19°C (67°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
May 16°C (61°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 201 mm (7.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 13°C (55°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 16°C (62°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 13°C (56°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Sep 15°C (58°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 20°C (68°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Nov 19°C (67°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 25°C (77°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Dec 22°C (72°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 191 mm (7.5 in)


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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Perth vs. Airlie Beach Travel Comparison

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