Should you visit Perth or Airlie Beach?
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.
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 city 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 $120, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $130. 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 Perth and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $138 in Perth For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $108 for a double occupancy room in Airlie Beach.
Food
While meal prices in Perth can vary, the average travelers spends about $33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Perth should cost around $13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Perth is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Airlie Beach can vary, the average travelers spends about $29 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Airlie Beach should cost around $12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Airlie Beach is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Perth $33
Airlie Beach $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Perth
For Perth, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Perth Classic Bites & Local Flavors: Food Tour:
$71
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Swan Valley Half-Day Food Tour and Wine Trail from Perth:
$75
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Half-Day Low and Slow BBQ Food Tour in Perth:
$91
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Perth City of Lights Dinner Cruise:
$104
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Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise:
$110
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Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Perth Private Food Tour:
$118
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Wildlife Experience a Small Group Tour:
$130
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
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Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner:
$93
Local Transportation
To get around in Perth, the average visitor spends $23 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Airlie Beach is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 per person, per day, on local transportation in Airlie Beach.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Perth
Also for Perth, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Sedan Transfer from Perth CBD Hotel to Perth Airport:
$47
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Perth Airport:
$48
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Rottnest Island Same-Day Round-Trip Ferry Transfers:
$55
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Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport:
$59
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Perth Airport Transfer - group booking:
$198
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
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Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service:
$28
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Airport Transfers - One way share shuttle service:
$17
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.
Entertainment
In Perth, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $13 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Airlie Beach typically cost an average of $147 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 Perth
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Perth.
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Live Pearl Harvest Experience - Perth:
$12
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Perth Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$13
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Skip-the-Line: Perth Bell Tower Experience Ticket:
$14
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Perth Bell Tower Ticket & Bell Chiming Experience:
$15
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Skip the Line: Perth Video Game Console Museum Ticket:
$15
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Photo Walking Tour:
$17
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1.5 hour Optus Stadium Guided Tour:
$18
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Perth Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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The ANZAC Bell Tour:
$21
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Perth Shore Excursion: Fremantle Hop-On Hop-Off Tram Tour:
$22
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Fremantle Hop-On Hop-Off Tram Tour:
$24
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Fremantle to Perth 1.5-Hour Scenic Swan River Cruise:
$24
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
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2 Day Great Barrier Reef "Reefsuites" Experience:
$631
-
2 Night Small Group Whitsundays Sailing Adventure Aboard Mandrake:
$375
-
2 night Whitsunday Islands Cruise on Atlantic Clipper from Airlie Beach:
$394
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2-Day Great Barrier Reef "Reefsleep" Experience:
$470
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2-Day Whitsundays Sailing Adventure: SV Whitehaven:
$315
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2-Day Whitsundays Sailing Adventure: Summertime:
$315
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2-Night Whitsunday Islands All-Inclusive Sailing Tour from Airlie Beach:
$315
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2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran 'Avatar':
$422
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2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise Aboard 'Spank Me' Including Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef:
$375
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2Day 2Night Sail, Snorkel & SUP Adventure Whitsundays double:
$439
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3 Day Whitsundays Sailing and Diving Adventure: Kiana:
$592
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3 Day and 2 Night Whitsundays Maxi Sailing Adventure on Hammer:
$514
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Perth, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $6.84.
The average person spends about $8.30 on alcoholic beverages in Airlie Beach per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Perth
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Perth:
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Perth Bar Crawl:
$12
-
Afternoon Swan Valley Wine Tasting with Transportation:
$57
-
Afternoon Swan Valley Sundowner Wine Tour from Perth:
$63
-
Swan Valley Half-Day Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$70
-
Swan Valley Half-Day Food & Wine Tasting Tour from Perth:
$72
-
Sunday Afternoon Swan Valley Wine & Brewery Tour from Perth:
$75
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The Non-Touristy Swan Valley Private Day Trip & Wine Tastings:
$81
-
Swan Valley Sunset Wine Tour - Premium Small Group Tour:
$95
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Half-Day Swan Valley Winery & Brewery:
$99
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Small-Group Bickley Valley Wine Tour:
$107
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Swan Valley Cruise & Wine Tasting Full-Day Tour from Perth:
$122
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Wine Tasting Day Trip and Swan Valley River Cruise to Perth:
$123
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.
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