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

Pacific / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Perth or Darwin?

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 Darwin can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Perth or Darwin?

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.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Darwin 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 Darwin is $110. 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 Darwin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Perth $74
    Darwin $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Perth $148
    Darwin $122
Compare Hotels in Perth and Darwin

Looking for a hotel in Perth or Darwin? 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 Darwin


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 Darwin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Perth $24
    Darwin $12

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: $66
  • Private Departure Transfer from Perth City to Perth Int Airport: $66
  • 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

Typical Local Transportation prices in Darwin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:


  • 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: $141
  • 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 Perth or Darwin?

Prices for flights to both Darwin 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
    Darwin $37

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: $109
  • 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: $114
  • Pinnacle Desert Sunset and Stargazing with Dinner: $125
  • The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $158

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: $104
  • 3.5 Hour Small Group Walking Food & Art Tour with LUNCH or DINNER: $149

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Perth $13
    Darwin $15

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: $3.35
  • Perth Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $4.33
  • Escape Game and Tour: $6.39
  • 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
  • Tales-on-Tap: self-guided tour of Perth's Historical Pubs : $16

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: $1,566
  • 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: $3,896
  • 3-Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Camping Adventure from Darwin: $527
  • 3-Day Tour of Top End Highlights in Northern Territory, Australia: $581
  • 3.5-Hour Gourmet Bar & Street Art Tour: $127
  • 4 Day Kakadu 4WD Adventure Tour from Darwin with Billabong Wetlands Cruise: $1,358
  • 4-Day Litchfield, Katherine and Kakadu Guided Tour From Darwin : $1,044
  • 45-Minute Darwin Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Perth $7.34
    Darwin $13

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
  • Mandoon Winery and Kayak Tour with wine tasting: $62
  • Half Day Swan Valley Wine Tour: $62
  • Sunday Afternoon Swan Valley Wine & Brewery Tour from Perth: $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: $89

Typical Alcohol prices in Darwin

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:


  • Evening at a Bar
    $15
  • Glass of Wine
    $4.50

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Perth and Darwin, we can see that Perth is more expensive. And not only is Darwin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darwin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darwin 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 Perth would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Perth than you might in Darwin.

Which is Bigger, Perth or Darwin?

Perth is bigger, and its population is about 15.5 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the population of Perth vs. Darwin, 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 Perth or Darwin?

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 Darwin in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Perth is cooler than Darwin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Perth in January average around 25°C (76°F), and Darwin averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Perth. In the summer, Perth often gets more sunshine than Darwin. Perth gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun.

Darwin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Perth usually gets less rain in January than Darwin. Perth gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Perth 25°C (76°F) 
    Darwin 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Perth or Darwin in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Perth and Darwin.

In April, Perth is generally cooler than Darwin. Daily temperatures in Perth average around 19°C (67°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Darwin this time of the year. In Perth, it's very sunny this time of the year. Perth usually receives less sunshine than Darwin during autumn. Perth gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 267 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Perth usually receives less rain than Darwin. Perth gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Perth 19°C (67°F) 
    Darwin 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Perth or Darwin in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Perth as well as Darwin.

Perth is much colder than Darwin in the winter. The daily temperature in Perth averages around 13°C (55°F) in July, and Darwin fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Darwin. In the winter, Perth often gets less sunshine than Darwin. Perth gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 312 hours of full sun.

Perth receives a lot of rain in the winter. Perth usually gets more rain in July than Darwin. Perth gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Perth 13°C (55°F) 
    Darwin 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Perth or Darwin in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Perth is much colder than Darwin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Perth in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Darwin averages at about 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Darwin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Perth. Perth usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Darwin during spring. Perth gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 291 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Perth usually receives less rain than Darwin. Perth gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Perth 17°C (62°F) 
    Darwin 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for Darwin and Perth

Perth Darwin
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (76°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 437 mm (17.2 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 28°C (83°F) 343 mm (13.5 in)
Mar 23°C (73°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 342 mm (13.5 in)
Apr 19°C (67°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
May 16°C (61°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 201 mm (7.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Jul 13°C (55°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 1 mm (0 in)
Aug 13°C (56°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Sep 15°C (58°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 29°C (85°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Nov 19°C (67°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 30°C (85°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Dec 22°C (72°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 29°C (85°F) 234 mm (9.2 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
More City Comparisons
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) vs. Perth
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock) vs. Darwin
Perth vs. Alice Springs
Perth vs. Adelaide
Perth vs. Torquay
Perth vs. Sydney
Perth vs. Surfers Paradise
Perth vs. Rockhampton
Perth vs. Noosa Heads
Perth vs. Newcastle
Perth vs. Melbourne
Perth vs. Katoomba
Perth vs. Hobart
Perth vs. Gold Coast
Perth vs. Fraser Island
Perth vs. Coffs Harbour
Perth vs. Wollongong
Perth vs. Canberra
Perth vs. Cairns
Perth vs. Byron Bay
Perth vs. Brisbane
Perth vs. Airlie Beach
Perth vs. Whitsundays
Darwin vs. Alice Springs
Darwin vs. Adelaide
Darwin vs. Torquay
Darwin vs. Sydney
Darwin vs. Surfers Paradise
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Perth vs. Darwin Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.