Should you visit Perth or Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays 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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
Which city is cheaper, Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays is $122. 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 Whitsundays 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $126 in Whitsundays For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
The average traveler spends about $27 per day in Whitsundays for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Perth $33
Whitsundays $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Perth
For Perth, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Perth Classic Bites & Local Flavors: Food Tour:
$71
-
Swan Valley Half-Day Food Tour and Wine Trail from Perth:
$75
-
Half-Day Low and Slow BBQ Food Tour in Perth:
$91
-
Perth City of Lights Dinner Cruise:
$104
-
Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise:
$110
-
Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Perth Private Food Tour:
$118
-
Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Wildlife Experience a Small Group Tour:
$130
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.
To get around in Whitsundays, the average visitor spends $50 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Perth
Also for Perth, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Perth Airport Transfer - group booking:
$198
-
Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport:
$59
-
Rottnest Island Same-Day Round-Trip Ferry Transfers:
$55
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Perth Airport:
$48
-
Private Sedan Transfer from Perth CBD Hotel to Perth Airport:
$47
Is it cheaper to fly into Perth or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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.
In Whitsundays, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $23 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Perth
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Perth.
-
"The Thirsty Three" Swan Valley Private Tour:
$154
-
1-Day Pinnacles and Yanchep Tour from Perth including Fish and Chips Lunch:
$348
-
1-Day Private Perth and Fremantle Tour:
$263
-
1-Hour Perth Segway Riverside Tour:
$72
-
1.5-Hour Scenic Coastal Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbor:
$28
-
1/2 day Swan Valley Wine Cheese & Chocolate Tour Inc Afternoon Cruise to Perth:
$87
-
2-Hour Guided Welcome Perth City Walking Tour:
$174
-
2-Hour Whale Watching Cruise from Hillarys Boat Harbor:
$49
-
2-Hour Whale Watching Cruise with Aquarium Entry:
$49
-
20 Day Perth to Darwin Adventure:
$3,279
-
4 Day South West Australia Tour - All inclusive with premium accomodation:
$944
-
4-Day South West Yoga and Wellness Tour from Perth:
$1,430
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
-
Great Barrier Reef Luxury Expedition Cruise cabin booking 7 days 6 night:
$3,536
-
Great Barrier Reef Private Expedition Cruise (min 4 day max 8 guests):
$9,727
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Whitsundays, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $11.
Sample the Local Flavors in Perth
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Perth:
-
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
-
The Non-Touristy Swan Valley Private Day Trip & Wine Tastings:
$81
-
Swan Valley Sunset Wine Tour - Premium Small Group Tour:
$95
-
Half-Day Swan Valley Winery & Brewery:
$99
-
Small-Group Bickley Valley Wine Tour:
$107
-
Swan Valley Cruise & Wine Tasting Full-Day Tour from Perth:
$122
-
Wine Tasting Day Trip and Swan Valley River Cruise to Perth:
$123
When comparing the travel costs between Perth and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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.
Related Articles for Perth
Related Articles for Whitsundays
