Which place is cheaper, New South Wales or Queensland?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Queensland or New South Wales?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Queensland or New South Wales, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Queensland or New South Wales?
Queensland
If you're an adventurer and thrill seeker, it's likely that Queensland, Australia is on your list of dream destinations. This state comprises of most of the eastern coast, but its main draws are the famous Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park. Travelers flock to the stunning Australian Gold Coast of Brisbane.
Queensland experiences a climate ranging from subtropical to tropical, but keep in mind that Australia experiences the opposite seasons than North America. When it's summer here, the Aussies are experiencing winter.
New South Wales
In the south of Australia is a place full of every and any tourist activity you can dream of. With Sydney under its belt, New South Wales is the center of Australian culture and tourism.
Just south of Queensland and north of Victoria, the state of New South Wales is home to approximately 6.7 million people. It is easily the continent's most populous state. This region is the core of the British colonialism of 1788. Its capital, Sydney, is the oldest and largest city in the state. Today, it is home to shopping, art, entertainment, history, beaches, and plenty of adventures.
When planning a trip to the land down under, remember that their seasons are just opposite of ours. So if you want to go for Christmas, throw that bathing suit in your bag.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.
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Queensland Prices
Australia PricesNew South Wales Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQueensland $157New South Wales $189
The average daily cost (per person) in Queensland is $157, while the average daily cost in New South Wales is $189. 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 Queensland and New South Wales in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQueensland $71New South Wales $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQueensland $142New South Wales $172
Compare Hotels in Queensland and New South Wales
Looking for a hotel in Queensland or New South Wales? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Queensland $25New South Wales $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queensland
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queensland:
- Gold Coast Hotels & Theme Park Transfers: $16
- Cairns Airport Shared Transfer to Cairns: $20
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport One way: $20
- Airport Transfer Cairns Hotels to Cairns Airport: $22
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Brisbane: $24
- Airport Transfer Palm Cove Hotels to Cairns Airport: $30
- Hotel Transfers from Palm Cove to Cairns: $34
- Hotel Transfers from Cairns to Palm Cove or Port Douglas: $34
- Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $34
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer from Noosa, Noosaville & Mooloolaba: $34
- Gold Coast Airport: Shared Transfer to Byron Bay: $35
- Gold Coast Airport Private Transfer for 1 to 15 Passengers: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New South Wales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in New South Wales:
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Business Car: $111
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Luxury Van: $123
- Airport Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD by Luxury Van: $123
- Arrival Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney in Business Car: $111
- Baunti Fish Fry Tour with Hotel Transfers: $68
- Byron Bay Brewery & Distillery Tour: Tastings, Lunch & transfers: $164
- Departing Sydney: Luxury Transfer to Airport or Cruise Port: $72
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Business Car: $111
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Luxury Van: $123
- Island Orientation Package incl. Return Airport Transfers & Tour: $22
- Island Orientation Tour with Airport Transfer Norfolk Island: $22
- Luxury Mini Bus - Sydney Airport Transfers: $233
Is it cheaper to fly into Queensland or New South Wales?
Prices for flights to both New South Wales and Queensland 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 dayQueensland $57New South Wales $73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queensland
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queensland.
- Longreach: Country Classics Buffet Dinner: $35
- Smithy's Outback Dinner & Show in Longreach: $71
- Brisbane/Gold Coast: Sunset, Dinner, Stars/Premium Telescope: $85
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $97
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $100
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $104
- Silver-Tails Rail Sunset With Smithy's Dinner & Show in Longreach: $121
- Drover's Sunset Cruise incl. Smithy's Dinner & Show in Longreach: $121
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $129
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New South Wales
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in New South Wales.
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $54
- Bangalow Native Bush Food Tour: $54
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $64
- Commandants Dinner & Show: $72
- Who Killed the Surveyor Mystery Dinner: $72
- Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $72
- Ghost Tour & Dinner Norfolk Island: $86
- Norfolk Island Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $86
- Sydney Harbour 3-Course Early Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour: $93
- Sydney Harbour 3 or 4-Course Early Dinner Cruise (Circular Quay): $93
- Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise: $93
- Cabaret Dinner Show at the Honeycomb Club: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Queensland $39New South Wales $31
Tours and Activities in Queensland
Here are a few actual costs in Queensland for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Escape to Coochiemudlo Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Midday River Cruise: $10
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Cairns City Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $12
- Brisbane Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $12
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $14
- Spring Brook National Park Self Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Australia's First Upside Down House Photo Experience: $15
- Mayhem in Brisbane GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $15
- Convict Colonial Brisbane GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $15
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $17
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing River Cruises: $20
Tours and Activities in New South Wales
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for New South Wales are as follows:
- Sydney Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $3.52
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Sydney Kids Quest: Family Walking Adventure: $6.45
- Sydney Botanic Garden: Kids Quest Family Walking Adventure: $6.45
- Sydney's Lavender Bay: An Audio Tour by ABC Broadcaster: $6.99
- Sydney Cockatoo Island Escape: Convict Adventure Game: $8.22
- Sydney Manly and North Head Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Sydney City Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Self Guided Electric Bike Tour of Sydney Beaches: $11
- Self Guided Electric Bike Tour of Sydney: $11
- Sydney’s Iconic Sights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Sydney Harbour Self Guided Walking Tour with an App: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQueensland $13New South Wales $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Queensland
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Queensland:
- An Epic Bar Crawl Sunshine Coast: Sippin on Sunshine: $15
- Rum Distillery Tour: $16
- Tamborine Mountain Distillery Tour & Tasting: $22
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $29
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $47
- Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $83
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $114
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Brisbane: $129
- Full Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Brisbane: $144
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour: $144
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast: $144
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in New South Wales
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in New South Wales:
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Seated Wine Tasting: $11
- Boutique Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $12
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Wollongong: Go Out with a Gong: $15
- A Spectacular Bar Crawl in Newcastle: $15
- Cael's Gate Reserve Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley: $18
- The Wednesday Social Pub Crawl & Karaoke: $22
- Tulloch Wines - Wine Tasting paired with Local Handmade Chocolates: $25
- Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $28
- Wonnarua Sparkling Wine Tasting: $32
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Premium Wine Tasting: $32
- Wine Tasting and Picnic Box: $34
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Queensland and New South Wales, we can see that New South Wales is more expensive. And not only is Queensland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Queensland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Queensland 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 New South Wales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New South Wales than you might in Queensland.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Queensland Expensive? and Is New South Wales Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Queensland or New South Wales?
New South Wales has a larger population, and is about 60% larger than the population of Queensland. When comparing the sizes of Queensland and New South Wales, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.