Which city is cheaper, Byron Bay or Rockhampton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Rockhampton vs. Byron Bay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Rockhampton or Byron Bay?
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in Queensland, Australia with a population of around 75,000. It dates back to 1855 and historically the economy was driven by gold, mining, and agriculture. Today it feels more bustling than you would expect in an "outback town." There's traffic, suburban sprawl, and continuing growth and development. The city sits on the Fitzroy River about 45 kilometers from the river's mouth.
Byron Bay
South of Brisbane, off the Pacific Highway, is the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is close to Cape Byron, which is the easternmost point in mainland Australia. Byron Bay makes its way onto most traveler's itineraries because of its wonderful beach activities. The area is world famous for its waves, making it popular with surfers, but it also has incredible scuba diving, whale watching, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The area continues to rise in popularity with travelers and as such, amenities and facilities are popping up everywhere.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRockhampton $174Byron Bay $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Rockhampton is $174, while the average daily cost in Byron Bay is $142. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Rockhampton and Byron Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRockhampton $103Byron Bay $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRockhampton $206Byron Bay $136
Compare Hotels in Rockhampton and Byron Bay
Looking for a hotel in Rockhampton or Byron Bay? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Rockhampton Hotel Prices and Byron Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rockhampton $20Byron Bay $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Byron Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Byron Bay:
- Private Byron Bay Transfer to Gold Coast Airport 7am-6pm: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Rockhampton or Byron Bay?
Prices for flights to both Byron Bay and Rockhampton 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 dayRockhampton $51Byron Bay $49
Typical Food prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Dinner at Olivo (for 2)$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Byron Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Byron Bay.
- Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner: $166
- Byron Bay Kayaking with Dolphins and Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner: $224
- Byron Bay Surfing Lesson and Mount Warning Sunrise Climb Including Overnight Camping and BBQ Dinner: $224
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rockhampton $41Byron Bay $36
Tours and Activities in Rockhampton
For Rockhampton, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Rockhampton Highlights Private Tour with Pickup: $178
- Tropical Beach Adventure - Private 4X4 Day Tour with Pickup: $178
Typical Entertainment prices in Byron Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:
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Buddha Gardens Spa (for 2)$126
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Surf Lesson$43
Tours and Activities in Byron Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:
- 3-Hour Sea Turtle Snorkeling Experience in Byron Bay: $78
- 3-Hour Small-Group Byron Bay Tour: $67
- 5 hour - Byron Bay Cycling Tour + Lunch: $150
- 5-Hour Byron Bay Introductory Scuba Diving Tour: $170
- Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $134
- Byron Bay 3-Hour Certified Dive Tour: $119
- Byron Bay Combo: Hinterland Tour Including Minyon Falls and Kayaking with Dolphins: $182
- Byron Bay Hinterland Tour Including Rainforest Walk to Minyon Falls: $124
- Byron Bay Hinterland: National Park and Waterfalls Tour: $122
- Byron Bay Lighthouse and Hinterland Tour: $74
- Byron Bay Waves To Waterfalls Adventure Tour: $172
- Byron Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $87
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRockhampton $13Byron Bay $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Byron Bay
Also in Byron Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Afternoon session Brewery and Distillery tour in Byron Bay: $116
- Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour: $141
- Byron: Pub, Brewery and Distillery Tour: $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rockhampton and Byron Bay, we can see that Rockhampton is more expensive. And not only is Byron Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Byron Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Byron Bay 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 Rockhampton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rockhampton than you might in Byron Bay.
When is the best time to visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay?
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 Rockhampton or Byron Bay in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rockhampton as well as Byron Bay.
In January, Rockhampton is generally a little warmer than Byron Bay. Temperatures in Rockhampton average around 27°C (81°F), and Byron Bay stays around 23°C (74°F).
It's quite rainy in Byron Bay. Rockhampton receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rockhampton usually gets less rain in January than Byron Bay. Rockhampton gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Byron Bay receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRockhampton 27°C (81°F)Byron Bay 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay in the Autumn?
Both Byron Bay and Rockhampton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Rockhampton is a little warmer than Byron Bay in the autumn. The temperature in Rockhampton is usually 23°C (74°F) in April, and Byron Bay stays around 20°C (69°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Byron Bay. In April, Rockhampton usually receives less rain than Byron Bay. Rockhampton gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Byron Bay receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRockhampton 23°C (74°F)Byron Bay 20°C (69°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay in the Winter?
Both Byron Bay and Rockhampton during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Rockhampton is a little warmer than Byron Bay. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rockhampton in July are around 16°C (61°F), and Byron Bay is about 14°C (58°F).
Rockhampton usually gets less rain in July than Byron Bay. Rockhampton gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Byron Bay receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRockhampton 16°C (61°F)Byron Bay 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Byron Bay in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rockhampton and Byron Bay.
In October, Rockhampton is generally a little warmer than Byron Bay. Temperatures in Rockhampton average around 23°C (74°F), and Byron Bay stays around 19°C (67°F).
In October, Rockhampton usually receives less rain than Byron Bay. Rockhampton gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Byron Bay receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRockhampton 23°C (74°F)Byron Bay 19°C (67°F)
Typical Weather for Byron Bay and Rockhampton
| Rockhampton | Byron Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 32 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (74°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (78°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
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