Which place is cheaper, New South Wales or South Australia?
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 South Australia or New South Wales?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit South Australia or New South Wales? 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: South Australia or New South Wales?
South Australia
Millions of travelers are attracted to Australia for a variety of reasons. Sure there are adventures waiting around ever Aussie corner, but sometimes you just want to sit back and relax. That's when it's time to visit South Australia.
Nestled between Western Australia and Queensland, this state is home to 1.6 million people. Even with that many people, however, it's still less than 10 percent of the entire country's population. With less tourists, infamous wine, delectable produce and an untouched environment, Southern Australia is the perfect spot to kickback in the outback.
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 Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
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South Australia Prices
Australia PricesNew South Wales Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Australia $14,216New South Wales $192
The average daily cost (per person) in South Australia is $14,216, while the average daily cost in New South Wales is $192. 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 South Australia and New South Wales in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Australia $5,832New South Wales $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Australia $
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10New South Wales $174
Compare Hotels in South Australia and New South Wales
Looking for a hotel in South Australia 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.South Australia $2,012New South Wales $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in South Australia
Also for South Australia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Adelaide Airport: $57
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Port to Adelaide Airport (ADL): $58
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Cruise Port to Adelaide city: $58
- Private Transfer from Adelaide city to Adelaide Cruise Port: $58
- Adelaide Airport(ADL)to Adelaide city - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Adelaide Chauffeur Airport Transfer: $86
- Adelaide Premium Chauffeur Airport Transfers Experience: $89
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Van: $111
- Airport Transfer: Adelaide to Airport ADL by Luxury Van: $111
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Car: $127
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car: $127
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $287
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New South Wales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in New South Wales:
- Private Transfer - Newcastle Cruise Port to Sydney Airport (SYD): $248
- Byron Bay Brewery & Distillery Tour: Tastings, Lunch & transfers: $164
- Newcastle Airport (NTL) to Newcastle - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $146
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Port to Newcastle Airport (NTL): $81
- Private Transfer from Newcastle Airport (NTL) to Newcastle Port: $81
- Private Transfer from Newcastle City Hotels to Newcastle Port: $79
- Newcastle to Newcastle Airport (NTL) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Baunti Fish Fry Tour with Hotel Transfers: $68
- Island Orientation Tour with Airport Transfer Norfolk Island: $22
- Island Orientation Package incl. Return Airport Transfers & Tour: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into South Australia or New South Wales?
Prices for flights to both New South Wales and South Australia 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 daySouth Australia $5,189New South Wales $74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in South Australia
For South Australia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Adelaide Central Market Food Tour: $49
- The F Factor: Adelaide food tour: $71
- Tastes of Chinatown Adelaide food tour: $85
- Four Hours Cooking Class in Adelaide Hills: $132
- Cooking classes Goolwa: $139
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa: $249
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.
- Bangalow Native Bush Food Tour: $54
- Who Killed the Surveyor Mystery Dinner: $72
- Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $72
- Commandants Dinner & Show: $72
- Norfolk Island Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $86
- Ghost Tour & Dinner Norfolk Island: $86
- Batemans Bay Sunset Pizza Kayak Tour - Float and Feast: $107
- Cooking Classes at the Yellow Door Kitchen: $129
- Date Night with Blending Class and Dinner: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Australia $4,547New South Wales $32
Tours and Activities in South Australia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for South Australia.
- Hosted Tour of the Australian Wine Story: $19
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour: $21
- Adelaide River Torrens Sightseeing Cruise: $21
- Guided Koala Walk and Bushfire ecology tour: $29
- Adelaide Walking Tour: East End Escapade: $36
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Grand Mansions and Sub-Divisions: $36
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Hills, Squares and Parklands: $36
- Cultural Caper Adelaide Walking Tour: $37
- Shared Wine Taste Experience The Dead Arm Distinction: $39
- Rock Climb and Ropes Shared Experience: $41
- Guided Gin Tasting Experience at Never Never Distilling Co.: $42
- Oyster Adventure in Coffin Bay (Coffin Bay Pick Up): $43
Tours and Activities in New South Wales
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for New South Wales are as follows:
- 1 Hour Byron Bay Lighthouse Aboriginal Tour: $43
- 3- Hour Wine and Harvest the Hunter Horse Tour in Pokolbin: $114
- 3-Hour Kayak and Snorkeling Experience in Batemans Bay: $114
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $106
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $71
- Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard - Sweet Indulgence Experience: $43
- Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard: Fromage and Fortified Wine Experience: $57
- Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience: $152
- Batemans Bay Glass-Bottom Kayak Tour Over 2 Relaxing Hours: $99
- Batemans Bay Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour: $100
- Baunti’s Farm and Industry Tour in Norfolk Island: $50
- Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $157
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Australia $2,522New South Wales $15
Sample the Local Flavors in South Australia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in South Australia:
- Exquisite Unique Wine Tasting Experience: $21
- Gourmet Grazing Platter & Wine Tasting Experience for 2: $52
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $64
- Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- Barossa Valley Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- McLaren Vale North Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $72
- Luke's McLaren Vale Wine Tour: $89
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $96
- Adelaide: Epic Barossa Wine, Brewery, Chocolate, Lunch & Wildlife: $106
- Barossa & Maggie Beers Farm (4 wine Tastings & Lunch included): $109
- Picnic and Wine Tasting Experience in the Barossa Valley: $111
- Adelaide Hills: Self-guided E-Bike wine tour with Lunch: $116
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:
- Boutique Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $12
- Cael's Gate Reserve Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley: $18
- Tulloch Wines - Wine Tasting paired with Local Handmade Chocolates: $25
- Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $28
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Premium Wine Tasting: $32
- Wonnarua Sparkling Wine Tasting: $32
- Tintilla Estate: Wine Tasting with a Meat and Cheese Platter: $36
- Tulloch Wines Hunter Heroes Wine Tasting with Local Cheese & Charcuterie Board: $38
- Tulloch Wines- Mystery Wine Tasting Experience with Local Cheese and Charcuterie: $38
- Wine Tasting in Pokolbin with Foodie Adventure: $43
- Snapshot Half Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour: $92
- Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Chocolate and Cheese Tasting: $96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between South Australia and New South Wales, we can see that South Australia is more expensive. And not only is New South Wales much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to New South Wales would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New South Wales 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 South Australia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in South Australia than you might in New South Wales.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is South Australia Expensive? and Is New South Wales Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, South Australia or New South Wales?
New South Wales has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of South Australia. When comparing the sizes of South Australia 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.