Which place is cheaper, Queensland 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit South Australia or Queensland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit South Australia or Queensland? 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 Queensland?
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.
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.
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.
-
South Australia Prices
Australia PricesQueensland Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Australia $171Queensland $156
The average daily cost (per person) in South Australia is $171, while the average daily cost in Queensland is $156. 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 Queensland in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Australia $68Queensland $71
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Australia $136Queensland $142
Compare Hotels in South Australia and Queensland
Looking for a hotel in South Australia or Queensland? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.South Australia $20Queensland $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in South Australia
Also for South Australia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car: $126
- Adelaide Airport(ADL)to Adelaide city - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Adelaide Chauffeur Airport Transfer: $86
- Adelaide Premium Chauffeur Airport Transfers Experience: $88
- Airport Transfer: Adelaide to Airport ADL by Luxury Van: $110
- Arrival Private Transfers: Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide in Luxury Van: $110
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $286
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Adelaide Airport: $57
- Private Transfer Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide City & Port: $39
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Cruise Port to Adelaide city: $58
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Port to Adelaide Airport (ADL): $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queensland
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queensland:
- Daintree Eco Lodge to Cairns ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $299
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $299
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airport to Noosa for 1 to 3 people: $292
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return: $284
- Cairns to Port Douglas Private Transfer After Hours 9 pm to 6 am: $270
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $248
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Port Douglas - Cairns Airport.: $248
- Private Transfer to Gold Coast /OOL Airport from Brisbane /BNE Airport (1-7 Pax): $245
- Luxury Vehicle Transfers Gold Coast Hotels to Gold Coast Airport: $232
- Private Transfers Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $218
- Private Transfer - Cairns Airport to/from Port Douglas: $213
- Cairns Airport Private Transfers: $198
Is it cheaper to fly into South Australia or Queensland?
Prices for flights to both Queensland 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
-
Food Meals for one daySouth Australia $54Queensland $57
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
- Tastes of Chinatown Adelaide food tour: $85
- Four Hours Cooking Class in Adelaide Hills: $132
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $213
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa: $248
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: $70
- Brisbane/Gold Coast: Sunset, Dinner, Stars/Premium Telescope: $84
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $96
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $99
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $103
- Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $108
- Drover's Sunset Cruise incl. Smithy's Dinner & Show in Longreach: $120
- Silver-Tails Rail Sunset With Smithy's Dinner & Show in Longreach: $120
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Night Tour and 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $127
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $128
- Cairns Aquarium by Twilight Tour and 3-Course Dinner: $134
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Australia $14Queensland $39
Tours and Activities in South Australia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for South Australia.
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.79
- Hosted Tour of the Australian Wine Story: $18
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour: $21
- Adelaide River Torrens Sightseeing Cruise: $21
- Adelaide's True Crime Tour: $24
- Guided Koala Walk and Bushfire ecology tour: $28
- Jurlique Farm Tour: $28
- Adelaide River Torrens Devonshire Tea Cruise: $31
- Welcome to Adelaide Walking Tour: $31
- Shared Wine Taste Experience The Dead Arm Distinction: $39
- Rock Climb and Ropes Shared Experience: $40
- McLaren Vale I Guided Gin Tasting Experience: $42
Tours and Activities in Queensland
Here are a few actual costs in Queensland for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Jetski Croc Spotting Cairns Experience: $113
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $142
- 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $28
- 1 Hour Waterbike Experience on the Gold Coast: $43
- 1-Hour Cairns Botanic Gardens Evening Family Experience: $43
- 1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise: $28
- 1.5 Hour Jet Ski Coastline Tour, Cairns to Palm Cove Return: $151
- 1.5 hr Jet Ski Safari tour to South Stradbroke Island!: $213
- 1770 Coastline Tour by LARC Amphibious Vehicle Including Picnic Lunch: $62
- 2 1/4 hr Low Isles Reef Sprinter Snorkeling Tour-No Island Access: $135
- 2 Day Great Barrier Reef and Kuranda Scenic Train & Skyrail Tour: $270
- 2 Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure: $46
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Australia $23Queensland $13
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: $56
- McLaren Vale North Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- Barossa Valley Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- Luke's McLaren Vale Wine Tour: $89
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $96
- Barossa Wine tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings, Brewery & Chocolate: $106
- Barossa & Maggie Beers Farm (4 wine Tastings & Lunch included): $108
- Barossa Valley Food & Wine Tour: $108
- Picnic and Wine Tasting Experience in the Barossa Valley: $110
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $110
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
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $29
- Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $82
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $113
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Brisbane: $128
- Full Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Brisbane: $142
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $142
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $149
- All Inclusive Wine Tour including Distillery & 2 Course Lunch: $160
- Tamborine Mountain Food & Wine Tour from the Gold Coast: $163
- One Hump Camel Farm and Wine Tour: $188
When comparing the travel costs between South Australia and Queensland, we can see that South Australia 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.
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 Queensland Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, South Australia or Queensland?
Queensland has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of South Australia. When comparing the sizes of South Australia and Queensland, 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.