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.
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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.
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South Australia Prices
Australia PricesQueensland Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Australia $0.00Queensland $159
The average daily cost (per person) in South Australia is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Queensland is $159. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Australia -Queensland $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Australia $0.00Queensland $144
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.South Australia -Queensland $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in South Australia
Also for South Australia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Car: $128
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Car: $128
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Van: $112
- Adelaide Airport(ADL)to Adelaide city - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Adelaide Chauffeur Airport Transfer: $86
- Adelaide Premium Chauffeur Airport Transfers Experience: $88
- Adelaide Private Airport and City Transfer: $118
- Airport Transfer: Adelaide to Airport ADL by Luxury Van: $112
- Arrival Private Transfers: Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide in Luxury Van: $111
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $287
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide Port: $59
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: $300
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $300
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airport to Noosa for 1 to 3 people: $293
- Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Private Transfer With Return: $287
- Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $274
- Cairns to Port Douglas Private Transfer After Hours 9 pm to 6 am: $272
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Port Douglas - Cairns Airport.: $249
- Premium Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $249
- Private Transfer to Gold Coast /OOL Airport from Brisbane /BNE Airport (1-7 Pax): $246
- Cairns to Silky Oaks ONE WAY Private Transfer 6 pax: $243
- Luxury Vehicle Transfer Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast Hotels: $233
- Private Transfer - Cairns Airport to/from Port Douglas: $215
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
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Food Meals for one daySouth Australia -Queensland $58
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
- Cooking classes Goolwa: $139
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $213
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa: $249
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: $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
- 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: $128
- Gold Coast: Glow Worms, Sunset & Stargazing with BBQ dinner: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Australia -Queensland $40
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 Gaol Ghost Tour and Paranormal Investigation: $33
- Adelaide Walking Tour: East End Escapade: $36
- Adelaide Walking Tour: Grand Mansions and Sub-Divisions: $36
- Cultural Caper Adelaide Walking Tour: $37
- Shared Wine Taste Experience The Dead Arm Distinction: $39
- Rock Climb and Ropes Shared Experience: $41
- Paint and Palate Street Art Tour with Food: $42
- Guided Gin Tasting Experience at Never Never Distilling Co.: $43
Tours and Activities in Queensland
Here are a few actual costs in Queensland for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $143
- 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $25
- 1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise: $28
- 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: $136
- 2 Day Great Barrier Reef and Kuranda Scenic Train & Skyrail Tour: $271
- 2 Hour Brisbane River Jetski Adventure: $113
- 2 Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure: $46
- 2-Day Dreamworld and SkyPoint Admission Ticket: $92
- 2-Hour Dolphin Kayak & Snorkel Tour on the Broadwater: $69
- 4H Snorkeling and Fishing Cruise on Magnetic Island: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Australia -Queensland $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: $51
- Barossa Valley Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour: $71
- Adelaide Hills & Hahndorf 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
- Barossa & Maggie Beers Farm (4 wine Tastings & Lunch included): $109
- Picnic and Wine Tasting Experience in the Barossa Valley: $111
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $115
- Adelaide Hills: Self-guided E-Bike wine tour with Lunch: $116
- Experience SA Barossa Wine Tour- Pickup from Adelaide Area: $125
Sample the Local Flavors in Queensland
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Queensland:
- Rum Distillery Tour: $14
- An Epic Bar Crawl Sunshine Coast: Sippin on Sunshine: $15
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $29
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $46
- Tamborine Mountain Distillery Cocktail Masterclass: $61
- Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $82
- Sirromet Winery Tour with Wine Tasting & Lunch (from Brisbane): $103
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $113
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Brisbane: $128
- Craft Your Own Spirit at Tamborine Mountain Distillery: $132
- Full Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Brisbane: $143
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast: $143
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between South Australia and Queensland, we can see that Queensland is more expensive. And not only is South Australia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to South Australia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in South Australia 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 Queensland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queensland than you might in South Australia.
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.