Which city is cheaper, Noosa Heads or Surfers Paradise?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Surfers Paradise vs. Noosa Heads for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads, 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: Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads?
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurfers Paradise $106Noosa Heads $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Surfers Paradise is $106, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $112. 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 Surfers Paradise and Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurfers Paradise $68Noosa Heads $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurfers Paradise $136Noosa Heads $118
Compare Hotels in Surfers Paradise and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads? 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: Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surfers Paradise $11Noosa Heads $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Brisbane Airport Departure Transfer From Gold Coast: $177
- Gold Coast: Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $33
- One-Way Shared Transfer to Byron Bay: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Noosa to Sunshine Coast Airport- 8seater + Luggage Trailer: $143
- Private Transfer from Noosa to Sunshine Coast Airport for 1 to 7 people: $122
- Private Transfer from Noosa to Sunshine Coast Airport for 1 to 4 people: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads and Surfers Paradise 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 daySurfers Paradise $27Noosa Heads $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak and Dinner: $40
- Dinner Buffet Cruise on the Gold Coast: $70
- Gold Coast: Spirits of the Red Sand Aboriginal Show & Dinner: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surfers Paradise $24Noosa Heads $41
Typical Entertainment prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$80
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $32
- Aquaduck Secrets, Scandals and Sunset Tour: $47
- Body Massage Experience in Gold Coast: $160
- Byron Bay and the Crystal Castle Day Tour from Gold Coast: $97
- Full Day Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Gold Coast: $126
- Full-Day Moreton Island 4x4 Sightseeing Tour: $259
- Glow Worms Private Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk: $466
- Glow Worms Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk - Small Group: $78
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $20
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $21
- Gold Coast Hydrofoil Tours: $131
- Gold Coast Morning Tea Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $18
Typical Entertainment prices in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Surf Lesson$43
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Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$86
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Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- Full-Day Guided Hinterland Adventure Tour in Queensland: $83
- Noosa River Cruise for 2 people on a Classic Mahogany Speed Boat - 90 min.: $349
- Noosa River Cruise for 3 to 4 people on a Classic Mahogany Speed Boat - 90 min.: $364
- Noosa Surf Lesson Austraila's Longest Wave 4x4 Day Adventure: $97
- Stand Up Paddle 4WD Day Trip from Noosa Including Great Beach Drive Experience: $111
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurfers Paradise $11Noosa Heads $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
- Private Half Day Wine Tour from Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain: $119
- Hipster Sipster Brewery and Distillery Tour: $154
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Noosa Brewery & Distillery Trail: $134
When comparing the travel costs between Surfers Paradise and Noosa Heads, we can see that Noosa Heads 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.
When is the best time to visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Noosa Heads.
In January, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Noosa Heads. Temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 25°C (77°F), and Noosa Heads stays around 20°C (67°F).
Noosa Heads receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Noosa Heads. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySurfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Noosa Heads.
Surfers Paradise is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the autumn. The temperature in Surfers Paradise is usually 22°C (71°F) in April, and Noosa Heads stays around 14°C (58°F).
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in April than Noosa Heads. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSurfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
Both Noosa Heads and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Surfers Paradise is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surfers Paradise in July are around 15°C (59°F), and Noosa Heads is about 7°C (44°F).
In July, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Noosa Heads. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySurfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
Both Noosa Heads and Surfers Paradise during the spring are popular places to visit.
In October, Surfers Paradise is generally much warmer than Noosa Heads. Temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 21°C (69°F), and Noosa Heads stays around 14°C (57°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in October than Noosa Heads. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSurfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Surfers Paradise
| Surfers Paradise | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
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