Should you visit Torquay or Surfers Paradise?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Torquay or Surfers Paradise, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Torquay
Located on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road, Torquay is a seaside town of Victoria famous for its surfing and beaches. Surf town through and through, it is also the headquarters for the Quiksilver and Rip Curl surf gear companies, and home to the Rip Curl Easter Pro, the world's longest running surf contest held on Bells Beach.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Torquay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Torquay is $78, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $94. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Torquay and Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Torquay can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $36, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $72.
The prices for places to stay in Surfers Paradise can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $60, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $120.
Food
The price of a meal in Torquay can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $23 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $9.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food in Surfers Paradise costs travelers about $24 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Torquay $23
Surfers Paradise $24
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:
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Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak and Dinner:
$40
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Dinner Buffet Cruise on the Gold Coast:
$70
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Torquay than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $35 on transportation in Torquay on average per day.
Surfers Paradise's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $10 per person, per day on transportation in Surfers Paradise.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Brisbane Airport Departure Transfer From Gold Coast:
$177
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Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers:
$13
Is it cheaper to fly into Torquay or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise and Torquay 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Torquay, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $9.84 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Surfers Paradise can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $21 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Torquay
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Torquay.
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3 Day Private Tour Of Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road & Mornington Peninsula:
$1,040
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Cruise Ship Shore Excursion - Private Great Ocean Road Full Day Tour (12 Hour):
$448
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Great Ocean Road & 12 Apostles Tour:
$83
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Great Ocean Road Full Day Private Experience:
$561
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Great Ocean Road Sunset Private Experience:
$561
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Great Ocean Road Tour Plus Koalas, Forest Walk And Morning Tea.:
$105
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Private Express Experience - 12 Apostles:
$445
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Private Great Ocean Road Full Day Tour - 1 Day Tour:
$421
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Private One Day Great Ocean Road Tour:
$377
Typical Entertainment prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour:
$32
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Aquaduck Secrets, Scandals and Sunset Tour:
$47
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Body Massage Experience in Gold Coast:
$160
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Broadwater Adventure + Helicopter Tour Combo:
$113
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Byron Bay and the Crystal Castle Day Tour from Gold Coast:
$97
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Full Day Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Gold Coast:
$126
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Full-Day Moreton Island 4x4 Sightseeing Tour:
$259
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Glow Worms Private Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk:
$466
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Glow Worms Tour - Nocturnal Rainforest Walk - Small Group:
$78
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Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise:
$20
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Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise:
$21
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Gold Coast Hydrofoil Tours:
$131
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Torquay, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $6.73.
Typically, people visiting Surfers Paradise spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
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Private Half Day Wine Tour from Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain:
$119
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Hipster Sipster Brewery and Distillery Tour:
$154
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Torquay and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Torquay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Torquay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Torquay 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise than you might in Torquay.
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