A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Western Australia vs. Queensland for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Western Australia or Queensland?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Western Australia and Queensland can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Western Australia or Queensland?

Western Australia

The vast expanses of Australia's largest state are meant for those looking to find a place in the world that's been virtually untouched by man. Western Australia is essentially the entire western third of the continent with most everyone living in the southwest near Perth.

As the capital of this state, Perth is the most isolated large city in the world. With 2 million people living in and around Perth, this city sits in the middle of nowhere. There are less than 500,000 people living outside of the city creating that untouched atmosphere for the traveler looking to truly get away.

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 2-Week Tours in Australia, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Queensland or Western Australia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Western Australia is $135, while the average daily cost in Queensland is $146. 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 Western Australia and Queensland in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Western Australia $67
    Queensland $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Western Australia $134
    Queensland $132
Compare Hotels in Western Australia and Queensland

Looking for a hotel in Western 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.

Hotels in Western Australia


Hotels in Queensland


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.
    Western Australia $25
    Queensland $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Western Australia

Also for Western Australia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ballooning in the Avon Valley plus Transfer from Perth, breakfast: $282
  • Departure Transfer: Perth to Perth Airport PER by Business Car: $79
  • Guided Paspaley Pearl Farm Tour with Return Transfers: $142
  • Perth Airport (PER) to Perth city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $178
  • Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport: $50
  • Perth city to Perth Airport (PER) - Departure Private Transfer: $89
  • Private Transfer from Exmouth City Hotels to Exmouth Cruise Port: $66
  • Private Transfer from Exmouth Cruise Port to Exmouth city hotels: $66
  • Private Transfer from Exmouth Port to Learmonth Airport (LEA): $115
  • Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth Airport(PER): $74
  • Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth city hotels: $74
  • Private Transfer from Perth Airport(PER) to Fremantle Cruise Port: $75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queensland

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queensland:

  • Sirromet Winery 3 Course Lunch, Tour, Tastings and Transfers: $134
  • Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
  • Shared Transfer Between Cairns and Port Douglas: $87
  • Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (2pax): $97
  • Private Transfers From Brisbane to Gold Coast: $133
  • Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Palm Cove: $96
  • Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Cairns City: $69
  • Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City: $129
  • Private Transfer: Brisbane to Airport BNE by Business Car: $106
  • Private Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Business Car: $106
  • Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148
  • Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134

Is it cheaper to fly into Western Australia or Queensland?

Prices for flights to both Queensland and Western 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 day
    Western Australia $47
    Queensland $53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Western Australia

For Western Australia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Swan River Dinner Cruise: $101
  • Margaret River Small-Group Full-Day Wine & Food Tour: $116
  • Pinnacles Sunset Stargazing Dinner Experience Small Group Tour: $124
  • Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $167
  • The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $176

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queensland

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queensland.

  • Smithy's Outback Dinner and Show: $66
  • Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
  • Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
  • Brisbane/Gold Coast: Sunset, Dinner, Stars/Premium Telescope: $79
  • Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
  • Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $87
  • Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
  • Drover's Sunset Cruise includes Smithy's Outback Dinner and Show: $106
  • VIP Silver-Tails Rail Sunset With Smithy's Dinner and Show: $113
  • Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $121
  • Dinner on the Edge with Vertigo Brisbane: $168
  • Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Western Australia $13
    Queensland $37

Tours and Activities in Western Australia

For Western Australia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Perth Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.72
  • Perth Historic Downtown Smartphone Guided GPS Audio Walking Tour : $9.75
  • Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour: $11
  • Quest Experience in Cottesloe Beach Perth Pirates by the Sea : $12
  • Explore Albany: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour: $15
  • Mammoth Cave Self-guided Audio Tour (Located in Western Australia): $17
  • Lake Cave Fully Guided Tour: $17
  • Jewel Cave Fully-guided Tour (Located in Western Australia): $17
  • The Perth Mint Gold Tour: $17
  • National Anzac Centre General Entry Ticket: $17
  • Private Classical Wine and Cheese Pairing Experience: $17

Tours and Activities in Queensland

Here are a few actual costs in Queensland for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • AAA NOOSA Whale watching experience in Noosa Whalesongsnoosa: $64
  • Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $47
  • Noosa Queen Sunset Cruise River: $22
  • Scooter Wildlife & Sunset Tour : $66
  • 1 Hour Amore Tour: $235
  • 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $134
  • 1 Hour Private Romantic Gondola Cruises in Banksia Beach: $104
  • 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $24
  • 1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise: $24
  • 1.5 hr Jet Ski Safari tour to South Stradbroke Island!: $201
  • 1770 Coastline Tour by LARC Amphibious Vehicle Including Picnic Lunch: $58
  • 2 1/4 hr Low Isles Reef Sprinter Snorkeling Tour-No Island Access: $128

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Western Australia $7.25
    Queensland $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Western Australia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Western Australia:

  • Premium Temper Temper Chocolate & Red Wine Tasting: $20
  • Private Wine Tasting in Barrel Hall: $27
  • Private Barrel Hall Wine Tasting in the Margaret River Region: $34
  • Small-Group Wine Tour in Margaret River: $37
  • Savour Voyager Wine Tasting: $43
  • Back Vintage Wine Tasting: $43
  • Swan Valley Wine Tour - Half Day Afternoon: $70
  • Perth: Swan Valley Half-Day Wine Tour - Small Group Experience: $70
  • Swan Valley Half Day Wine Tour from Perth: $70
  • Sunset Wine Tasting Experience at Passel Estate: $79
  • Discover Voyager Tour and Wine Tasting: $87
  • Broome Trio Afternoon Adventure: Brewery, Museum & Crocodile Park: $87

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: $13
  • Sunshine Coast Bar Crawl Sippin on Sunshine: $15
  • XXXX Brewery Tour: $25
  • Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
  • Hop on Hop off Brewery Adventure : $66
  • Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $77
  • Sirromet Wine Tasting and Blending Workshop for 2: $84
  • Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $101
  • Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $107
  • Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $110
  • Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $134
  • Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $140


When comparing the travel costs between Western Australia and Queensland, we can see that Queensland 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 Western Australia Expensive? and Is Queensland Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Western Australia or Queensland?

Queensland has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Western Australia. When comparing the sizes of Western 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.

Related Articles for Western Australia
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