Never Ending Footsteps

The Cost of Travel in Australia (2023): My Detailed Budget Breakdown

australia travel cost

I’m so excited to be sharing how much it costs to travel in Australia. Not only is this country home for me (I moved to Melbourne in 2021!), but I’ve also spent a significant amount of time travelling across its beautiful landscapes.

There was the lengthy road trip from Brisbane to Melbourne, the two weeks I spent hiking in Tasmania, the week I dedicated to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, and even the five times I’ve tackled the Great Ocean Road (what can I say? I love it!).

My partner’s family live in Melbourne, and before moving here to join them, we used to spend a month in this vibrant country every year, for over a decade, celebrating Christmas Down Under and visiting as many hipster cafes as possible.

Needless to say, I’ve seen a hell of a lot of this country over the years and have visited on every budget imaginable: as a backpacker with absolutely no spare cash, as a solo traveller on a mid-range budget, and as part of couple on a romantic luxury vacation.

In other words, I’m perfectly placed to share exactly how much you can expect to spend on a trip to Australia! Whether you’ll be living the Working Holiday dream and driving a beaten-up campervan along the East Coast, taking that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Oz post-retirement, or simply desperate to make the most of your two-week vacation to Australia, I have you covered.

Today, I’m going to be sharing exactly how much you can expect to spend on a trip to Australia.

australia travel cost

The Cost of Accommodation in Australia

You can visit Australia on any budget, from  a $40 a night hostel in Cairns  that’s highly-rated on Booking to the spectacular $500 a night Four Seasons Sydney , which offers up the best views of the Sydney Opera House in the city.

(Those prices are in AUD, by the way. 1 AUD is equal to 0.60 USD/EUR, or 0.53 GBP.)

But first things first; we have to get this out of the way. Yes, Australia is expensive. It’s incredibly expensive, in fact. And — like everywhere else in the world — prices have only skyrocketed as the pandemic has receded.

Despite this, there is still good  value to be found. Because whether you’re travelling as a solo backpacker on a shoestring, as part of a couple on a mid-range budget, or as a family looking for a little luxury, value is the one thing you’re going to be looking for. That doesn’t necessarily mean cheap, of course, but it does mean staying in some incredible places.

So let’s take a look at accommodation. To start with, I’m going to cover the cheapest way to travel across the country.

If you’re on the tightest of tight budgets, there are several options that’ll land you with  free accommodation  while you’re in the country.  Courchsurfing  helps you to connect with locals by sleeping on spare sofas in their homes. It doesn’t cost a penny to do so and is a fantastic way to gain an insight into Australian daily life away from the tourists. There are over 300,000 hosts in Australia, so you shouldn’t find it too hard to connect with somebody likeminded.

Housesitting  is a more upmarket way to avoid paying for accommodation, as it’s aimed at mid-range and luxury travellers. You’ll be looking after homes (and usually pets) while their owners are on holiday, and the houses can be extremely luxurious (I’ve had friends housesit a castle before!). This option works best if you don’t have fixed travel plans, as you’ll be agreeing to dates that the owners set. It’s always worth taking a look at the site, though, just in case somebody’s vacation dates happen to coincide with yours; there’s usually several hundred housesits to browse through in Australia at any one time.

Finally, when it comes to free accommodation, you could take a look at  WorldPackers in Australia , where you’ll be able to volunteer for locals in exchange for food and board. There are some seriously cool options available on the site right now, from helping out at a local surf school to lending a hand at building an eco-sanctuary in the rainforest. Readers of this site get a $10 discount for WorldPackers with the promo code  neverendingfootsteps .

If you’re not looking to travel for free, though and just want a clean and comfortable room to sleep in, there are plenty of great budget options, too.

australia travel cost

The Best Hostels in Australia

One of the most affordable ways to explore Australia is by staying in a hostel.

During my first visits to Australia, I was in my early twenties and living the backpacker dream; attempting to save as much money as possible. I was impressed by the quality of the hostels in Australia, as well as how many there were to choose from. This country is practically a mandatory stop on backpackers’ round-the-world trips, so there’s cheap accommodation aplenty in every tourist destination.

Here’s some of my favourite spots in the country:

  • My favourite hostel in  Sydney  is easily the epic Sydney Harbour YHA — just wait until you see the views of the Sydney Opera House from the rooftop terrace! It’s in a perfect location for exploring the city, the staff are amazing, and breakfast is included. You’ll pay $70 per night for a dorm bed, or $200 a night for a private room with en-suite.
  • In  Melbourne , you can’t get better than  the Space Hotel — I recommend my friends here whenever they come to visit! Here, dorm rooms are priced at just  $65 a night and private rooms are $160 per night . In a town where most hostels are rated poorly, this well-reviewed spot is a no-brainer.
  • You’ll likely be heading to  Brisbane  while you’re in Australia, and if so, I recommend  Breeze Lodge , which has dorm rooms for  $55 night . The staff here are wonderful and really helped me make the most of my time in town. The rooms were spotless, the vibes immaculate, and the beds comfortable. You can’t ask for more than that!
  • The Gold Coast  is home to  the Surf Inn , which is one of my favourite spots in the country. Here, dorms are priced at  $65 a night . No wonder it’s the best-rated budget accommodation in town. What I loved most about this place is its lovely swimming pool, the fantastic free breakfast, and its close proximity to the beach. Truly, this is one of the best value spots in all of Australia.
  • I’m a massive fan of  Perth . I chose to stay in  Spinners Hostel  during my most recent visit and came away so impressed with the rooms. Not only is it inexpensive at  $50 a night  for a dorm, but the beds are comfortable, the rooms modern and spacious, and the location incredible (I love the Northbridge neighbourhood so much!)

Overall, then, you can see that you can expect to spend around  $60 a night  for dorms in Australia, and around  $160 a night  for a private double room in a hostel. See what I mean about Australia being a little bit pricey?

Well, now it’s time to move on to the cost of hotels in Australia. Because what if you’re not a budget traveller and just want to stay in a lovely, well-reviewed hotel or guesthouse that’s good value for money and has all the things you need from a place to lay your head? I’ve got you!

australia travel cost

My 2023 Recommendations for Hotels in Australia

It’s time to start looking at hotels.

In this section of my budget breakdowns, I always like to share my personal recommendations for accommodation within a country. That way, you get to browse through my favourite properties in order to make your trip planning easier, while also gaining an insight into how much you can expect to spend. And trust me: I spend hours researching each and every hotel that I stay in; I know which places offer the best value in Australia.

My biggest tip? When you head to  Booking.com  to find a hotel, ignore the default results that are shown whenever you search for properties in a destination. That initial list is simply a rundown of all of the hotels that pay Booking the highest commission[!], some of which have some pretty poor write-ups. Instead, click the “sort by” dropdown menu above the search results and choose to sort the properties by “Top Reviewed”. That way, you’ll be able to see which hotels are actually the best option for you.

All that to say, as I’ve been roaming around Australia, I’ve been making a note of the best accommodation in every city, putting in the hard work so you don’t have to. Here’s where I recommend staying (these are predominantly mid-range budget options, in excellent locations with the best reviews). Again, all prices are in AUD:

Sydney: Medusa Hotel ( $230 per night ) — Located in one of my favourite Sydney neighbourhoods — the eclectic Darlinghurst — Medusa hotel is close to so many of the best restaurants and cafes in the city’s inner east. You’re a 30 minutes walk from the CBD (and many of the tourist attractions) so you’ll pay a little less for accommodation than you would if you were right in the heart of the city; an added bonus. On top of that, the property itself is super-quiet and peaceful, tastefully decorated, and with a lovely courtyard. I stay here every time I visit Sydney.

Melbourne: ZaGame’s House ( $260 a night ) — Fun fact! When the pandemic struck, I was in Melbourne as the city went into lockdown. Without a home, I spent nine months living out of hotels and Airbnb apartments, trying so many different Melburnian neighbourhoods on for size. In other words, I know this city, and I know the best places to stay. I love ZaGame’s House for its location — right in the heart of the incredible Carlton neighbourhood, where you’ll find the Queen Vic Market (my favourite food market in the world!) and still be within walking distance of the main attractions in town. You’ve got beautifully designed rooms, amazing staff, a well-equipped gym, and one of the most comfortable beds ever. This is one of my favourite places in Melbourne.

Brisbane: The Inchcolm by Ovolo ( $275 a night ) — Take a look at the photos of the Inchcolm and tell me you don’t want to immediately book a stay there! The decorations and artwork are gorgeous, and the rooms are clean, spacious, and so comfortable. For me, though, the main reason to stay at the Inchcolm is the phenomenal staff members! No matter whether you’re looking for travel advice or a cocktail recommendation in the bar, they’re only too happy to drop everything and help you out. Throw in free access to the Fitness First gym across the street and you’ve got yourself everything you need for your time in Brisbane!

Gold Coast: Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise ( $235 a night ) — To me, staying on the Gold Coast is synonymous with being in a high-rise hotel, gazing down on a stretch of pristine white sand that seems to go on forever. Well the Meriton Suites in Surfers Paradise offers exactly that and I couldn’t stop swooning over its views. You’re located just steps away from the beach, the rooms are clean and spacious, with fully-equipped kitchens, and you’ve got access to an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, gym… the list goes on. This place is an absolute gem!

Cairns: Travellers Oasis ( $130 a night ) — A cheaper option for Cairns, but when the accommodation is so great, staying here is a no-brainer. Travellers Oasis has the best outdoor area, with a jungle-esque garden area, access to a BBQ, and a refreshing swimming pool (100% needed in the sweltering humidity of Cairns!) Rooms are well-cleaned and comfortable, with air conditioning to help keep you cool. It offers up a relaxed vibe to travellers, thanks to the warm and welcoming owners. As an added bonus, it’s only a five-minute walk from all of the best restaurants in town.

Perth: Alex Hotel ( $230 a night ) — There’s no getting around it: Perth is one of the most expensive cities in Australia for tourists, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t bargains to be found. In particular, I’m a huge fan of Alex Hotel, in the city’s CBD. Not only is it only a 15-minute walk from my favourite restaurant in the city (Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King: if you’re a ramen fan, you have to go!), but the interior is beautifully decorated, the breakfasts are impressive, and the rooftop terrace offers up some great city views.

Hobart: The Lodge on Elizabeth Boutique Hotel ( $196 a night ) — The Lodge is a wonderful historic home (one of the oldest buildings in Hobart!) that’s located just a 10-minute walk into the centre of the city. What I loved about it was how homely it feels. It’s like coming back to a cosy home at the end of a long day of exploring — and there’s no better feeling than that! You can expect free parking, tons of travel advice from the owners, delicious breakfasts, and even free glasses of port in the communal lounge. Enjoy!

pilot view over the great barrier reef

The Cost of Transportation in Australia

One thing to keep in mind is the sheer size of this country! It’s around the same size as the continental U.S., so if you wouldn’t expect to be able to see the entirety of the United States in two weeks, it’s unrealistic to hope to do the same in Australia.

With the vast majority of Australia’s attractions scattered along its coastline, driving distances can therefore be huge. My road trip from Brisbane to Melbourne involved driving well over 1,000 miles (1600 km), while Sydney and Perth are separated by a whopping 2,500 miles (4,000 km). To drive from Brisbane to Cairns, you’ll spend 19 hours behind the wheel and still be in Queensland.

Because of this, it’s often easier, definitely faster, and usually cheaper, to fly between Australian cities. Still, don’t expect flights to always be speedy: it takes a whopping five hours to fly from Sydney to Perth!

If you’re short on time, though, it’s well worth taking a look at the offerings from the local airlines, as flights within Australia can sometimes even cost less than taking a bus. As an example, I paid just A$40 for a Jetstar flight from Cairns to Melbourne, skipping the 31 hour[!] drive time. You’ll most likely be flying with Qantas, Jetstar, or Virgin Australia; Qantas has the nicest planes; Jetstar is usually cheapest. I recommend using the flight comparison tool, Skyscanner , to find the best deals.

One of my top tips for saving money in Australia is to check the prices of flights for smaller airports that are located on a city’s outskirts. For example, Avalon Airport is just 15 miles from Melbourne’s main airport of Tullamarine, but usually offers cheaper flights. It’s nearly always less expensive to fly into the Gold Coast instead of Brisbane; two cities that are less than 50 miles apart.

One final thing: in 2023, the budget airline Bonza launched in Australia, offering very cheap flights for a limited number of destinations in the country (they have neither SA or WA flights nor Sydney yet). The catch? The only way to see their prices of flights is to download the “Fly Bonza” app. Yeah, it’s kind of a pain in the ass. Still, if you’re looking for a bargain, it might be worth the added annoyance for you to take a quick look; their prices are often half what the major carriers are charging. (Melbourne to Alice Springs is $169 direct, for example, in comparison to Jetstar/Virgin’s $350 with a layover in Adelaide).

With all that being said, there’s nothing quite like overlanding across Australia, and this country is well set-up for a road-trip. I’ve road-tripped four times throughout the country, from the Great Ocean Road to the entire East Coast.

If you’re on a tight budget, the easiest way to see the country is to buy a campervan when you touch down in Australia — this is how backpackers have been exploring Australia for decades . Then, when you’ve finished your road trip, you simply sell your campervan to a brand new arrival in the country. It works out to be a lot cheaper than renting (as long as you don’t total the car!) as you’ll make most of your money back at the end of the trip. Some people even manage to sell their campervan for more than they paid for it, completely eliminating all transportation costs from their trip!

You can find campervans for sale on Gumtree and Facebook (try the groups Backpacker Campervans for Sale and Campervan Sales Australia ). In general, there’ll always be a cheap and cheerful option for 10,000 AUD (6,500 USD/EUR or £5,300) available. For something with lower mileage and a more comfortable set-up, you’ll be looking at around 25,000 AUD , although obviously the sky’s the limit! If you want a bougie, Instagrammable, #vanlife set-up, you’ll be looking at as much as 70,000 AUD for your camper.

If buying isn’t for you, then renting is still a great option, whether it’s a campervan to road trip around the country, or settling on an economy car to save money. Personally, I’ve always nearly always rented a car while road-tripping Australia, so that I could stay in hotels along the way.

Regardless of which method best suits you, car rental prices can range from $50 a day for an economy car, all the way up to $150 — I always book through RentalCars.com when hiring a car. For campervans, it’s best to go with Jucy or Travellers Autobarn — both companies have a range of vehicles, including brand new ones, that are competitively priced. You’ll expect to pay between $120 and $230 a day , depending on how high-end the vehicle is.

Public buses are a great way to get around the country — in my option, the best way if you’re on a tight budget — and they’re seriously cheap if you’re going to be traversing the entire country. Greyhound is your best bet here, as they cover most of Australia and at very reasonable rates. If you book far enough in advance, you can sometimes grab a ride for just $1 !

Take a look at Greyhound’s Whimit passes, too, if you plan on travelling predominantly by bus. These are easily the cheapest way to travel across Australia. The Whimit passes give you unlimited travel across Australia; you can undertake any bus route of any length at any time over any travel period. Prices are as follows:

$665 for 90 days of travel works out to just $7.39 per day , which is so much cheaper than renting your own car and paying for petrol!

I’ll briefly mention interstate trains here, as there are a few of them in Australia, but they make for a pretty expensive option. It’s usually way cheaper to take the bus or fly between stops than to take the train. For example, the famous Ghan train, which runs between Adelaide and Darwin, takes you across the heart of Australia over three days, living in luxury and gazing out at that iconic Outback scenery. This isn’t a trip for the budget travellers, however: a three-day trip on the Ghan comes in at a whopping $3000 . Per person . Yikes!

I do want to give a specific shout-out to the cost of trains within the state of Victoria, however! They’re incredibly affordable here. In fact, you’ll never pay more than $9.20 for any train ride, even if its a multi-hour journey, taking you from one side of the state to the other! It makes day-tripping cheap and feasible for those of you who don’t want to drive.

australia travel cost

Within the cities themselves, you’ll find that public transport is reasonably priced. Unsurprisingly, Sydney and Melbourne have the best public transport accessibility in Australia, followed by Perth and Brisbane. 

Buses, trains, and ferries operate in the vast majority of Australian cities, and you’ve also got trams in Melbourne and light railways in Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, and the Gold Coast. There’s even a metro system in Sydney and Adelaide! We do also have Uber here in Australia, which makes getting around a breeze. I generally pay around $50 for a 30 minute drive.

Needless to say, there’s lots of ways to get around if you won’t have a car. To give some examples of prices:

In Sydney, you’ll pay (depending on time of day and distance travelled) $4-6 for a bus, $2-11 for a train, $7-10 for a ferry, or $4-5 for a light-rail journey.

In Melbourne, public transport fares start at $3.30 , and there’s a $10 cap on daily public transport fares, so you’ll never pay more than that per day, no matter how many trains, trams, or buses you take. There’s also a free tram zone in the heart of the city, where you won’t pay anything at all!

In Brisbane and the Gold Coast, transportation fares range between $3 and $22 , based on distance, although you’re unlikely to pay as much as $22 , as that’s the cost of travelling 170 km to Gympie (something a tourist is unlikely to do!).

australia travel cost

The Cost of Food in Australia

When you ask me about the food in Australia, there’s one thing that comes to mind: brunch.

Australian breakfasts are the absolute best in the entire world, with Melbourne offering up the tastiest versions . From Vegemite on toast to avocado on toast (called smashed avo), Australia is all about bringing new breakfast dishes to the world. But the brunches are on a whole different level, with a multitude of elaborate ingredients and flavours. If I was only able to eat out for one mealtime in Australia? It would definitely be for breakfast.

Like absolutely everything in Australia, food is relatively expensive — particularly eating out in restaurants. I can easily spend $20-30 on every single meal, so if you’re hitting up cafes and restaurants for all three meals, you can easily find yourself spending $100 a day just on food. The food is fantastic, though, so if you have the cash, it’s absolutely worth digging into Australia’s food scene.

“Throw a shrimp on the barbie!” This iconic line is what most visitors to Australia think of when it comes to food, but fun fact: I’ve never once seen — let alone eaten! — a shrimp on the barbecue! Still, BBQing is a huge deal in Australia, and it’s a great way to keep your costs down. Once of my favourite things about Australia is that many of the parks are home to free public barbecues! It makes for such a cheap meal: hit up the local supermarket for some meat, then head to the park to cook for yourself. You’ll nab yourself a meal for less than $10 and have a cultural experience while you’re at it!

Kangaroo? Absolutely! You can buy kangaroo meat from supermarkets (I like kangaroo sausages) and order kangaroo from many restaurants. It’s not a particularly exciting meat to eat, as it just tastes like a cross between beef and venison, but hey, if you eat meat and want to try something new, it’s definitely worth a sample. While you’re trying new meats, I recommend hitting up a fish and chip shop while you’re travelling Australia’s coastline: while you’re there, make sure to order flake: it’s shark!

While eating out in Australia can be expensive, it’s not too pricey to buy from supermarkets. If you’re backpacking or looking to save money, then, aim to have your breakfasts and lunches from the supermarkets: you’ll pay $1 for a 500g of pasta and $2 for some pasta sauce, for example, or $1 for a loaf of bread and $1 for some butter. Not very exciting or nutritious, no, but if you’re prioritising seeing as much as possible, you can see how it’s easy to keep costs low.

Australia is a drinking society, offering up booze from the infamous goon (boxed wine that’s $10 for 5 litres) to a high-end wine from the Adelaide wine region (easily $50). A beer in a restaurant can cost around $8, and a cocktail in a fancy bar can easily come in at $18. When it comes to alcoholic options, coffee comes in at $3-4, and even a can of soda works out to be $3!

australia travel cost

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Australia

When it comes to travel in Australia, there are so many famous activities and attractions to add to your itinerary. The only downside of this, of course, is that — yet again! — they come at a price.

The greatest attraction in Australia is the magnificent Uluru: that gigantic red rock in the centre of the country. I highly recommend checking it out while you’re in Oz, but it’s important to keep in mind that its location can make for a lengthy and expensive trip. The first expense is getting there: if you have your own wheels, it’s well worth making the drive through the Outback, but if that sounds like an intimidating journey, you’ll be flying into Alice Springs instead. Flights are typically between $300 and $400 for a one-way ticket; $500 to $800 for a return ticket. On top of that, you’ve got the entrance fee ( $38 for three days), the cost of a tour (around $300 for day trip), and any special experiences ( $200 for a 25-minute helicopter ride ; $180 for a base walk, full day in the park, and sunset BBQ ).

Speaking of expensive experiences, I absolutely loved the time I spent out on the Great Barrier Reef. It was incredible! But the main thing to know is that if you want to see healthy, live coral, you need to jump on a liveaboard, which means you need to spend at least one night out on the water. This additional time allows you to travel away from the day-trippers, who spend their days observing dead, bleached coral. It is pricey, but this was one of the best experiences I’ve had in Australia (and I went in with low expectations!). We went with Reef Encounter (the best company in Cairns) and paid $1,600 for two nights on board. It was truly, truly incredible and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I also took a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef with GLS Aviation and paid $300 for two people to take a 40-minute flight. I wrote about this experience in-depth on my site — it was amazing! And so valuable to be able to see the reef from above. It really helped to put its size into perspective for me.

And finally, don’t forget the entrance fee to Australia itself! Fun fact: I’ve managed to forget to apply for a visa for Australia twice over the past decade, and both times, it’s caused me an inordinate amount of stress and panic. Yes, as soon as you book your flights to Australia, you’re going to want to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) in order to enter the country. Don’t forget! I use iVisa for my ETAs for Australia and pay $20 each time.

australia travel cost

Don’t You Dare Forget About Travel Insurance!

Travel insurance : If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.

Travel insurance  will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use  SafetyWing  as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Australia. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re way cheaper than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.

With SafetyWing, you’ll pay  $1.50 a day  for travel insurance.

Sandbank on Great Barrier Reef

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Australia?

With all of that being said, it’s time to tally up all of my travel expenses in Australia, in order to give you an idea of how much you can expect to spend while travelling in this wonderful country:

The cost of travel in Australia for backpackers

Accommodation: A$30 per day Transportation: A$20 per day Food: A$25 per day Activities: A$10 per day

Total cost of travel: $A85 per day (58 USD per day)

The cost of travel in Australia for couples on a mid-range budget

Accommodation:  A$50 per day Transportation:  A$30 per day Food:  A$40 per day Activities:  A$12 per day Total amount spent per day: A$132 per day

ARE YOU PLANNING A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA? HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

Related Articles on Australia 🇦🇺 30 Incredible Things to Do in Melbourne, Australia 🐠 Nerves and Nausea Over the Great Barrier Reef 🥑 Fitzroy is Home to the Best Brunches Ever 🦘 Tasmania Is Incredible And You Should Go There Now

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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24 comments.

I’m not much of a hiker either but I do get that sudden burst of pride that I can take it all in my stride like there’s no stitch, no shortness of breath & definitely no sweat pouring into my eyes. The feeling of making it to the top is incredible, the feeling of sitting down & filling your mouth with cold water – even better :)

Agreed! I think I may now be a hiking convert — the feeling of pride afterwards was amazing!

Hiking in flip flops?! Are you crazy! Haha! I’m going to hike up Adams peak in Sri Lanka tomorrow night, soon I will have cobra calves like you!

Hahaha! I’d lived in flip flops for the past year so assumed I’d be fine. I probably should have bought some hiking boots….

Good luck with the hike! Cobra calves are sexy :)

good choice seeing the blue mountains. it really is underrated imo.

you heard the story about the first convicts in Australia? not knowing where they were, they thought China was on the other side of the blue mountains…

Thanks! And nope, I hadn’t heard that before — too funny!

I was horrified too when I realised just how big Australia is, but after a while it became second nature to spend a whole day travelling from one place to the next. The Blue Mountains is one of the places in Australia I really wish I had visited, it looks so, so beautiful.

Aren’t the distances crazy. If I drove for the amount of time I did in Australia I’d end up in the ocean!

The Blue Mountains was probably the highlight of my entire time in Australia so hopefully you’ll make it there one day! :)

Wow it looks amazing! Impressive doing it in flipflops as well. Although I would recommend buying something slightly more comfortable to wear for all the New Zealand hiking I’m sure you will be doing. I did the famous Tongariro Crossing in Converse. Something I do not recommend…took me three days for my feet to recover after that…

Yep, I bought a pair of excellent hiking shoes a few days after my time in Blue Mountains and love them!

I can’t imagine doing the Tongariro in Converses would have been particularly easy! :)

Wow stunning photos for such a stunning place! I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never heard of this place at all! However, I’m glad I saw your tweet, because now I can add this to my list of a biz-zillion things I want to do before I die.

It’s ok, Bryan… I didn’t know its name before I arrived :-) Glad you’ve added it to your list, it definitely deserves a place there!

Knew there was a reason the Blue Mountains were on my Aussie bucket list :D I’m not a hiker and already know I’m going to bitch and moan all the way up but looking at your photos, it’s definitely going to be worth it and I can’t wait :D

Yay! I’m so glad you’re going to be heading here — it’s been my favourite place in Australia! :-) And, really, if I made it in flip flops then you *definitely* can handle it!

I literally just got to Sydney this morning and was planning a trip to the Blue Mountains when I realized I hadn’t checked your blog in a while. Thankfully I did! Great tips and photos as always! My travel companions are also super excited since they share your enthusiasm for hour long sunset photo shoots haha

Awesome, I’m so glad it could help! You’ll love it there, it’s SO beautiful!

Those are such gorgeous photos! It really is such a dramatic landscape. I did the same hike as you last year and loved it! I took that tram back up, the steepest one in the world I think it is. So sure I was going to slip out! Really great blog :)

Thanks, Veronica!

I didn’t get a chance to take the tram but it looked pretty daunting… I would have probably spent the entire journey hyperventilating!

Haha, I’m enjoying reading about your progress towards becoming “A Hiker.” Looks like a gorgeous hike for sure!

Though, I hate to tell you this… but I feel like Dave might be onto your nose-breathing secret after reading this post… ;)

Wait until you hear about the stuff I get up to in New Zealand! I go a bit crazy and almost break myself :)

*Cue Mouth Drop* These photos are stunning! This is intense. Everytime I come on here now it’s featuring some sort of awesome bike trip (or a gnarly fall) or an amazing hike. I love it!

Awww, thanks Ryan, glad you like the photos!

Haha, I’ve done a few hikes in flip flops too! Sometimes not the best choice, but I just love them so much it makes it hard to put on real shoes :) Good choice on picking the Blue Mountains! They look stunning!

I know! After about a year in Southeast Asia, I threw out all of my other shoes and lived in flip flops… I love them so much!

Meet Lauren Juliff

Champion Traveler

Cost of a Trip to Australia & the Cheapest Time to Visit Australia

The average price of a 7-day trip to Australia is $1,955 for a solo traveler, $3,357 for a couple, and $1,725 for a family of 4 . Australia hotels range from $55 to $238 per night with an average of $92, while most vacation rentals will cost $180 to $510 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Australia (from all airports) are between $1,112 and $2,134 per person for economy flights and $3,492 to $6,701 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $42 to $86 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Australia

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Australia and stay in a Australia hotel:

  • January 29th to March 25th
  • April 9th to May 6th
  • July 30th to December 2nd (except the week of October 8th)

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Australia is usually late August to early September .

Average Australia Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Australia for a week is $1,329-$3,211 ($190-$459 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $42 to $86 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $621 to $1,817 for economy

Lodging : $69 to $87 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $108 to $132 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Australia for a week is $2,244-$5,629 ($321-$804 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $84 to $172 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,242 to $3,633 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Australia for a week is $4,483-$10,863 ($640-$1,552 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $168 to $345 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,485 to $7,266 for economy

Lodging : $137 to $175 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $162 to $197 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Australia

How cheap can you make a vacation to Australia? The cheapest trip to Australia is about $150 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $20 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $47.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Australia for a week is $1,050-$2,975 ($150-$425 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $21 to $42 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $47 to $55 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $114 to $144 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Australia for a week is $1,818-$5,085 ($260-$726 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $42 to $84 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Australia for a week is $3,631-$9,738 ($519-$1,391 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $84 to $168 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $93 to $110 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $171 to $216 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very possible to travel to Australia cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Australia Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Australia.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Australia for a week is $2,837-$11,702 ($405-$1,672 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $84 to $173 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,553 to $4,539 for first class

Lodging : $116 to $238 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $496 to $992 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Australia for a week is $4,978-$17,452 ($711-$2,493 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $168 to $346 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $3,106 to $9,078 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Australia for a week is $9,963-$31,927 ($1,423-$4,561 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $336 to $692 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $6,213 to $18,155 for first class

Lodging : $233 to $476 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $744 to $1,488 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Australia Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Australia is slightly lower than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Australia due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Australia Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Australia hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Australia.

Flight Costs to Australia

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $2,134 average in late December to a low of $1,112 in late August to early September. Median flight price is $1,403. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Australia our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Australia, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $1,022, so you can easily save about 92% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Australia can easily cost $315 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $21 per person. Private tours can cost $630 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Australia Guides

Travel costs nearby.

  • New South Wales Outback, NW, AU
  • Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
  • Mungo, NW, AU
  • Broken Hill, NW, AU
  • Buronga, NW, AU
  • Wentworth, NW, AU
  • Euston, NW, AU
  • Gol Gol, NW, AU

Travel Costs in Popular Places

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Australia Travel Cost: How Much to Budget for an Unforgettable Adventure - Trip.com

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by Trip.com

February 28, 2023

Sydney Attraction - Sydney Opera House

Sydney Attraction - Sydney Opera House / Source: Trip.com

Sydney Attraction - Bondi Beach

Sydney Attraction - Bondi Beach / Source: Trip.com

Australia Travel Cost Overview

Generally, you can expect to spend around AU$1,400 (USD $945) for a 7-day trip to Australia, including the cost of accommodation, transportation, food, sightseeing, and car rental.

** Note: Actual costs may vary depending on individual preferences and travel choices. **

  • Flying from Nashville: tickets for around $2,383 one-way or $2,281 round-trip.
  • Leaving from Boston: tickets for around $1,393 one-way or $2,497 round-trip.
  • Flying out of Chicago: tickets for around $1,521 one-way or $2,629 round-trip.

Sydney Attraction - Sydney Tower Eye

Sydney Tower Eye / Source: Trip.com

👉 Of course, these prices are just estimates, so it's always a good idea to do your own research and shop around for the best deals. But hopefully, this gives you a rough idea of what to expect when it comes to the cost of flights to Australia.

Flights from New York to Sydney ✈️

sort

  • Sort by: Lowest Price
  • Sort by: Earliest Flight

Hawaiian Airlines

Crossed out prices are calculated based on the average price of the corresponding route on Trip.com.

Flights from Los Angeles to Sydney ✈️

United Airlines

Useful information about Flights to Australia ❗️❗️

  • Los Angeles to Sydney takes 15 hours direct and just shy of 16 hours to Melbourne
  • Dallas to Sydney takes 17 hours, while Houston to Melbourne is 20.5 hours
  • Most international flights to Australia arrive at major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
  • Australia's peak travel season is December to February, so expect higher ticket prices and more crowded airports during this time.

How to save money on flights?

  • Compare flight times and airlines to find the cheapest overall option.
  • Book your flight 12 weeks in advance to get the best deals.
  • Join an airline loyalty program to earn rewards and discounts.
  • Use airline miles or credit card points to travel at discounted prices .
  • Take advantage of AARP membership to save up to $65 per person, per round-trip in economy

Accommodations

** Note: Prices may vary depending on location, season, and availability. **

Best Hotels in Sydney 🏨

Hilton sydney, meriton suites kent street, sydney, the fullerton hotel sydney, sofitel sydney darling harbour, radisson blu plaza hotel sydney, business travel, sofitel sydney wentworth, the tank stream sydney, an evt hotel, mercure sydney liverpool, the miller hotel north sydney an evt hotel, mantra parramatta, family friendly, the grace hotel, mercure sydney, yehs hotel sydney qvb, little national hotel sydney, meriton suites sussex street, sydney, best hotels in melbourne 🏨, stamford plaza melbourne, grand hyatt melbourne, next hotel melbourne, curio collection by hilton, w melbourne, hyatt centric melbourne, atlantis hotel melbourne, crowne plaza melbourne, an ihg hotel, brady hotels central melbourne, intercontinental hotels melbourne, hotel grand chancellor melbourne, ibis melbourne central, ibis styles kingsgate hotel, batman's hill on collins, novotel melbourne on collins, doubletree by hilton melbourne, transportation, how to save money on transportation.

  • Another way to save money is to book hotel rooms for peak season in advance. This can help to get rooms for AU$150 to AU$250 in posh hotels.
  • Alternatively, you can seek other options such as camping or hostels for accommodation. This can help to save money.
  • You can also get an Opal Card which is free and can be purchased at the airport, train stations or any newsagent shop.

Sightseeing and Attraction Ticket

Cairns Attraction - Green Island

Cairns Attraction - Green Island / Source: Trip.com

Must-go Attractions in Australia 📍

>> SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Admission Ticket

>> Sydney Tower Eye Admission Ticket

>> 【Melbourne Attraction】Werribee Open Range Zoo Admission Ticket

How to save money on sightseeing in Australia 😳 ?

Sydney Attraction - Darling Harbour

Sydney Attraction - Darling Harbour / Source: Trip.com

Gold Coast beach

Gold Coast beach / Source: Trip.com

Wi-Fi and Communications

  • Optus WiFi plans start as low as $45 per month
  • Exetel's Everyday NBN Broadband Plan is $53.95 per month for the first 6 months and then $64.95 ongoing
  • Aussie Broadband, Vodafone, iiNet, Kogan, iPrimus, and Telstra offer plans with higher speeds, such as NBN 250 or NBN 1000, for a higher cost

Trip.com SimCards

Prepaid Voice and Data simcards

Prepaid Voice and Data simcards / Source: Trip.com

The best ways to buy cheaper souvenirs

  • Australia's No. 1 Souvenirs & Gift Store

This store offers a variety of souvenirs at affordable prices, such as Kangaroo Clasp Pins for $12.99, Traditional Boomerangs for $24.99-$29.99, Cling Koalas With Vest 12 Pack for $9.99, Dot Kangaroo Black Folding Shopper Bag for $5.99, and Green & Gold Australia T-Shirt for $24.99.

  • Shop at local markets

Local markets are a great place to find unique and affordable souvenirs. You can often find handmade items like jewelry, art, and crafts that are not available in tourist shops. Markets like the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne and the Rocks Market in Sydney are great places to start.

  • Buy from discount stores

Discount stores like Kmart, Target, and Big W offer a range of souvenirs at affordable prices. You can find items like t-shirts, keychains, and magnets with Australian designs at a fraction of the cost of souvenir shops. Look for stores near popular tourist areas.

Travel Insurance

Brighton beach

Brighton beach / Source: Trip.com

Why do you need travel insurance when traveling to Australia?

  • Medical Emergencies
  • Trip Cancellation
  • Baggage Loss

Travel insurance

Travel insurance / Source: Anete Lusina @ unsplash

How much does travel insurance cost when traveling to Australia?

  • Factors that affect travel insurance cost
  • Sample costs for travel insurance to Australia

Here are some sample costs for travel insurance to Australia:

  • A 30-year-old traveler taking a two-week trip to Australia with basic coverage can expect to pay around $50-$80.
  • A 50-year-old traveler taking a four-week trip to Australia with comprehensive coverage can expect to pay around $200-$300.

Travel Tips

Plan your itinerary

  • Australia is a large country with many destinations to explore, so it's important to plan your itinerary in advance. Research the places you want to visit and the activities you want to do, and allow plenty of time to get around.

Prepare for the climate

  • Australia has a diverse climate, with hot summers and mild winters in the north, and cooler temperatures in the south. Be sure to pack appropriate clothing for the climate, including a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong Australian sun.

Take out travel insurance

  • As mentioned earlier, it's important to take out travel insurance to protect yourself from unexpected events such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and baggage loss. Compare policies and choose one that suits your needs and budget.

Respect the culture

  • Australia has a rich and diverse Indigenous culture that should be respected. Learn about the local customs and traditions, and be mindful of cultural sensitivities.

Be aware of wildlife

  • Australia is home to a range of unique and often dangerous wildlife, such as snakes, spiders, and crocodiles. Be aware of your surroundings and follow any warning signs or advice from locals.

Get a local SIM card

  • If you plan on using your mobile phone while in Australia, consider getting a local SIM card. This can save you money on roaming charges and allow you to stay connected with friends and family back home.

Use public transport

  • Australia has a good public transport system, including buses, trains, and trams. Using public transport can be a cost-effective way to get around, and it can also help you avoid the stress of driving in unfamiliar places.

Try the local cuisine

  • Australia is known for its diverse cuisine, from fresh seafood to hearty pub grub. Be sure to try some of the local specialties, such as meat pies, fish and chips, and kangaroo meat.

Enjoy the great outdoors

  • Australia has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world, including stunning beaches, rugged mountains, and ancient rainforests. Be sure to spend some time exploring the great outdoors and taking in the natural beauty.

Be prepared for emergencies

  • Finally, it's important to be prepared for emergencies while traveling in Australia. Have a plan in place for what to do in case of an emergency, and make sure you have the necessary contact information for local authorities and emergency services.

Twelve Apotles

Twelve Apotles / Source: Trip.com

Looking to get the best deal on your next travel booking? Look no further than Trip . com ! With a wide range of flights, hotels, and vacation packages to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect option to suit your budget and preferences. Plus, with their user-friendly website and mobile app, booking your next adventure has never been easier. So what are you waiting for? Visit Trip.com today to start planning your next getaway!

How much does it cost to travel to Australia?

The cost of traveling to Australia varies depending on factors like the time of year, type of accommodation, and activities. Generally, a basic daily budget for backpackers is $70-$100 AUD, mid-range travelers should budget $150-$250 AUD per day, and luxury travelers should expect to spend over $400 AUD per day.

What is the cheapest time to travel to Australia?

The cheapest time to travel to Australia is typically during the low season, which runs from May to August. During this time, flights and accommodation tend to be cheaper, and crowds are smaller.

How much should I budget for flights to Australia?

The cost of flights to Australia varies depending on your departure location and the time of year you plan to travel. On average, travelers from the United States should expect to pay $800-$1,500 USD for a round-trip ticket.

How much does accommodation cost in Australia?

The cost of accommodation in Australia depends on the type of accommodation and its location. Budget hostels typically cost $20-$40 AUD per night, while mid-range hotels cost $100-$200 AUD per night. Luxury hotels can cost over $400 AUD per night.

What are some ways to save money while traveling in Australia?

To save money while traveling in Australia, consider using public transportation, cooking meals instead of eating out, and staying in budget-friendly accommodations like hostels or camping grounds.

Australia Travel Cost

  • 2. Accommodations
  • 3. Transportation
  • 4. Sightseeing and Attraction Ticket
  • 5. Wi-Fi and Communications
  • 6. Souvenir
  • 7. Travel Insurance
  • 8. Travel Tips
  • 9. Conclusion

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Australia Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

Towering buildings along the Gold Coast in Australia at sunrise

Australia is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It’s known as a major backpacking, camping, road tripping, and diving destination.

Backpacking Australia is considered a “must do” for backpackers. It’s a central highlight on the round-the-world trail. I started coming to Australia in 2008 as a backpacker. It hooked me and, since then, I’ve visited over five times and have crisscrossed the country three times. Every single trip I discover something new about this country to love.

But this isn’t just a country for backpackers. Its huge diversity means every traveler can find something they love here.

Australia is filled with incredible natural beauty: Uluru and the Outback, rainforests and pristine white sand beaches, and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and Opera House are iconic man-made wonders, and Melbourne’s café culture will make you feel like you’re relaxing in Europe . You have surfing, hiking, camping, boating, and a ton of other activities available to you. It makes some of the best wine in the world. Australia has it all.

However, the country’s size and limited transportation options, makes it hard to get around. And it’s not the cheapest place to visit, even if the currency is a tad weak right now.

Fortunately, this extensive Australia travel guide will show you how to save money, plan your trip, and make the most of your time Down Under. Because this country is worth taking the time to explore – and doesn’t need to cost a fortune!

Table of Contents

  • Things to See and Do
  • Typical Costs
  • Suggested Budget
  • Money-Saving Tips
  • Where to Stay
  • How to Get Around
  • How to Stay Safe
  • Best Places to Book Your Trip
  • Related Blogs on Australia

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in australia.

The famous Bondi Beach on a bright and sunny day enar Sydney, Australia

1. See Sydney

Australia’s largest city has a range of activities to keep you busy. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, surf at Bondi Beach, party in King’s Cross, sail across the harbor, visit the Opera House, and take in world-class innovation in Darling Harbor. There’s a ton to see and do here and it’s worth spending a few days here to soak it all in. Other popular beaches nearby include Manly (wide and beautiful), Bronte (small and quiet), Coogee (fun), Palm (chill), and Dee Why (surfing). And, if you’re feeling adventurous, tours that climb the iconic (and massive) harbor bridge cost 250 AUD.

2. Visit Uluru

This beautiful red rock formed over 550 million years ago. Tourists have been visiting the rock since the 1930s and it’s of great spiritual importance to the local Aboriginal peoples. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, the best way to visit is by going as part of a multi-day tour of the area or driving on your own. You’ll be able to walk around the rock, learn about its cultural importance, and watch the rising/setting sun splash against it. Admission is 38 AUD per person and is valid for three days. Note: Climbing on the rock is prohibited.

3. Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Don’t miss diving or snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the largest living organism on Earth, spanning some 344,000 square kilometers (133,000 square miles). The reef is brimming with wildlife, including giant clams, manta rays, sharks, turtles, clown fish, and more! Cairns is the most popular jumping-off point for dive trips to the reef. I was blown away by the abundant wildlife and coral. It did not disappoint! Dive trips start around 230 AUD.

4. Explore Melbourne

Melbourne is much more relaxed than Sydney (and, personally, I like it more). This is the place to relax by the river, walk through the city gardens, eat amazing food, enjoy the art, and party in St. Kilda. It’s a fun, chill city with a youthful vibe and a ton of backpackers.

5. Sail the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 islands off the central coast of Queensland. They’re one of the most popular destinations in the country. It’s a popular region for sailing trips and since the vast majority of these islands are designated national parks, you’ll find numerous pristine beaches and dive sites here. It’s a postcard-perfect region. Expect to pay between 399-499 AUD per person for a three-day/two-night sailing trip. While expensive, it’s worth doing (I loved my trip).

Other Things to See and Do in Australia

1. explore fraser island.

The world’s largest sand island is a popular spot for camping, swim, hike, and seeing dingoes. You can hire your own 4WD car or take an overnight tour through the island that’s famous for its freshwater lake (and dingoes). The island is beautiful and filled with lakes, hiking paths, and sweeping vistas. Sadly, you can’t go in the water nearby as it’s rough and full of sharks, but there’s plenty of fishing, cool sand dunes, the stunning 75 Mile Beach, and a cool shipwreck for snapping photos. Camping on the island is super cheap too (less than 10 AUD per night!).

2. Visit Cairns

Cairns is Australia’s gateway to northern Queensland. From here you can visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation, and much more. Cairns is a pretty typical tropical city and life here focuses on taking the time to smell the roses. With so much to see, the city deserves a very long stay. Plan to visit for a week, which should give you enough time to explore the area and allows some downtime by the city’s awesome pool.

3. Wander Brisbane’s South Bank

Brisbane is a “business city.” Unlike Sydney or Melbourne, there isn’t a lot of “culture” here. But it’s a popular stop on the backpacker trail due to its location. Be sure to explore South Bank, which has some nice restaurants and decent pubs. There’s also an educational koala sanctuary here as well as a relaxing botanical gardens.

4. Hike the Daintree

The world’s oldest rainforest (yes, it’s older than the Amazon) offers hikes that range from easy to challenging, with dense jungles, beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and lots of wildlife. Spend a few days hiking around and getting out of touristy Cairns. If you really want to get off the beaten path, head up to Cape Tribulation and enjoy some real peace and quiet (just watch out for jellyfish when you go swimming). There are all kinds of day and multi-day trips available here with two-day guided trips costing around 350 AUD per person.

5. See Perth

Perth is Australia’s west coast capital and is often overlooked by most travelers. It’s expensive to get out there from the east coast (it’s a 5-hour flight from Sydney) so most travelers avoid it. But I love it. In fact, it’s probably my favorite city in all of Australia. Perth feels more like a large town than a city and is the best place to have a “Sunday Session” (an Aussie tradition of drinking on Sunday afternoons). From the beaches, food, and beer (be sure to take a day trip to Freemantle), Perth is just awesome.

6. Explore the Outback

No trip to Australia is complete without a trip to the Outback to see crocodiles, valleys, lakes, and the red desert. Find your own Crocodile Dundee as you explore the Red Center and Western Australia. And be sure to visit some of the places I love: Karijini National Park, the Kimberleys, Kakadu, and Litchfield National Park. The landscapes are stunning and there are all kinds of epic hikes to enjoy.

7. Surf on the Gold Coast

Australia is famous for its surfing, and one of the best places to learn is on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. You’ll find world-class waves, a wide beach, and lots of available lessons. If you don’t like the Gold Coast , there is always Noosa, Byron Bay, Bondi Beach, Perth, and, well, you get the idea. There’s a lot of surfing in Australia! A two-hour group lesson costs around 75 AUD. If you don’t need lessons and just want to surf, you can rent a board for around 60 AUD per day.

8. Take a wine tour

Whether you go down to Margret River, Hunter Valley, or the Barossa Valley, you will have many chances to taste Aussie wine right from the source. Visiting the wine country should be on your list of things to do. If you rent a car, you can stay longer or you can do guided tours from major cities. I think it’s best to base yourself in the area and spend about 3-5 days in each area tasting as much wine as possible. Day tours with Colorful Trips that visit three wineries in the Hunter Valley cost 199 AUD.

9. Admire the Ningaloo Reef

The Great Barrier Reef gets all the hype, but the Ningaloo Reef on the west coast is a far better reef system. Because it’s less developed and attracts fewer tourists, there are actually more fish and wildlife here — you can even swim with whale sharks . Plus, at some points (like at Coral Bay), the reef comes so close to the shore that you can swim right up to it on your own. Half-day trips start around 120-225 AUD per person.

10. Visit Western Australia

The most overlooked area in the country is the west coast. Here you can escape the crowds of the east coast, explore the Outback, see the Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay (one of my favorite spots in the world), Broome, Perth, and the Margaret River. It’s much less developed than the east coast but if you take one piece of advice away from this guide, it should be to visit this part of Australia. It’s the version of the country you picture in your head and is an amazing region for road trips, camping, hiking, and enjoying nature.

11. Tour Tasmania

Despite everyone knowing its name, hardly anyone ever makes it down here. (It’s far from the main tourist trail.) Tasmania has amazing hikes, beautiful bays (Wineglass Bay being the most famous), small towns, and excellent people. It’s just a ferry away from Melbourne too. The island is about the size of Ireland (or West Virginia in the USA) yet it’s home to just under 545,000 people. If you have the time, explore this terribly under-visited part of the country. It’s amazing. The ferry from the mainland costs around 100 AUD each way and takes 9-11 hours.

12. Hike the Blue Mountains

Right outside of Sydney , the Blue Mountains are an awesome place to explore. Over millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. The area is free to visit and you can get there by train, which takes around two hours. Spend the day admiring the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) and hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. For a guided tour, Get Your Guide offers full-day wildlife-spotting tours for 155 AUD.

13. Learn about pearling in Broome

Broome used to be the largest pearling port in the world. Founded around 1880, pearls were an important commodity used for making cutlery, buttons, and jewelry. By 1900, there were 300 ships here, though the industry fell into decline during World War II (and then, after the war, plastic was invented, which diminished the need for pearls). You can learn all about the region’s rich history at the Pearl Lugger Museum (tours for 30 AUD). If you want a more hands-on experience, Willie Creek Pearls also offers a two-hour boat tour for 129 AUD. You’ll learn about the risks and challenges of the industry while also getting to hold and touch all kinds of valuable pearls.

14. Visit the Kimberley

This area is known for its wilderness, so if you love the outdoors and don’t mind things getting rugged, add this to your itinerary. Located near Broome, this outback region is three times bigger than England that’s filled with stunning gorges, beautiful waterfalls, and a vast desert landscape. It was one of the first areas settled in Australia some 65,000 years ago (Europeans didn’t arrive here in the 1830s). There are all kinds of day trips and hikes here that you can do solo, as well as multi-day guided tours. Expect to pay around 1,200 AUD for a three-day guided excursion. If you’re going solo, popular overnight hikes include Piccaninny Gorge and Lurujarri Dreaming Trail.

15. Explore Kakadu National Park

The enormous Kakadu National Park is a biodiverse nature reserve in Australia’s Northern Territory. It encompasses wetlands and rivers and is home to saltwater crocodiles and flatback turtles, as well as many different bird species. Rock paintings (dating back to prehistory) can be viewed at Nourlangie, Nanguluwur, and Ubirr. You can find a lot of tours departing from Darwin. Be sure to spend at least a night in the park! Three-day tours cost around 735 AUD.

For more information on specific cities in Australia, check out these guides:

  • Alice Springs Travel Guide
  • Brisbane Travel Guide
  • Broome Travel Guide
  • Cairns Travel Guide
  • Fraser Island Travel Guide
  • Gold Coast Travel Guide
  • Melbourne Travel Guide
  • Perth Travel Guide
  • Sydney Travel Guide
  • Whitsunday Islands Travel Guide

Australia Travel Costs

The famous Ayers Rock in Australia, also known as Uluru

Accommodation – Hostels dorms start around 25-30 AUD per night, though they get as high as 40 AUD in the big coastal cities. Private rooms with a double bed and a shared bathroom in hostels range between 65-100 AUD per night, though in larger cities they can be as high as 150 AUD. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities. Only some hostels include breakfast.

For those traveling with a tent, a basic tent plot without electricity starts around 7 AUD, though most are 10-25 AUD per night.

For budget hotels, expect to spend 100-120 AUD per night for a two-star hotel. Amenities usually include TV, Wi-Fi, and AC. Some hotels have a pool.

Airbnb is available around the country with private rooms starting around 40 AUD (though they average closer to 90 AUD). Entire homes/apartments cost at least 140 (though they are usually double or even triple that price so be sure to book early). Expect to pay about 10-20% more in the coastal cities.

Food – Food in Australia is diverse, with each region having its own specialties. While you can find cuisine of all types here, popular traditional choices include BBQ meat (especially sausages), meat pies, fish and chips, seafood, chicken parmigiana (chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, ham, and melted cheese), and, of course, the infamous vegemite on toast.

Food prices vary per region, but generally, you can expect to pay 20-25 AUD for a meal at a casual restaurant. A fast-food combo from somewhere like McDonald’s costs 13-14 AUD while a pizza costs around 16-20 AUD. Chinese, Thai, and Indian food cost 12-20 AUD for a main dish.

If you want to splash out for something more upscale, a expect to pay around 55-70 AUD, including a drink, per person.

A beer is around 8 AUD, latte or cappuccino costs around 5 AUD, and bottled water between 2-3 AUD.

If you cook your own meals, expect to pay around 75-95 AUD per week for groceries. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Australia Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Australia for 70 AUD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a cheap hostel, cooking all of your meals, using public transportation to get around, and doing mostly cheap or free activities like hiking and enjoying the beaches. If you camp, you can lower this budget by around 20 AUD per day. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 AUD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 200 AUD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb or hostel room, eat out for a couple of meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, bus between cities, and do more paid activities like taking surf lessons or going diving.

On a “luxury” budget of 385 AUD or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car or camper van to explore, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in AUD.

Australia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Australia can be a very expensive country to visit. If you aren’t careful, you’ll blow through your entire budget in no time as activities, food, and transportation all adds up fast here. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save too. Here are some ways to save money when you visit Australia:

  • Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is infamous on the Australian backpacker hostel trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to drink, get a buzz, and save a lot of money at the same time. Drink this before you go out and save on spending money at the bar.
  • Cook your own meals – The best way to reduce your costs is to cook as many meals as possible. Hostels and Airbnbs usually have kitchens and, while it’s not glamorous, it will save you a ton of money!
  • Car share – Australia is a big country that can be expensive to get around. If you are traveling with friends, it’s smart to buy a used car or campervan (or rent a new one from one of the many rental companies in the country) and split the costs of gas. You can also hitch a ride with other travelers using sites like Gumtree, Jayride, or hostel message boards.
  • Book tours as a package – This country has a lot of exciting activities and tours that eat into any budget. Booking activities together through a hostel or tour agency can get you a discount and save you hundreds of dollars.
  • Work for your room – Many hostels offer travelers the opportunity to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a day of cleaning, you get a free bed to sleep in. Commitments vary but most hostels ask that you stay for at least a week. Check with the staff when you arrive to see if there are any opportunities available.
  • WWOOF – WWOOFing is a program that allows you to work on organic farms in exchange for free room and board. Everyone I’ve met who stays in the country long-term does it for at least one month. It’s a great way to reduce your expenses and can a deeper look into local life.
  • Stay with a local – Accommodation in Australia is pricey. If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host that will host you for free. It’s the best way to connect with a local and get insider tips and advice.
  • Camp – Camping is very affordable here, with basic tent plots costing as little as 7 AUD per night!
  • Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Australia is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle with you to save money and lower your plastic use. LifeStraw makes a bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where To Stay in Australia

I’ve been a backpacker here for ages and have accumulated a long list of places to stay. Here are my suggested places to stay in Australia if you’re looking for a hostel:

  • Base St. Kilda (Melbourne)
  • Space Hotel (Melbourne)
  • Wake Up! (Sydney)
  • YHA Rocks (Sydney)
  • Bunk Brisbane (Brisbane)
  • City Backpackers HQ (Brisbane)
  • Kimberley Travellers Lodge (Broome)
  • The Shiralee Hostel (Perth)
  • Aquarius Backpackers (Byron Bay)
  • Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns (Cairns)
  • Nomads Noosa (Noosa)
  • Alice Lodge Backpackers (Alice Springs)

How to Get Around Australia

Clear water of a huge wave as someone surfs along the stunning coast of Gold Coast, Australia

Public transportation – All of Australia’s cities have reliable, affordable public bus systems. In the bigger, cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, you’ll even find subways and tram systems. This is the cheapest way to travel the cities. Fares cost between 2.75-4 AUD.

Many cities offer day passes that include unlimited public transportation for under 10 AUD.

Bus – After driving, this is my favorite transportation option in Australia. On the east coast, this will be your cheapest option too. On the west coast, buses are surprisingly expensive as there are not many people moving up and down that coast and there’s limited competition. However, on the east coast, you can find really cheap bus tickets, especially if you book in advance.

The two main bus companies in Australia are:

  • Greyhound Australia

Greyhound also offers several bus passes. Their Whimit Passes range from 15-120 days of unlimited travel and are perfect for traveling around on a whim (hence the name). They come in 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120-day passes costing 349-729 AUD.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Backpacker Bus – If you want to party with other backpackers as you travel, book a seat on the Magic Bus . This backpacker bus departs with 25 backpackers aged 18-35 for 3-4 weeks of exploring the country’s national parks, camping, bonfires, and non-stop parties and shenanigans.

Trips go from Perth north to Broome or east to Melbourne each month, so you have to time your trip accordingly to line up with the set departure. The itineraries are always flexible so every trip is unique. They try to keep a balance of 50% men and 50% women, as well as a balance of different nationalities, so there is always a diverse group. Prices vary so contact them for departure dates and ticket prices.

Train – Between city trams, commuter trains, and long-distance and trans-continental trains, Australia can be seen extensively by rail. Train lines exist mostly on the east coast with only two other major lines in the country: one goes north/south from Melbourne to Darwin and another east/east from Sydney to Perth.

For reference, Sydney to Canberra takes 5 hours and is 40-50 AUD while the 11-hour trip from Sydney to Melbourne costs over 200 AUD. Sydney to Brisbane takes 14 hours and costs 100-140 AUD.

Beyond the east coast, trains aren’t as plentiful and long-distance trains can be very expensive.

Flying – With Australia spanning over 7,000,000 square kilometers, it takes a long time to get around the country. Flying is one of the most efficient ways to city hop, but it’s not the cheapest. Australia’s major airlines include:

When booked in advance, flights can be very affordable here. Sydney to Melbourne is just 55 AUD and takes 90 minutes while Sydney to Cairns takes 3 hours and costs around 100 AUD each way. To cross the country, flights last around 5 hours. Sydney to Perth, when booked in advance, can cost as little as 150 AUD each way.

When not booked early, however, flights can easily double or triple these prices.

Rideshares – Every hostel has a bulletin board where travelers post rides and websites like Gumtree have active ridesharing sections where people look for cars or riders. I HIGHLY recommend this way of traveling when in the country. CoSeats is another good resource for finding rides.

Car rental – Car rentals start around 40 AUD per day. You don’t need one to explore any of the cities but if you want to travel the country then a car is best. Just remember that they drive on the left here.

For the best rental car deals, use Discover Cars

Additionally, you can also purchase a car from backpackers leaving the country or locals selling used cars. You can usually find a used car for under 3,000 AUD. It might seem a lot, but there are always backpackers looking to share rides, which can cut down on our expenses.

When to Go to Australia

Temperatures vary across the country (it’s a huge landmass after all), but generally speaking, average summer temperatures range from 20-37°C (68-99°F). Remember that summer is from December-February here in the southern hemisphere. This is the most popular time to visit so expect big crowds and higher prices.

June-August (winter) is the low season. Prices are lower and there are fewer crowds. The temperature dips as well, hovering around 1°C (52°F) in the south while going as high as 30°C (86°F) in the north.

Spring and fall (March-May and September-October) are the shoulder season and the best time to visit. Crowds aren’t as big and prices aren’t as high and the weather is still enjoyable too, rarely dipping below 17°C (63°F).

Note that October to April is also “jellyfish season,” making waters unsafe for swimming or any other water sport. If you’re planning on enjoying Australia’s coast, this probably isn’t the best time to come. The season lasts from October to April in Northern Australia, and then from November to March elsewhere.

How to Stay Safe in Australia

Australia is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel around. Violent attacks and petty theft are rare here so you’re unlikely to get into trouble.

Most incidents in Australia tend to occur because visitors are not used to the country’s unique climate and wilderness. Be sure you have plenty of sunscreen and stay as hydrated as possible. This is especially true if you’re driving through the Outback. There are long, long distances without any towns in sight, so if you break down, you’ll want to be prepared. Always make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle for long drives.

If you’re hiking, make sure you know what to expect ahead of time. Be on the lookout for snakes and spiders. If you’re bitten, seek immediate care.

If you’re swimming, heed the red and yellow flags. Yellow flags indicate swimming conditions may be dangerous; red flags mean the beach is closed.

Mother Nature in Australia is NOT a force to be reckoned with in this country. Don’t be a hero.

Solo female travelers are generally safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone at night intoxicated, etc.). Consult other solo female travel blogs for specific advice.

If you’re worried about travel scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here . There aren’t many in Australia though so I wouldn’t worry too much here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 000 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Australia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

  • Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
  • Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
  • Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
  • Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost. It’s one of the best transportation websites out there!
  • SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
  • LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
  • Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
  • Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Australia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more information? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Australia travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in Sydney

The 7 Best Hotels in Sydney

Where to Stay in Brisbane: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Brisbane: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 6 Best Hotels in Brisbane

The 6 Best Hotels in Brisbane

The Best Walking Tours in Melbourne

The Best Walking Tours in Melbourne

The Best Walking Tours in Sydney

The Best Walking Tours in Sydney

Where to Stay in Melbourne: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Melbourne: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

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  • Where To Stay
  • Transportation
  • Booking Resources
  • Related Blogs

Stoked For Travel

How Much Does It Cost To Travel Australia? A FULL Budget Breakdown (2023)

Trying to figure out how much it costs to travel Australia? Well here’s a full Australia budget breakdown – inc accomodaiton, tours, transport and more!

Planning a trip to Australia ? Trying to figure out how much does it cost to travel Australia?

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

No worries – I’ve got you covered!

I’ve lived, worked and travelled in Australia more than any other country I’ve visited since hitting the road back in 2009 – in fact Byron Bay is my second home in terms of total time living there!

I know planning a trip to Oz can be daunting – it’s a long way away, it’s not the most budget friendly place, there’s a lot of ground to cover and sooooooo much to see an do!

So to help you figure out how much your trip to Australia will costs here’s a rundown of all the major things you’ll encounter – including food, drink, transport, tours, accommodation and more…

LAST UPDATED Jan 2023 – a lot of stuff has changed around and increased for travel from 2023 onwards, so I’m doing my best to keep this as updated as possible!

(Just FYI, all prices below are in $AUD)

How Much Does It Cost To Travel Australia In 2023?

Greyhound bus.

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

Easily the most popular way to travel around Australia the Greyhound Bus network covers the whole of the East Coast as well as the Red Centre, Northern Territory and parts of the West Coast too.

They’ve recently revamped the Greyhound Australia Bus pass range and there are now 2 main options; the WHIMit and the East Coast Passes .

The WHIMit covers the entire Greyhound Australia network, whilst the East Coast is the Melbourne to Cairns Route.

Both included unlimited travel and are only limited by time frame – up to 90 days for the National WHIMit and 30 days for the East Coast WhimiT

  • 7 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $249
  • 15 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $319
  • 30 Day Greyhound East Coast Pass = $389
  • 15 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $349
  • 30 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $439
  • 60 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $499
  • 90 Day Greyhound WHIMIT Pass = $629

Premier Bus

Not as popular as the Greyhound but even more budget friendly, the Premier Bus Passes are a great alternative for those travelling the East Coast and who want to be more budget conscious. Again like Greyhound they’re 3 months, but extendable to 6 if you need longer, however they don’t cover the Sydney to Melbourne section.

  • Sydney to Cairns Pass = $330
  • Sydney to Cairns Pass (1 Month Pass)  = $230
  • Brisbane/Byron Bay to Cairns Pass = $242

Check out all the Premier Passes here

Campervan Hire

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

My favourite way to travel around Australia! Even though campervan hire in Australia isn’t the cheapest it’s certainly the most fun and flexible way to get around, especially if you’re travelling as a couple or small group of friends. The cost of campervanning Australia varies heaps depending on your route, time frame, campervan model and of course the season – so the further in advance you book it the better.

Expect to pay from $60AUD per day though, with rates much higher in the peak, summer season, around $110+ per day

For an epic Campervan deal in Australia click here

Accommodation

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

The most budget friendly and popular accommodation option for the East coast is shared hostels dorms – varying from super flash packer 4 bed A/C ensuite rooms (such as Byron Bay YHA) right through to super budget 12 bed dorms that are certainly less comfortable, but easier on the wallet!

They vary from $25-65 per night – however this can fluctuate quite a bit depending on the location, season, length of your stay and also any key events.

The best advice I can give you is go with a $40 night average as a ball park figure but also check out the latest rates if you’re aiming for peak season or stuff like xmas/NYE in Sydney as this will massive effect how much it cost to travel Australia.

Some of my favourite hostels include;

  • WakeUp! (Sydney and Byron Bay)
  • The Surf House (Byron Bay)
  • Aquarius Backpackers (Byron Bay)
  • Halse Lodge Noosa
  • Nomads Airlie Beach
  • Nomads Magnetic Island (Magnetic Island)
  • Jackaroo Treehouse (Mission Beach)
  • Gilligans (Cairns)

If you’re keen on a bit more privacy and comfort, but not wanting to splash out on full on hotels then I also highly recommend the private rooms at YHA hostels.

As you might expect hotels in Australia are definitely a step up budget wise, but there is a HUGE range of styles catering for most budgets. Honestly though I couldn’t put a price on them as you could spend $100 a night to $1,000s – so best to check out somewhere like Booking.com and smash in your personal preferences and budget!

Another popular option now is AirBnB and you can get some real unique and comfortable options all over the coast. It’s great for couples or families (but there’s no restriction) and the perfect way to go if you want to treat yourself during your trip too!

Click here for $37 off your first booking!

Food & Drink

As with pretty much everywhere in the world eating out in Australia will really impact your budget – but there is a huge variety of restaurants and bars you can grab food at, from low cost feeds to award winning dinning.

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

If you are going to eat out and don’t want to break the bank many bars, restaurants and hostels offer discount meal deals – including backpacker deals too. So if you want to eat on the cheap but don’t fancy cooking check out some of these options;

  • Queen Victoria Market (Melbourne)
  • Sidebar/WakeUp (Sydney
  • Dominoes $5 Pizza

9/10 times cooking is going to be the best option for your budget in Australia and you can slap together everything from 50 cent noodles $4.50 veggie pasta right through to whatever dishes from home you’re missing. Coles , Woolworths and ALDI are dotted all the way across Australia so get your cooking skills on the go!

If there’s one easy way to make the cost of travelling Australia expensive it’s by partying! So how much will booze add to your daily budget?!

  • Beer in a bar = $5-8
  • Beer from a bottle shop = $5
  • Glass of wine = $10+
  • Wine from a bottle shop = from $5
  • Cocktails = $15+
  • Box of goon (cheap boxed wine) = $10-15

how much cost to travel australia budget one month east coast oz backpacker backpacking

There is so much to see and do along the East Coast of Australia, so it would be almost impossible to list it all – however here are some of my top picks for the best trips and tours to do so you can figure out how much it cost to travel Australia with all your plans!

  • Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb =from $368
  • Spot X Surf Camp = from $279 (2 night package)
  • Surf Lesson in Byron Bay = $80
  • Dolphin kayaking = $89
  • Noosa Everglades Canoe Tour = $150
  • Fraser Island Overnight 4×4 Tour = $499
  • Fraser Island Day Trip = $180
  • Whitsunday Islands Overnight Sailing Adventure = around $499 – $599
  • Whitsunday Islands Day Tour = $180
  • Magnetic Island Package = $140
  • 15,000 foot skydive = around $349
  • Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour = $195
  • Barrier Reef Intro Dive = $245
  • Budget Open Water Dive Course = $799
  • Overnight Dive Boat = $575 (2 day/1 night inc 7 dives)
  • Melbourne Intro Tour = from $399 (4 day option)

Check out RTW Backpackers for everything you need tour wise in Australia by clicking here

Budget For A Month In Australia

Ok so now for the big reveal! How much does it cost to travel Australia and how much do you need to budget for a month in Australia ?

We based on my calculations and taking into account the main trips, tours and style people travel the East Coast….

A month travelling Australia will be around $4,150

Or $138 per day.

This then includes;

  • 30 nights accommodation (shared dorm)
  • 30 day Greyhound WHIMit Pass
  • Surf lesson
  • 3 day/2 night Fraser Island 4×4 Safari
  • 2 night Whitsundays Sailing Adventure
  • Magnetic Island Package
  • Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour
  • Around $30 per day for food and drink

Obviously this is just a rough guide – you can easily make it more expensive by staying in hotels, private rooms, partying heaps or adding in loads of extra tours and on the other hand you can also make it cheaper by staying at more budget friendly hostels, cooking budget food and skipping out on bigger trips and tours.

But that $4,150 is a good starting point on what you’ll be looking at spending on a month on the East Coast of Australia.

Have you travelled Australia before?

What was your budget, related posts.

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I am planning to travel to Australia, i will be visiting my friend who moved to live there two years ago and i also want to make it my vacation,i iwll reduce my cost since i will be staying at her house, but now i can estimate other costs. Thanks for sharing

No worries, stoked it’s helped you out and awesome news you’ll be crashing with friends – that will save you heaps!

  • Travel Planning Guide

How much does a trip to Australia Cost?

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How much money should you budget for your trip to Australia?

  • How much does a one-week trip to Australia cost?
  • How much does a two-week trip to Australia cost?
  • How much does a one-month trip to Australia cost?
  • Hostel Prices
  • Hotel Prices

The Cost of a Trip to Australia

Visitors to Australia usually spend between $63 and $438 per day on average for one person and $125 to $876 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $163 (AU$250) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers. Your individual travel expenses may vary based on travel style and the locations visited, but if you plan wisely while visiting the most popular destinations, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns, then you'll likely spend somewhere in this price range while on your trip. Further down we have a breakdown of expenses by category, as well as a comparison of independent travel versus guided tour prices.

If you're planning an Independent trip to Australia, budget travelers should plan to spend around $63 (AU$96) per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $163 (AU$250) a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $438 (AU$671) a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for Australia from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.

How much does a one week trip to Australia cost?

Most visitors spend between $438 and $3,067 for a one week trip to Australia, with the average being $1,140. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to visit one, two, or maybe three locations in Australia, depending on how in-depth you want to make your visit. Some of the most popular places to visit are Sydney , Melbourne , and Cairns .

australia travel cost

How much does a two week trip to Australia cost?

With two weeks, you should budget between $876 and $6,134 for your trip to Australia. The average price for a two week trip is $2,280. Two weeks will allow you enough time to visit between three and five places. If you're on a budget, you might want to consider some of the more affordable places such as Torquay, Newcastle, and Cairns.

How much does a one month trip to Australia cost?

When embarking on a month-long trip to Australia, expenses can range from $1,877 to $13,144, with an average cost falling around $4,886. For those fortunate enough to have a full month, considering a vacation rental with a kitchen for at least a portion of your stay can help save money with meals. Backpackers often opt for hostels due to their affordability and the added benefit of a social vibe.

Hostel Prices in Australia

With more than 210 hostels in Australia, the average price is $25 per night for a dorm bed. Hostels are a terrific option for younger independent travelers looking to save money while staying social during their trip. With many types of hostels, it can be overwhelming to sort out the best places, though. Our analysis of the hostels in Australia not only found the average price, but also uncovered some surprises about the overall quality, amenities, and atmosphere of hostels in the region. You can see more details from our analysis about typical hostel prices in Australia here .

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Australia.

  • $26 for a dorm bed at Wake Up! Sydney Central in Sydney more details
  • $27 for a dorm bed at Flinders Backpackers Melbourne in Melbourne more details
  • $12 for a dorm bed at Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns in Cairns more details

Hotel Prices in Australia

You'll find a wide range of hotel options across Australia. Below are prices for some of the destinations, and for more details see our analysis of hotel costs in Australia .

Cambridge Cottages

Valentine on george.

australia travel cost

Should you do an organized tour or travel independently in Australia?

Organized tours are an easy and convenient way to visit Australia. All of the details are handled by travel experts, and during the trip you'll benefit from the knowledge of an expert guide.

Traveling independently offers freedom and flexibility that is hard to find on an organized tour.

Many travelers appreciate the convenience and ease that an organized tour offers. Many tours provide transportation and expert guides that help you enjoy your trip.

Alternatively, you'll enjoy freedom and flexibility with independent travel that is difficult to find with an organized tour.

Comparing Trip Costs in Australia

When we compare the prices of organized tours to the average costs of independent travelers, we can see that sometimes the prices are fairly even.

Tours vs. independent Travel: Pros & Cons

Organized tours.

  • An expert guide familiar with the culture
  • Convenient transportation
  • Fellow travelers to socialize with
  • Well researched activities
  • Efficient and thought out itinerary
  • The security of have a trip leader if something goes wrong
  • Limited options
  • Usually not customizable
  • The fast pace often means you can’t visit one place in depth
  • Usually more expensive than independent travel
  • There may be limited time to interact with the local culture and community

Independent Travel

  • Completely customizable
  • Opportunity to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations
  • Can fully immerse yourself in the local culture
  • Freedom to move at your own pace
  • Flexibility to change your itinerary at any time
  • More affordable
  • Challenging to plan an efficient itinerary
  • Transportation may be challenging or inefficient
  • Booking and trip planning can be a hassle
  • Popular sights may sell out well in advance
  • If something goes wrong, you're on your own

Are organized tours more expensive than independent travel in Australia?

Organized tours typically average around $430 per day and provide the convenience of an all-inclusive package with one comprehensive payment. On the other hand, independent trips usually average around $163 (AU$250) per day and involve individual payments for accommodations, local transportation, meals, and sightseeing. Both organized tours and independent trips have their own unique challenges and benefits, so it's crucial to thoroughly understand the aspects of each to make a fair comparison. For a detailed analysis of tour prices in Australia, check out our comprehensive guide on tour prices in Australia here .

Here are a few sample tours in Australia:

  • Oz East Coast Adventure 28 Days ($3,199) 28 days, 12 destinations more details
  • Best of the Coast - Sydney to Cairns 16 Day Premium Youth Adventure Tour ($3,620) 16 days, 14 destinations more details
  • Tasmania Complete (2023) ($4,734) 12 days, 13 destinations more details
  • Tastes of Southern Australia (2025/2026, 11 Days) ($4,970) 11 days, 22 destinations more details
  • Sydney to Cairns Best of Australia – 17 Day Boutique Tour ($7,138) 17 days, 20 destinations more details

More for Australia

If you're planning a trip to Australia, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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How much does a trip to Australia cost?

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  • Australia travel budget

If you’re planning on travelling to Australia, you’re probably wondering how much you need to budget for your trip. While your travel costs will depend on your travel style, generally speaking Australia is best for travellers with some spending money.

Accommodation costs are generally on the high side and food and drinks are relatively expensive. Many of Australia’s best attractions are very affordable or even free and, while some activities could set you back a fair amount, there’s plenty to do at lower price points too.

How much should I budget for a trip to Australia?

A reasonable budget for two for a week in Australia is around A$2,589 .

The above cost is based on staying in good, mid-range accommodation and having a few meals out per week, while preparing some yourself . It makes allowances for a couple of sightseeing activities, but doesn’t take into account expensive activities like adventure sports or private tours.

Generally speaking, the longer you travel, the cheaper it costs per day, while fly-in, fly-out trips can be more expensive.

How much does accommodation cost?

You can expect to spend between A$160-A$250 a night, per couple, on accommodation in Australia. This will get you a private room with your own bathroom in a 3-4-star hotel or apartment rental.

Hostels are, of course, cheaper, but a private room with a shared bathroom will still cost around A$90 per night. A bed in a dorm room also averages around A$30 per night, per person, although there are definitely cheaper options out there.

How much should I budget for food and drinks in Australia?

Budget to spend around A$750 for two for a week in Australia. This assumes you’re cooking some of the time and drinking some alcohol.

If you enjoy eating out, you can expect to pay around A$93 for a nice dinner for two, including an alcoholic drink. A meal at a pub is likely to be around A$57 for two, with cheaper meals available (especially for lunch) for around A$18 each.

Assuming that you’ll be eating out some of the time, budget at least A$85 a week for groceries. If you enjoy a few drinks, you’ll need to increase this amount – beer costs around A$6 for a 500ml bottle and good bottle of wine is around A$17 , from a shop, although there are cheaper options available. Milk typically costs around A$2 for a two-litre bottle and you can expect to pay around A$5 for a cappuccino from a local café.

How much does it cost to get around Australia?

Getting around Australia is easiest with a car. Transport costs fluctuate depending how much you travel, but budgeting around A$330 for two per week is a good starting point. This should allow you to hire a cheaper rental car. If you’re planning on doing any tours or using hop-on hop-off buses, you’ll need to up your budget a bit.

While you need a car to explore the country, the major cities have very good public transport networks. If you'll be in a city for more than a day or two, it's worth picking up the local public transport card to help make travelling around more affordble.

What should I expect to spend on activities?

A lot of the best things to do in Australia are free. However, there definitely are some attractions that cost money – entry fees to a museum or an art gallery are usually around A$20 - A$40 per person. If you want to do organised day trips or join smaller tour groups to learn more about some of the sites, budget around A$160 per activity per person.

Australia is a beautiful destination to visit and although it’s not cheap, it’s definitely possible to travel there for less. Cooking your own meals, carefully selecting accommodation or limiting meals out will definitely help you to reduce your travel costs. Slow travel is another great way to help your budget to stretch further, while exploring a place in more depth.

Travelling through Australia is definitely possible on a budget – just pick your priorities and compromise on the rest or consider travelling in the off-season and avoiding school holidays to cut down on costs. And, if you’re on the luxury end of the scale or wanting to treat yourself, the sky’s the limit.

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Last Updated 16 December 2021

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Cost of travel in Australia in 2023

Cost of travel in Australia in 2023

Thinking of travelling to Australia ? Great choice! You are going to discover an amazing country and live an unusual experience. But, how much should you estimate your budget? Indeed, you are perfectly right to ask it. And it’s because it’s on everyone’s lips that we’re offering you this article. After reading it, you will be able to establish the costs to be considered according to the type of trip you are planning.

Table of Contents

Budget before coming to Australia

Plane ticket.

Airfare will undoubtedly be one of the biggest expenses before you leave. Australia is at the other end of the world, so going there will have a significant cost!

Tickets prices change constantly during the year. Thus, there are 3 main periods:

  • October to February (spring/summer & Australian holidays): ≤ £1100 return (including 1 stopover, good airline and 24h travel time)
  • March to June (winter): ≤ £850 return (including 1 stopover, very good airline and 24 hours travel time)
  • July to September (winter/autumn & European holidays): ≤ £1100 return (including 1 stopover, good airline and 26h travel time)

Since Covid-19 pandemic, prices have risen quite a bit. For this beginning of year 2023, count around 1400 EUR (1200 GPD) for a return ticket with a stopover.

Passport and Driver’s licence

To travel outside the European Union, you need a passport . To obtain or renew it, it is necessary to make a request to your town hall with supporting documents. The cost of a passport (1st request or renewal) is  £75.50  if you apply for it online in the UK. The application is more expensive if you apply by paper form ( £85 ).

If you already have one, make sure it is valid for at least as long as the duration of your stay.

If your driver’s licence is not in English then you will need to obtain an international licence. The process is free in general but quite lengthy so be sure to make the request well in advance.

To enter Australia, you will need a visa. Here is a list of your visa options for a trip to Australia :

  • Tourist Visa (for 3 to 12 months)  (eVisitor Visa Subclass 651 / Visitor Visa Subclass 600) :  Free or 145$  for a 1st application then  365$  after a WHV
  • WHV (for 1 year)  (Working Holiday Visa / Subclass 417 & 462) :  510$ (can be renewed under conditions)

Make sure you apply for a visa from the  official government website  

Health Insurance

It is important to take out travel insurance in case your credit card or insurance company does not cover costs abroad. Without insurance you risk exposing yourself to the true cost of treatment outside the European zone.

Depending on the length of your stay and your trip (tourist, WHV) you will need to get the proper cover for your stay in Australia.

These insurances will cover you in the event of an accident or infectious disease. Your hospital costs, repatriation costs, accidents during the practice of certain sports (to be checked with the company), or your civil liability will be covered.

There are a lot of offers on the market. Among those,  World Nomads  policies provide different levels of coverage for all key areas while you are travelling.

australia travel cost

Depending on your preferences, housing can be one of the most affordable or most expensive expenses. Here are your options:

  • In a tent : free to $70 per week. If you are lucky enough to be able to drop anchor in a free camp, then take advantage of it! That’s what adventure is all about, living in the great outdoors in picturesque areas! And it’s free! You also have the possibility to pay for a caravan park which will allow you to enjoy at least hot showers, a laundry and a kitchen corner (about 20$/night and 70$/week). Of course, this requires a vehicle 😉
  • In your vehicle : You just have to find an authorized place to spend the night. Easy, mate !
  • Youth hostels : depending on the city and the period you book, rates can vary from $25/night (dormitory of 10) to $60/night on weekends (dormitory of 5). In general, a week varies between $120 and $250
  • Woofing & HelpX : Great alternatives for those looking to live with locals, with free food, laundry and accommodation in exchange for a few hours of work per week. A great option!
  • Flat rental : Who wouldn’t dream of a flat overlooking the beach? With a deposit of between $200 and $1000 (depending on the owner), you can expect to pay approximately $300/week in rent (with roommates) to fully enjoy your holiday!
  • Hotels : Of course you also have the option of spending your nights in hotels. Budget will vary between 120$ and well up to you… depending on your preferences.

Hello TimTam, canned food, pasta and wraps! Anything that can be kept for a long time and in all kinds of heat (well, almost). Because on a road trip, every day is a new opportunity, a new destination, so we might as well take care of what we buy:

  • Small budgets : between 30$ and 50$/week for grocery shopping. This includes simple foods and meat in small quantities, but also some sweets.
  • The average Road Trip budget : about $60 to $70/week. Fresh vegetables and spices are best, with a reasonable amount of meat.
  • The gourmet budget : for those who love good food, if you wish to garnish your dishes, a minimum of 80$/week should be considered to maintain your ‘joie de vivre’ Down Under

australia travel cost

Transportation

How to get around and how much does it cost? Australia is a much larger continent than Europe. This means that you need to plan ahead and find the most suitable means of transport. So, here are some ideas to travel through this fabulous country:

Lifts (or carpooling)

This is an almost free way of getting around, where you contribute to the fuel costs and meet many backpackers! Recommended for those thirsty for adventure. To do this, a quick look at the Facebook groups in Australia is welcome

The network is extensive and efficient but often at the same price as the plane and the train. The two main companies are Greyhound and Premier Motor Service. For those who would mainly choose this means of transport, a Greyhound package is worth considering. In addition, here is an order of prices according to the destinations:

In general, the journey time is several hours longer and the fare is the same as that of a bus or plane. That said, it is still much more comfortable for long journeys. And there are some iconic and famous train journeys in Australia. For example, The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth), The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) or The Overland (from Melbourne to Adelaide).

Motorbike & private car

One of the best adventures you can have is a motorbike trip, but it does have a few drawbacks (exposure to the weather, minimal luggage). This is why a car remains a great option! Whether you have a 4WD, a campervan or a classic car, the road is waiting for you!

Renting a vehicle

Renting a vehicle is probably the most popular way to travel in Australia. Car hire generally costs around $30 per day. For a campervan rental, you can expect to pay around $1000 for 10 days. Rates vary depending on the season and the model / equipment of the vehicle etc.

Cheap campervan hire

Find the best deals on Motorhome Republic to rent a cheap van.

Fast and affordable, it allows you to get from one end of the country to the other in a short time. So, we invite you to take a look at airline platforms such as Skycanner, to find the best flight. To get an idea, count approximately: (return ticket)

Sydney – Melbourne: $100 Melbourne – Cairns: $300 Sydney – Perth: $400 Melbourne – Alice Spring: $500 Perth – Darwin: $400

Many activities are free in Australia. Go to the beach, surf, visit cultural centres, explore the streets, markets of cities, or even climb a mountain and discover a waterfall. There are many ways to explore the country and do activities for free or a small fee.

Budget for a road trip in Australia

You want to go on a road trip, and if you have the ability, arrive with the maximum of funds in the Australia! The most important thing about a road trip is your vehicle . So how much does it cost? What should you plan for? First of all, if you want to travel to isolated places, prefer a 4WD rather than a campervan. Il will allow you to access every corner of Australia. The budget for a vehicle will depend on many things, such as the period of purchase, the vehicle you pick, the city where you purchase, its general state etc. Another option is to rent a vehicle for your road trip, it will give you the option to pick it up somewhere and drop it off in another city. It is also a great option if you are only looking for a short road trip in Australia (East coast or West coast for example).

Read also : Road Trip in Australia – Budget

Budget touring in Australia

How about sailing on the Whitsunday Islands? Or skydiving? Of course, depending on what you want and where you are, the prices will differ. Nevertheless, here are some options of tours in Australia and their costs:

  • Fraser Island 3 nights & Skydiving: $500
  • Seaplane flight: $200
  • Whitsunday 1 night & scuba diving: $150

Budget for a WHV in Australia

Here is an estimate for a WHV when traveling on the roads. Expenses will be as follow:

  • Purchase of a vehicle : $4000 (at least)
  • Fuel : $100/week
  • Food : $60/week
  • WHV Cost : 510$
  • Health Insurance : $400 per year
  • Tour : $450 to $1000
  • Activities  (restaurants, bars, parties…): $150/week
  • Plane tickets not counted

So count approximately $20 000 per year (can be higher or lower depending on your life style, activities etc).

Budget for holidaying in Australia

For the lucky ones who are travelling in Australia for 3 weeks just to enjoy the country, here is an idea of the budget to plan:

  • Vehicle rental : $100/day
  • Fuel : $120/week
  • Food : 70$/week
  • Tourist  visa : $0
  • Travel Insurance : $200
  • Tours  : between $450 and $800
  • Activities  (restaurants, clubs, pubs …): $150/week
  • Plane tickets  A/R – minimum £1000
See you soon on the roads!

Australia Backpackers Guide

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Backpacker Banter

How Much To Budget For A Month In Australia (2023 Update)

Want to know how much to budget for Australia? Here’s a full breakdown of the cost of backpacking Australia – inc hostels, tours and travel

Out of all the emails I receive in regards to budgeting for travel plans backpacking Australia is without a doubt the place people are most worried about or needing information on. With their ever strengthening economy it’s not the cheap backpacker country it once was and it’ll take up a large chunk of your budget.

With most places I usually say around £1,000 per month ( my monthly budget for Thailand was even less!) will leave you with plenty of cash to splash…backpacking Australia though (and I hate to be the person to break this to you!) will be nearly double that.

So here’s a break down of the main spends for backpacking  Australia – accommodation, food, booze, activities and transport – so hopefully you can prepare for an amazing adventure down under…

There have been some big changes in prices and options for 2023, with things changing quite a lot, but I’ll try and keep this post as updated as possible!

(Last updated – Jan 2023, all $ prices are $AUD)

Backpacking Australia – How Much To Budget For A Month In Australia (2023 Update)

Accommodation in australia.

aquarius hostel byron bay backpackers aq

As one of the biggest destinations on the planet backpacking Australia comes with a wide variety of accommodation – whether you’re looking for hostels, hotels, boutique spas or even couch surfing there’s something for everyones taste.

I’m guessing most of you will be hitting up hostels (as they’re the most budget option) so I’ll focus on that and these are some of the stats from hostels I’ve stayed at in Australia:

Cheapest Bed – Beaches, Airlie Beach $20 (£12.50)

Most Expensive Bed – Wakeup, Sydney $40 (£25) (well worth it though!)

Favourite Hostel – Aquarius Backpackers, Byron Bay – $35 (£20)

Average nights accommodation (shared dorm) – $40 (£22)

Average nights accommodation (double/twin) – $120 (£66)

Average campsite (per tent) – $30 (£16)

Some of my top Australia hostels include;

  • YHA Central, Melbourne
  • WakeUp! Sydney
  • Aquarius, Byron Bay
  • The Surf House, Byron Bay
  • Bunk, Surfers Paradise
  • Halse Lodge, Noosa
  • Bounce, Noosa
  • Nomads, Airlie Beach
  • Jackaroo, Mission Beach
  • Nomads, Magentic Island (formerly Base Magnetic Island)
  • Bungalow Bay YHA, Magnetic Island
  • Gilligans, Cairns

Estimated accommodation costs:

$1,200 (£667).

Food and Drink Costs

Australia is pretty expensive when it come to eating out – so if you’re on a budget you’ll want to mix it up with a good bit of home cooking.

Saying that though many hostels offer some great backpacker feeds ( like Sydneys “Wakeup” ) for around $5 and there’s plenty of backpacker bars which do the same, so you can grab a budget feed on the go too.

If you’re going out to party again the backpacker bars are the way forward and many of them ( like The Woolshed in Cairns ) offer a whole host of giveaways and competitions, from surfboards to dive courses, so you make your night out well worth the money!

beach BBQ Australia backpacker

Favourite dish – Beach BBQ’s!

Cheapest meal – 5 min noodles! – $0.50 (£0.30p!) (add some veggies to pimp it out a bit and give it some nutrition!)

Average backpacker meal – around $10 (£5.50)

Average meal (based on cooking veggie pasta) – $8 (£4.5)

Average cost of beer (stubbie of Tooheys) – $5 (£3)

Average cost of a box of goon (Golden Oaks, 4 litres) – $15 (£9)

Average cost of beer (schooner of Stone and Wood, bar) – $8 (£5)

Average cost takeaway coffee – $5  (£3.12)

Average cost fruit smoothie – $8 (£5)

Favourite place to eat – hmmmm…this is a tough one as I try to cook myself whenever possible in Australia to save my budget!

Estimated food costs (based on cooking lunch, backpacker meal for dinner):

$540 (£300).

Transport In Australia

Australia has a pretty solid travel network that’s easy to use, book and get to pretty much everywhere – from low cost airlines and campervan rentals through to backpacker hop on hop off bus passes.

For the purpose of this break down I’m going to concentrate on the East Coast route – which is the most common route for backpacking Australia and has the most option in terms of bus transport.

Unfortunately as beautiful as the West Coast is you’re limited to Campervan hire and tours on that side of the country.

backpacking east coast australia

Here’s a couple of the main journeys you’ll want to make and how much they’ll set you back.

Internal flight (single) – Cairns to Sydney – $150 (£95)

Internal flight (single) – Sydney to Melbourne – $50 (£31)

Internal flight (single) – Sydney to Perth – $150 (£80)

Internal flight (single) – Sydney to Brisbane – $50 (£25)

Internal flight (single) – Sydney to Ballina (Byron Bay) = $50 (£25)

Greyhound East Coast Pass – 30 day option – $399 (£222)

Greyhound WHIMit Pass (only restricted by time frame not route) – $349 (15 days), $439 (30 days) up to $639 for 90 days.

Australia Campervan hire – from $60 per day (£33 per day) but peak season expect around $110 per day (£62)

If you’re only backpacking Australia for a month I’d say Sydney – Cairns will be your route and the Greyhound Bus East Coast Pass would be the most cost effective way to achieve this.

You’d potentially add in a single flight from Cairns to Sydney for an onward flight or a brief stop in Melbourne and fly to Sydney to save time. If you’re not sure on how to travel the East Coast check out this blog post.

Estimated travel costs in Australia:

$549 (£305).

(Greyhound Pass + Sydney to Cairns Flight)

Top Activities In Australia

One of the biggest draws of backpacking Australia is the amount of epic activities on offer!

The East Coast is rammed from top to bottom with loads to do – from day trips to learning new skills you can pretty much do anything from skydive to kayak!

In fact listing them all would take agggggges, so here are some of my favourite and most popular things to do up the coast…

PADI Open Water – 3 days, Cairns – $815 (£452)

scuba great barrier reef cairns australia

Whitsundays Tours (2 day, 2 night) – $525 (£290)

Sydney Bridge Climb – $248 (£165)

Blue Mountains Day Trip – $155 (£86)

Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife Park Combo Pass – $55 (£34)

Great Ocean Road Trip – $130 (£72)

Surf lesson – Byron Bay –   $80 (£44)

Australia Zoo – $100 (£62.50)  inc return bus from Brisbane

Fraser Island 4×4 Tag Along (3 day, 2 night camping option) – $499 (£277)

Fraser Island Day Trip – $180 (£100)

Kayaking tour – $89 (£50)

Magnetic Island Package (inc return ferry, 2 nights accom & welcome drink) – $140 (£77)

Great Barrier Reef Day Trip (snorkelling) – $195 (£108)

Great Barrier Reef Day Trip ( scuba dive taster ) – $240 (£133)

Skydive (15,000 feet) – $359 (£199)

Cape Tribulation day trip – $189 (£105)

If I had to pull out what the average backpacking Australia trip would include over a month I’d say you’d be hoping to include:

  • Great Ocean Road Tour
  • Kayaking tour
  • Surf lesson
  • Fraser Island Overnight Tour
  • Whitsunday Island Overnight Tour
  • Magnetic Island Package
  • Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour
  • Cape Tribulation Day trip

Estimated activity cost:

$1,847 (£1,082).

So How Much Will you Need To Budget For Australia?

So based on my personal experience and what I assume the average backpacker would like to achieve on the East Coast trail I’d say you’ll be paying for the following;

  • 30 nights accommodation
  • 3 meals daily
  • 30 Day Greyhound Pass

MONTHLY TOTAL =  $4,136 (£2,297)

Daily budget = $137 (£76) per day, australia budget.

backpacking australia budget costs

This budget for backpacking Australia includes accommodation, meals, transport and the main activities as listed above.

I’d like to point out though that this is merely a base point for your budgeting though and it’s always best to over compensate when it comes to money as it’s very much a personal thing – and of course you’re drinking will add some dollar on top.

This 4 weeks would allow you to pretty much cover the whole East Coast Australia backpacker trail and you’d be packing in all the main sites and things to do – including spots like Byron Bay , Fraser Island, Whitsundays, and Cairns.

Some people will easily spend less than this – especially if you’re on a years working holiday visa and pacing yourself up the coast, or simply have longer to spend on your trip.

And also keep in mind the longer you’re travelling for the more spread out your bigger costs will be (like tours and bus passes) so your daily spend will obviously be lower.

But if you’re pushed for time in Australia and want to do pretty much all the bucket list ticks it’s all parcelled into the above summary and 4 weeks is the ideal amount of time to spend on that route.

You can also customise your own East Coast package to suit your personal time frame, budget and preference.

Is It Worth The Money?

Even though it cost more than places like NZ or Thailand I totally recommend you visit there. It’s an amazing place to explore and is still one of my favourite countries on the planet to travel to.

You can also save heaps with some awesome East Coast Australia Package deals  which bundle in accommodation, tours and travel passes to help you save. So check these East Coast deals out – you can even tailor them even further to suit your times frames and budget.

Found this post helpful? Check out my other How Much To Budget Posts!

  • How Much To Budget For A Month In Thailand
  • How Much To Budget For A Month In New Zealand
  • How Much To Budget For A Month In Bali & Indonesia
  • How Much To Budget For A Month In The Philippines
  • How Much To Budget For A Month In Cambodia
  • How To Travel The Maldives On A Budget
  • Backpack South Africa – How Much To Budget

For more info on where to head on the East Coast check out this post .

For more info on  how long to spend on the East Coast trail check out this post .

For more info on the best way to travel the East Coast of Australia check out this post.

For my sample 1 month Australia itinerary check out this post

And for the best places to visit in Australia check out this post

Or let me help plan your Aussie Adventure with my East Coast Australia Trip Planner !

Been to Oz recently?

How much did you spend backpacking australia and what was your original australia budget.

**PLEASE NOTE; This is to be used as a guide only – currency and cost fluctuate depending on season and exchange rates (calculated at 1.8AUD per £1GBP. Information was correct at the time of writing)**

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71 comments

Just came across your blog via Stephen’s @ A Backpackers Tale & glad I found both of your incredible blogs! I just returned from studying abroad in Australia; it’s so true that everything is quite expensive in Australia & we couldn’t believe their minimum wage is in the $20 range. Your post will definitely be helpful to future travelers though! As a bucket list blogger, I will definitely be returning to keep up with your travels :)

Cheers Christine – looks like I’ll have to search through your site for some more bucket list items hey?! Glad you agree that it’ll help backpackers heading that way – did you have fun there?

Really useful tips, thanks! I’ve been in Oz for 6 months now, so I have a pretty good idea of the costs, but it’s good to see it all broken down and added up again. I agree, it’s probably worth it. What I’ve seen of the country so far has me eager to explore as much as possible. Next on my itinerary: Byron Bay!

It’s totally worth it Arianwen! Anything you’d add to the breakdown that other travellers may find useful? You’ll love Byron Bay – stay at Aquarius Hostel and say hi from me (my little brother is working there at the moment too!)

This is the most useful thing EVER. I’m going in Sept and this is overall pretty much what I had planned – and I know I’ll have plenty of money to do this and more (bungee jump definitely being added to that list!) without having to worry too much as I have really over-compensated for the fact I’ve heard Oz is so expensive. This has taken the worry off a fair bit now- and I’ve got a WHV so will be able to top up money with other travels as well as you can earn such good money.

I’m so glad you do these blog posts – thank you!

Hey Georgina, Stoked that it’s helped you out so much and put your mind at rest. Obviously you can make things heaps more expensive if you choose but I’d say it covers the main points you’ll need to spend for. And indeed your WHV will definitely help you heaps, I’d look into work for accommodation too. Have an awesome time!

Hey Chris ! I love your blog ! Very funny and attractive ;) Thanks for making me stay on it for hours, as I want to read all your posts ;) (Will I still be here tomorrow ?) Cheers to you and keep going!

hahahaha sorry to distract you for so long Christina – let me know if you get lost!hahaha!

I never normally comment on blogs but i just wanted to say THANK YOU!! we’re heading off on our RTW trip soon and were getting a bit worried about the cost of Oz but this pretty much sums up exactly what were planning to do so it seems doable! these blogs are a great idea!

awwww that’s no worries Gina – stoked it helped you out and has put your mind at rest! Enjoy Australia – you’ll love it!

hey chris me and my partner are saving at the moment to do the east coast before we leave oz. just double checking is that money all in British pounds or Aus Dollars? Cheers

Hey Terrain – stoked to hear you’re heading to Oz! All those prices have been converted over to £GBP, so it’s roughly double for $AUD at the moment.

Awesome Summary I m thinking of going 1 month in Aussie and 1 month in Nz, starting March 2015 before heading back to Belgium in June 2015… I m currently based in Hong Kong so I don t earn a lot here and this helps quite a bit. I will need to save at least half a year salary for this…incl Visa, flights from HK down the Pacific and back up to Europe

Glad to see you’re prepared and you’re giving yourself enough time to save – I hope you have an awesome adventure…Oz and NZ are heaps of fun!

Chris, You have really taken the worry off me regarding my mid-life crisis trip up the East Coast! I head off in Sept, and you have totally calmed me down. Thank you! Mx

Good times Maggie – I hope you have an awesome trip! Let me know how you get on.

I’ve been reading your reviews for some time now, extremely helpful! I thought I’d go for it and ask you about my finances for my east coast trip from the 16th Nov to 13th Dec would really appreciate the advice!

Roadtripping it from Cairns to Sydney, car has been paid for along with hostels in Cairns/Sydney. Inbetween we are going with the flow.

I’m taking £5,000 this will cover petrol, food, booze, activities and hostels. My main question is – Will this be enough money? I obviously want to do the main activities, any help would be amazing!

Keep up the good work Chris!

Hey Steven, If you manage to burn through £5k in a month simply on petrol, food, activities and hostels I’d be very surprised and you’d be terrible and budgeting!hahahaha! Seriously though that should be more than enough. If you check out the budget you can do all the key things for under £2k all in – your fuel isn’t going to add crazy amounts to that figure so as long as you keep your personal spending and meal costs under control I’m sure you’ll be fine. Let me know how you get on!

Just thought I’d say how useful this was in prepping my Oz trip for a month over Dec-Jan….just counting down the work days now. So keen its unreal!

Appreciate the helpful other articles! Safe travels. Smirnoff

Stoked that you found it useful Smirnoff – let me know how you get on!

Thanks for the tips Chris, I’ve been looking for something like this post for a while now!

I’m heading out to Sydney for the new year and then will be making my way around oz for 2-3 months. Presumably that’ll bring the monthly cost down a bit by spreading transport, big activities etc? I was hoping around £40-50 a day if I’m careful.

Spot on Craig – if you’re spreading the big costs – especially transport it should reduce your budget. Your big spends will then be food and accommodation, which depends on how you eat and sleep! Let me know how you get on!

Thanks for the tips Chris! This is so useful, I’m going to Australia with about £3000 so at least I know I’ll need to find work within the first couple of months! Thanks!

No worries Aleesha – let me know how you get on…and have an awesome time!

Dreams currently shattering. I need to just work through this holiday, only way around it…

Awwww sorry to hear that Casey! Still at least you know how much it costs now rather than turning up and finding out you have no money to spend! Keep in mind that the big expenses and trips won’t all be crammed into a month…

This has helped so much, thank you! I was trying to find out how much to take, how to budget etc. and then came across this. Life saver! I’m off to Australia for 2 months in February and I’m so excited, it’s ridiculous! Fab blog, it’s definitely my favourite now!

Hey Lauren, Stoked that the post helped you out! Have a blast in Oz and let me know who you get on! I’m actually in Byron Bay in Feb for a couple weeks, if you’re around for a beer let me know!

Awesome post! Im not off until October but planning on going for the year! Defo have to save hard until then! Hope you’re having an awesome time where ever you are! :)

Hope you enjoy it Katie – let me know if I can be of any help! Good luck with the saving – it’ll be totally worth it!

This blog has been has been an incredible help in planning my trips. Im off to Oz the middle of February. Thanks for your help and insight!

No worries Thomas – glad it helped you out! Whats your plan?

I am so sorry that I did´t find this blog before my trip to Australia. But I survived:) And my budget was way under your estimate. I was backpacking and couchsurfing throug Australia. And all my plane tickets were prebought. For five tickets (returning to Europe) I paid 1100€. And all together (with plane tickets and insurance, all accomodation, transport, food and drinks) I spent around 2000€ (around 1500 Ł). Now I have to go and read BUDGET THAILAND :) tnx

Stoked to hear you got it under budget Jasmina – couch surfing is a solid shout to save whilst on the road! how long were you out there for and anything you’d recommend I add into it? When you heading to Thailand?

This was really helpful. Im starting in Sydney in 12 days time and hoping to be there for a year or longer. Im in no rush to travel up to cairns but want to do it all! obv i know i will need to work probs after a month or two. Whats the best way to travel? stay in hostels and then greyhound it up? or campervan?

Hey Alice – stoked the post helped you out! To be honest it depends on your cash flow with travel. Oz Experience or Greyhound are good shouts, but the passes are only valid for 3 or 6 months. You’d be better off with a KM pass which is valid for 12 (or until the kms run out!) check out my other site for some more info;

http://www.epicgapyear.com/portfolio_page/greyhound-bus-passes-australia/

Campervan wise if you have the cash it can be a great option (I did it myself) however if things go wrong with it it can ruin your trip too! Many of the key spots you’ll need to book into a campsite anyway so sometimes the buses are the most hassle free option!

Hey Chris, I was wondering whether you could help me?

I’m looking to go Oz and want to do the east coast, but not sure whether it would be cheaper to book the grey hound bus and then pay for the trips when I’m out there like whitsundays and fraser island or would it be better to do the Oz Experience which includes the trips?

I’m going to get a working holiday visa as well so would probably want to travel first and then go back to somewhere to try find work.. Is that the usual thing to do or would you say to work whilst travelling up?

Thanks in advance :)

I actually jus put up a post about this which is worth checking out!

https://www.backpackerbanter.com/blog/best-way-to-travel-east-coast-australia

If you’re on an Oz working visa I’d go for the Greyhound KM passes as they have a longer validity that you can also top up along the way too. This means you’re not on a timescale and can go with the flow a bit more. You can then book your Fraser Island/Whitsundays trips en route.

You can get more info and book on my other site – Epic Gap Year – on the following link;

In regards to work/travel it depends on how much cash you have saved really and where you want to work. I’d maybe do a little trip (say fly into Melb, do the great ocean road then travel to Sydney) so you have a little adventure before topping up the funds, but it comes down to how far you’re money will go really.

Thanks Chris, that’s really helped! Think we will go for the KM passes! If we wanted to go from Sydney – Cairns what pass would we need? Not sure on how many km that will be… Would the 2500km cover it or would we need to get the 5000km?

As we’re getting the km passes I think we will do the travelling bit first then look for work :)

Hi Chris, I came across your website as I am researching a trip around the East Coast of Oz for about a month. You’ve got some really useful tips so I definitely need to read on more but quick question, do you think 4 weeks is too long to spend just in Victoria and NSW? Thanks

Hey Sarah, Stoked the site is helping you out! Hmmm time wise it really depends what you’re getting up to, but you can do the whole of Sydney – Cairns in 4 weeks if you really want! Check out this mini guide for some extra tips to help you decide;

https://www.backpackerbanter.com/blog/east-coast-of-australia-how-long

Hi Chris, Great blog glad i stumbled across it!

I’m traveling to oz in May starting in Cairns. Was wondering whether to work straight away as its Australian winter time when i get over there and wait till it starts going into summer before i work my way down the east coast? I’d love to spend Christmas and new year in Sydney

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers James

Cheers James – stoked you like it! Personally your plan to start working straight away is a solid shout and what I’d do, that way you have a even more savings to play with and can enjoy the Aussie summer even more! If you’re already planning NYE in Sydney I’d get that booked as quickly as you can because hostels book out super early in the year – WakeUp Hostel is where I stay, great place and super central!

So glad you said that. Would never of thought about booking in advance. I’d been pretty gutted if every where was full and i couldn’t see in the new year in Sydney!

Where you recommended is fully booked up, as is a lot of other hostels for NYE. i managed to get a reservation at Surfside coogee beach hostel.

I owe you a beer!

Amazing blog, sobglad I came across it.

I and a mate are planning a trip to Oz on 1st Oct. The plan is to start in Cairns and campervan along the east coast to Melbourne where we will stay for a while before heading to Perth. We want to stay over in Sydney for NYE. Do you think Oct to Jan from Cairns to Sydney is too long? Any advice would be great! Cheers Dee

Hey Dee, Stoked you’re loving the site! To be honest the longer you take on the East Coast the more you’ll enjoy it! Are you looking at working at all? A lot of it will come down to budget and what you’re doing along the way. 6 weeks is the minimum I’d really recommend to take so you’ll have plenty of time to chill and soak it all up!

Your sites are really helpful and you have encouraged people to travel OZ.Alot of people are now travelling Asia and New Zealand instead of Australia because because it is too expensive and people think that Australia is not worth the money.It is a shame because they are missing out on some beautiful places.With your website ,you have given people peace of mind ,when travelling my home country ,Australia

I love travelling Oz Louisa – it’s a shame it is a bit more expensive but I still think it’s totally worth doing…in fat I’m living in Byron Bay at the moment!

Hi, thanks for your tips!

I’m coming to Australia for a year on a working visa and plan on spending the first months working and living with my relatives. I then want to do an East Coast backpacking trip and then go on the New Zealand/Asia. I’m worried I will have too much luggage with me to go on the buses/stay in hostels. Would you recommend leaving the majority of my stuff with my family and getting them to send it back to the UK? I don’t know what the best way would be.

No worries Molly! To be honest I wouldn’t take more than 65litres of stuff unless you REALLY have to, trust me you’ll accumulate stuff along the way but you’ll also realise a lot of your gear isn’t being used!hahaha! The best rule to travel by is half the stuff, double the money! ;)

Hi really good article you wrote! Great tips gonna use them to planning for my trip to the east coast, i’m traveling to oz in about three weeks! :) I will check your other blogposts to!

No worries Adam, stoked they helped! Enjoy Australia, heaps of fun!

Hey Chris, love your blog and found it super helpful. I’m a New Zealand resident and wanting to go to Aussie next year just before Spring. I can spend as much time in Aussie as I want because of this and am wanting to find work as I travel up the east coast ( mostly farm/fruit picking work) and just want to know how much you would recommend me to go over with after I pay for the plane ticket, clothing, insurance etc. I will be ( If everything goes to plan ) either staying in working hostels/ hostels, and or buy a car/van to sleep in. What do you think of this and again I love your blogs :)

Hey Zequoia, jealous of your Kiwi passport! Personally the more dollar you can take to Oz the better, but given your passport situation I don’t see it being an issue picking up work pretty easily!

We’ve travelled on east coast in 2011. We had a car, slept in tent in camping’s, between the camping-holiday parks are very good equipped, you can cook by yourself. so I don’t see any reason to be in hostel/hotel in such nice weather in Queensland. We also took 2x day trip to coral reef.

I campervanned a lot of it the first time I was there and loved it! Depends if you want to meet heaps of travellers and how you’re making your way along the coast I guess!

Want to drink on the cheap follow some of these goon recipes!! (www.goodgoonguide.com)

Hello, Chris! You gave us so useful tips. Australia is one of my dream destinations and I hope that one day I will be able to use on practice your advices :) Gooood luck trough the New year :)

Stoked to have helped you out Julia – let me know when you’re heading this way!

Thanks this is a really useful post! I’ve been trying to figure out when to move to Australia based on money and this was super useful! What month would you suggest going to have the best luck getting a job?

Stoked it helped you out! Hmmmmm it really depends on where you’re heading and what kind of work I guess…

Awesome post! i really like your budget travelling posts. Many people think travelling is very costly (sometimes can be), but with proper budgeting, it isn’t really hard to save up!

Indeed it’s a case of being prepared. Yes some countries (like Oz) are more expensive, but it depends how you’re mixing them up and spreading out big costs.

Thanks for this! If people realized how much money they throw around each month, they’d see just how easy it is to save up for a super awesome trip in Australia. I was working on a visa in Australia and for a few months I saved up quite a bit to have an amazing trip in Nepal for 6 weeks.

Yeah, a lot of money is spent where it’s not even noticeable.. Great writeup!

Wow this is crazy that this is just for backpacking Australia for a month. That’s close to $5,000 Canadian Dollars. I couldn’t imagine even if you might want to live it up just a bit.

That does include pretty much everything you’d want to tick off and it is heaps of fun. My advice is always travel for a bit longer and spread it all out as that drops your daily spend down quite a bit and makes it much more affordable

So glad I found this blog – great advice. Thanks for sharing!

No worries Anthony!

Hey Chris! This is such a helpful blog. My family and I has been planning to come over to Australia for vacation this coming April but we’re estimating how much we should bring. Such a life saver!

You are right about How Much To Budget For A Month In Australia

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Home » Oceania » Australia » Is Australia Expensive? (Insider’s Guide for 2024)

Is Australia Expensive? (Insider’s Guide for 2024)

Australia is a destination that everyone should make sure to visit in their lifetime. It’s where many backpackers decide to explore for a year, and then end up staying forever. There’s a reason for this; the country  has it all .

With miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, an expansive outback, untamed national parks and wetlands, sprawling metropolis cities, good food, warm locals and amazing wildlife – what more could you want from a holiday destination?

But while we all know that Australia is a popular place to visit, the question remains: Is Australia expensive? The funny thing is, the answer often varies depending on who you ask.

The cost of a trip to Australia largely depends on your level of luxury and how much you want to do. Diving for example, is an expensive activity, while the beaches are free.

If you’re thinking of visiting Australia and need help putting together your travel budget, then I’m here to help. This guide has everything you need to know for how much it will cost to travel to Australia, as well as provide some tips on how to save money…

australia travel cost

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So, How Much Does a Trip to Australia Cost on Average?

Cost of flights to australia , price of accommodation in australia , cost of transport in australia , cost of food in australia , price of alcohol in australia , cost of attractions in australia , additional costs of travel in australia , some final tips for saving money in australia , so is australia expensive, in fact.

The cost of a trip to Australia is going to vary from person to person. The first thing you need to do is to figure out how much you have to spend.

how much does a trip to Australia cost

Getting a rough idea of your trip budget will help you work out what you can spend on essentials like accommodation and transport. You’ll also need to factor in the price of things such as food, activities and souvenirs, too. 

All the travel costs listed in this guide are estimates and are subject to change. Prices are listed in US Dollars.

Australia uses the Australian Dollar (AUD). As of August 2022, the exchange rate is 1 USD = 1.45 AUD.

2 Weeks in Australia Travel Costs

To help you out with an outline of the prices, you’ll find a summary of the average costs of a two-week trip to Australia below.

ESTIMATED EXPENSE : $146 – $1,199 USD for a roundtrip ticket.

So is Australia expensive to fly to? Well, that really depends on where in the world you’re based. It’s true that airfares to Australia can be pricey, as the country is fairly far away from a lot of places. If you’re travelling from Europe or the U.S., you can expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for your ticket.

But don’t let that put you off your trip. There are some ways you can get cheaper flights to Australia, it just takes a little time and being open-minded when it comes to times and dates. For example, tickets to Australia tend to be more expensive between the months of December to February when the nation is basking in warm summers. 

Travelling to Australia in the shoulder seasons of autumn or spring can save you some serious cash when it comes to booking flights. Prices can creep up again in July and August when much of Europe takes its summer break. 

If you’re heading to Aus, it’s likely that you’ll fly into Sydney Airport (SYD). The city’s main airport is located eight kilometres (around five miles) from the centre of town. It takes only around 30 minutes to drive into the city from the airport. The price of the transport from the airport should also be something you budget for, but more on that later. 

Here are the average costs of a flight to Australia from a range of international air travel hubs:

  • New York to Sydney Airport: $678 – $1,199 USD
  • London to Sydney Airport: £685 – £986 GBP
  • Dubai to Sydney Airport: 539 – 939 AED
  • Vancouver to Sydney Airport: $601 – $1,119 CAD

Those of you flying from international travel hubs will see that the cost of flights isn’t particularly cheap. This is a long-haul flight, so you have to spend a lot for the privilege. Some good deals can be found, however, and you can make a trip to the land down under on a budget.

Make sure to put some time into searching on price comparison websites like Skyscanner. Be flexible with your dates and flight times and you’ll be shown a range of different flights at various costs. For the cheapest flight, you may have to break the trip up into different legs, but overall it can save you a good amount of money.

ESTIMATED EXPENSE: $18 – $200 per night

After you’ve sorted the flights, the next cost to consider is the price of accommodation in Australia. This is going to take up another chunk of your travel budget , but don’t worry too much.

Australia is a big country with a huge choice when it comes to budget-friendly places to stay, from its easy-going hostels to budget hotels and affordable Airbnbs. You won’t have to spend a stack of cash on expensive hotels. 

The price you pay for a hotel room or hostel bed will fluctuate depending on the time of year you visit. Accommodation costs can skyrocket during the school holidays in the peak season. For example, a beach break in the Australian summer could cost more for the same beach-side Airbnb or hotel than in the winter. Accommodation prices also peak on weekends.

Another factor to consider is where you stay in Australia . Accommodation in the centre of the city tends to be more expensive, so look for neighborhoods further out and travel in. Likewise when visiting beach towns. You can find cheaper accommodation the further away from the ocean you are.

Let’s take a closer look at the range of accommodation that Australia has to offer…

Hostels in Australia 

Australia has long had a culture of backpacking. Well-known as global travellers, Australians themselves love to get out and explore, as well as all the thousands of global backpackers who visit here. All of that adds up to a thriving hostel scene, one which is well-trusted, affordable, and a whole lot of fun.

cheap places to stay in Australia

The cheapest hostels in Australia start at around $18 per night.

You won’t just find one type of hostel in Australia though. Head to a city and you can enjoy the shiny urban hostels complete with cafes and social lounges, while at the beach there are laid-back surfer vibes and BBQs, and then there are the happening party hostels.

Take a look at these top hostels the nation has to offer and get a better feel for the kind of affordable digs you could be staying in during your trip:

  • Wake Up! Sydney Central – This award-winning Sydney hostel is conveniently located close to the city’s Central Station. A vibrant backpacker hub, it’s a great place to meet other travellers and get a good night’s sleep for a low price. 
  • The Mansion Melbourne – This chilled-out hostel inside a heritage building has recently had a facelift. Featuring new beds, a cafe, and a co-working space, it’s ideally located in Melbourne’s CBD.  
  • The Surf House – Get your surf on at this chilled-out hostel right near the Main Beach in Byron Town. There’s the option to book into a dorm or choose a private room complete with your very own balcony. Amenities at the hostel include a funky rooftop bar: the perfect spot for a few sundowners. 

Airbnbs in Australia 

Australia has tens of thousands of properties listed on Airbnb. From compact city condos all the way to palatial beach houses , all of these choices mean that the chances of you finding a reasonably priced place to stay are pretty high. Airbnb is a popular option for many as it means you can relax in a home away from home during a trip.

Australia accommodation prices

The price of an Airbnb in Australia does vary quite dramatically depending on the location. Sydney’s Airbnbs are usually a lot more expensive when compared to the country’s smaller cities. You should expect to pay upwards of $90 a night for an entire property. For a low-cost stay, a good option is to simply book just a room in a house on Airbnb.  

But it’s not just about finding somewhere to grab a few hours of sleep. You want to stay somewhere that you can enjoy your trip, and that means cool apartments overlooking cityscapes, or tiny houses on the Gold Coast. Airbnbs offer the chance to see some amazing destinations and really helps to open up Australia to overseas visitors. 

Opting for this style of self-catering accommodation can also help to ease the burden on your wallet. Whipping up a few meals and starting your day with a homemade breakfast will really take the edge off your travel budget (more on that later). 

If you still think that Australia is expensive, take a quick peek at these affordable Airbnbs…

  • Modern Design Suite Melbourne – This bright and modern apartment is located in Melbourne’s CBD. Boasting a queen-sized bed, pared-back interiors, and a fully equipped kitchen, it’s an ideal base for exploring what the city has to offer.
  • Central Sydney Apartment – Offering up stunning views of Hyde Park and the cityscape, this affordable Sydney apartment is located close to all of the area’s cool cafes and green spaces in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. It’s also within walking distance to iconic sights such as the Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge.
  • Cairns City Apartment – Stay in style at this polished penthouse apartment in Cairns. Located on the 12th floor, you can soak up the amazing ocean views from a luxurious king-sized bed. There’s also a balcony and access to a pool, BBQ area, and gym.

Hotels in Australia 

Hotels are usually the most expensive accommodation option and you can end up paying a whole lot of money for a simple room for the night. But Australia has a lot of different types of hotels to choose from, and you can find budget chain hotels and cool local hotels for low prices.

cheap hotels in Australia

Most cities have budget-friendly hotels which cost around $70 a night. The room rates usually reflect the part of the city the hotel is located in. A good tip is to look for accommodation in student areas, or parts of the city that are backpacker hubs. Outside of peak tourist season, the price of hotels also drops. 

They might be a little more expensive, but there’s no denying the perks of staying in a hotel. For one thing, you get a big comfy bed, room service, and other bonuses like on-site restaurants and gyms to use. Hotels are usually in easy-to-reach locations, close to public transport, which can also save you some cash. 

Just to help you get started with your search for hotels in Australia, here’s a small sample of some affordable options:

  • Quincy Hotel Melbourne – This modern hotel in Melbourne comes with a long list of amenities from the sunny outdoor terrace to the swimming pool and fitness centre. There’s also a restaurant and cafe to enjoy while polished rooms feature big comfy beds.  
  • Haven Glebe – This four-star Sydney hotel is perfectly located in cosmopolitan Glebe, close to public transport. Stylish rooms come with modern furnishings and a relaxing outdoor terrace.
  • Cairns Colonial Club Resort – This family-friendly resort is set across 11 acres of tropical gardens. Located just a 10-minute drive from the city centre, it may be affordable but it comes with the use of facilities such as swimming pools and a restaurant and bar.

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ESTIMATED EXPENSE : $0 – $40 per day

Working out how to get around Australia can be pretty daunting at first. This is the sixth largest country in the world, after all. Taking up over 7,617,000 square kilometres and with a coastline that stretches for more than 34,000 kilometres, this is one big nation. Needless to say, planning where to go and how to get there could be a challenge. 

Luckily, there’s a good selection of reliable ways to travel around Australia meaning getting from place to place isn’t too much of a headache. With over 300 airports and domestic airlines connecting all of the major cities and popular tourist sites, flying is a good option for those who are short on time.  

For something a little more affordable, trains are a very popular way to travel in Australia. Most of the big cities have a railway network and there are some truly amazing railway journeys that travel through beautiful landscapes. Travelling by rail can be affordable, too, with a range of different train passes available for travellers. 

But when it comes to budget travel in Australia, the bus reigns supreme. Getting from place to place in the country is made easy by the well-trodden backpacker routes that are plied by buses. There’s a choice of different bus companies to use and some low-cost bus tickets making it even more affordable. 

For travellers who want to see a large portion of the country, one of the best and most popular ways to get around is by car. After all, Australia has the second-highest level of car ownership in the world. Most people choose to hire a car to do road trips during their down under adventures , but buying a car just for the trip can also be pretty cost-effective.

Let’s take a closer look at transport to work out if Australia is expensive to travel around. 

Train Travel in Australia 

There are some truly epic railway journeys across Australia’s stunning landscapes. That being said, taking the train isn’t always the cheapest or most convenient way to get around. Train journeys in Australia are more about the experience rather than practicality. Trains in Australia are run by a selection of government and private companies. 

Some of the best railway journeys include The Ghan, the famous train that connects Adelaide through the Red Centre to Alice Springs and to Darwin. Then there’s the Indian Pacific route which takes three days to cross the great Nullarbor Plain between Sydney and Perth. The Great Southern links Brisbane and Adelaide, and the Overland runs to Melbourne from Adelaide. 

cheap train travel in Australia

There are no high-speed trains in Australia, although plans to build high-speed routes have been in the works for some years. If you do want to take advantage of the sightseeing and the sense of adventure on offer from Australia’s railways then make sure to book in advance.

Booking at least six months in advance will give you over 10% discount on certain routes; sometimes you can save up to $25. Families will be pleased to learn that children under the age of four travel free. Rail passes can help to make the price of a train trip much cheaper with a variety of different routes and passes on sale. 

Here’s a look at just some of the railway passes on offer in Australia. 

  • Discovery Pass – 14 days $160: unlimited travel in New South Wales, as well as on routes to Brisbane and Melbourne on NSW TrainLink.
  • Queensland Explorer Pass – 1 month $206: unlimited travel on most train services in Queensland.
  • Queensland Coastal Pass – 1 month $100 : allows travel one-way between Brisbane and Cairns with unlimited stops.

Hopping aboard air-conditioned trains that connect Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra cut out the need to pay for expensive airfares. The routes are run by NSW TrainLink, which runs daily XPT trains between Sydney to Melbourne. There’s also an overnight train so you can save time and on the cost of accommodation by bedding down on the train.

The choice of month-long passes is an ideal choice for those who are thinking about travelling long-term in Australia, or in a certain region. Most of the passes offer a choice of days, weeks, or months, so all you have to do is choose the option that suits you and get travelling. 

Bus Travel in Australia 

Australia has a sizable bus network which makes getting between destinations straightforward. The buses are well-used by travellers for getting around, as they ply the most popular destinations and big tourist spots. It might not be as exciting as a flight or even a train journey, but bus trips in Australia are a whole lot more affordable 

The only downside of grabbing a seat on a bus is that the distances are long . You should know that routes often take multiple hours to drive and night buses are not uncommon. On the bright side, the buses are clean, and modern, and have that much-needed aircon. Overall the services are reliable and there are even toilets and wi-fi on board. 

how to get around Australia cheap

The main bus companies are Greyhound, Intercity Coach Lines, and Firefly Express. Tickets are easy to purchase online ahead of time and you can even buy hop-on and hop-off fares, which really adds a lot of flexibility to your trip. 

Fares will vary depending on the length of the trip and the destination, but overall bus travel in Australia is really good value, especially if you use the Greyhouse Bus passes .

One example is the Greyhound East Coast Australia Bus Pass, which can be used on the route up the East Coast and costs $172. 

Possibly one of the best options when it comes to affordable transport in Australia is the Greyhouse Whimit Bus Pass. The flexible pass gives you unlimited travel on the Greyhound network in a specific block of time – for example, costs are 30 days, $289; 90 days, $413; and 115 days $234. 

Overnight buses in Australia also can help to save you some money on accommodation so you can turn up at your destination and get exploring. 

Flying in Australia

Being such a huge country, one of the most popular ways to travel around is by catching a flight. If you don’t have much time and want to see some particular sites in Australia, the best way to get around is by flying. Driving and train travel can take days so the only option to get around quickly is to catch a plane.

In recent years, there have been more budget operators flying interstate routes in Australia, but prices can still be expensive. One-way flights from Perth to Darwin cost around $250; Sydney to Melbourne cost around $100. 

Flying in Australia

There are some discounted tickets sold by various airlines in Australia. One option is the Walkabout Air Pass which will give you three discounted flights within the country, but this must be booked when you book your international flight to Australia. 

The best way to secure deals on flights in Australia is to book in advance and try to be flexible when it comes to times. Otherwise, if you really need to schedule a flight for your trip, you’ll just have to budget for it accordingly. 

Getting Around Cities in Australia 

Once you’re on the ground in Australia, you’re going to want to explore all of the sights and fun local neighbourhoods in its towns and cities. Luckily, Australia’s cities have some easy-to-use public transport networks so you can leave the car behind and take the train or bus instead. 

The Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide all have extensive rail networks, but only Sydney has a metro network. However, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth all have city-centre commuter trains that work pretty much the same as a metro. 

Sydney can be a bit daunting at first, but you’ll be able to rely on cheap public transport to get around. One of the best ways to see the city is by taking one of its ferries. That way you can see the sights and get around quickly and cheaply, too. 

is transport in Australia expensive

You can also get buses around the city. The network is run by Transport NSW which operates buses from 4:30am to 12.00pm as well as night buses. Big city bus hubs can be found at Circular Quay, Wynyard station, Central Station, and Town Hall Station. 

Sydney has an electric ticket called the Opal card . You can order one online before your trip or simply pick one up at the newsagents and convenience stores in the city. The minimum credit is $10, but if you pick one up at the airport you will be charged $35 which is the fee to catch the train into the city centre. 

For those of you who like to cycle in cities, it’s best to stick to the metro. Sydney isn’t well known when it comes to great cycle routes; there are a whole lot of hills to tackle and the infrastructure isn’t well-laid out for cyclists. 

If you want to get around quickly and it’s not rush hour then you can always hop in a taxi. Reliable and affordable for short tips, just make sure to avoid them at busy times. 

Renting a Car in Australia 

Australia is an amazing place to take a road trip . Getting behind the wheel and hitting the road in Aus is what dreams are made of. This absolutely enormous country has some epic roads that make taking a trip by car always a good idea. You can breeze through the desert and stop off at far-flung towns to have the most memorable trip ever.

Choosing which route to take or how long you have to spare can be hard to work out though. There’s a selection of different vehicles to select from depending on the journey you’re going to be embarking on. For shorter trips, a normal car should be totally fine just as long as it’s a new and well-maintained vehicle. 

renting a car in Australia

For a longer trip, you may want to consider hiring a larger car or even a campervan to travel around in. Campervans are a good idea if you’re travelling as a group or as a couple.

You can save a lot of money when it comes to accommodation costs but will need to pay to camp overnight at campsites, though there are places you can camp free of charge which can save you some cash. 

The average cost of car rental in Australia is $1,903 per month, which is around $63 per day. This price will vary depending on the size of the car and the time of year. You can find a long list of international firms in big cities and at airports, as well as smaller local companies in local communities.

It’s a good idea to check that Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is part of the rental price being quoted, and you should also take note of the additional insurance which can cost upwards of $9 per day. Parking can also cost $15 or more a day depending on the location. 

One more cost that you will want to factor into road trips is the price of toll roads. Some of Australia’s roads are privately owned and the cost of tolls can quickly add up. Fuel in Australia is currently priced at around $1.16 per litre. 

Want to save some cash and explore Australia by rental car? Use rentalcar.com to find the best deal possible. There are some great prices on the site and they aren’t difficult to find.

ESTIMATED EXPENSE: $10 – $50 USD per day

Australia is well known for one type of food: Barbecue. This is the nation’s famous al fresco cook-up which takes place in backyards, on beaches, and at campsites. The food culture of Australia has a lot of its roots in British dishes, but over the years has developed its own sense of identity and style

Australia is lucky to have a ton of fresh ingredients grown around the nation as well as enough coastline which means a supply of fresh seafood is never too far away. International influences and exciting flavours help to add unique twists to classic dishes.

Here’s some food you should look out for when in Aus. 

  • Fish and chips – Like the British, the Australians love their fish and chips. Think freshly caught fish fried in a golden batter and served up with some sizzling chips. Make sure to always eat where it is best, right by the sea when it’s wrapped in paper. 
  • BBQ – If you’re from the US, this isn’t the kind of barbeque you know and love. Australians use their grills to cook meaty feats of sausages, burgers, and seafood. The cooked food is then served up with bread, salads, and sauces. A few beers to wash it down is a must. 
  • Kangaroo  – Yes, you might think these cute guys are the icon of the nation, but the truth is they taste pretty good, too. It’s not unusual to see ‘roo meat on sale in supermarkets and on restaurant menus in the form of burgers and steaks. It’s delicious and lean as well. 

how much does food cost in Australia

Is Australia expensive for food? Well, depending on where you eat, it really can be. Here are a couple of handy tips to help you enjoy some good food in Australia that doesn’t break the bank. 

  • Look for apps with deals – Download some of Australia’s apps that show you free tables at local restaurants and which will entice you in with cheap last-minute deals, too. Options to try to include EatClub, which can get you up to 50% off meals, and Liven.  
  • Look for lunchtime deals – Throughout the week you’ll find that lots of pubs and restaurants have great lunch meal deals. All you have to do is turn up and fill up on your lunch for a whole lot cheaper than the price of a normal meal at the same place.  
  • Get onboard with Cheap-arse Tuesdays – Yes, you guessed it. Tuesday is the day of the week when eateries, cinemas and bars slash their prices in order to get customers through the door. You can get some really cheap deals on Tuesdays so make sure you don’t miss out 

Where to Eat Cheaply in Australia 

Depending on what part of town or city you are staying in Australia can be expensive for food and drink. But there are some ways you can stick to your daily travel budget and still enjoy a whole lot of tasty food. Here are a couple of helpful tips…

  • Return Servicemen Leagues (RSLs) – These long-established Australian institutes were set up to provide support to soldiers returning home after WWI. Now, these networks of clubs are pillars of the local communities and serve some pretty fantastic value meals; the Bondi iteration sells steaks for $10 on Wednesdays. 
  • Bakeries – Bakeries in Aus are in a league of their own. A community staple, stop by to pick up a warm sausage roll or meat pie for less than $5. The cakes are awesome, too. There are also Vietnamese bakeries that sell banh mi for between $5-7.
  • Go for Thai  – Thai food has made a big impact on Australian cuisine over the past few decades. You can find Thai eateries in all sorts of neighbourhoods and they’re a great place for a casual meal. Meals usually cost around $12 with lunch special around $10, you can even get cheap drinks, too. 

Seafood Plate

But when you’re on a big trip and trying to stick to a budget, you can’t eat out all the time. There will be meals where you have to cut back a bit on the cost and simply cook for yourself. 

Thankfully, Australia has a good selection of cheap supermarket chains that are reliable places for buying low-cost ingredients. 

  • Aldi – With some of the lowest prices around, Aldi is a favourite of budget shoppers in Australia. Shoppers can purchase a range of global products as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Some shops have their own bakeries. 
  • Woolworths – While it may not be the absolute cheapest, Woolworths can be found up and down the country and sells a selection of fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients. It’s reliable and you can find some pretty good deals. 

ESTIMATED EXPENSE: $0 – $38 per day

Whether it’s having a few drinks, a few cold ones with mates, kicking back with a glass of wine after work, or a stubbie with a BBQ, Australians love a drink. The nation has a strong culture of drinking and you don’t have to go far to find a bar or shop that sells alcohol.

The culture around drinking is fairly relaxed, it’s often a part of social situations and it’s pretty normal to see people grabbing a few drinks after work or with their friends and families. But the price of alcohol in Australia can be surprisingly expensive. In 2018 the minimum price for alcohol was set at $1.30 per drink.

Pub culture is also a big part of drinking in Australia. Wherever you are in the country, chances are you’ll be able to find a local pub in the town. These social hubs are where you will find locals drinking but they can also be frequented by families and students in certain areas. 

how much does alcohol cost in Australia

The cheapest places to drink in Australia can usually be found around areas that are popular with backpackers or students. Bars in these parts of town will advertise cheap drinks deals and happy hours to entice budget-minded party-goers through the doors. 

Beer is available all over Australia and is typically sold in a 425ml glass called a schooner or a 570ml pint. Costs range from $6 for a schooner, or upwards of $10 for a pint. 

Wine is also a very popular drink in Australia. After all, the nation produces some fantastic home-grown wine. Glasses of wine in a bar will cost around $6-$8, while a bottle of wine is usually priced anywhere between $14 and $20 (at the lower end).

Cocktails at a nice Melbourne restaurant or in a swanky bar in Sydney will usually cost you somewhere between $10 and $15. 

Read on to find out what regional specialty drinks you should make sure to try on your trip:

  • Lemon Lime and Bitters  – This refreshing cocktail has become a national favourite. Made with a mix of lemonade, lime juice cordial, and Angostura bitters, the low alcohol content means that it’s sippable throughout the day. 
  • Shiraz – You can’t leave Aus without enjoying a delicious glass of home-grown shiraz. Prices vary but you can pick up a great bottle from a supermarket for around $20 and spend the evening savouring the flavour. 

For when you really want to party, make sure not to miss out on the happy hours. If you want to have a few drinks and not break the bank, happy hours are for you. Just keep an eye out for adverts in bar windows and check out good happy hours near you online. The best part is that food is often included in the deal too!

ESTIMATED EXPENSE : $0 – $35 USD per day

Australia offers up a whole world of fantastic attractions that are bound to keep you busy during your trip. This might not be a visit to Rome with all of its history, or even a break in Paris, but what Australia does offer is modern cities, wonderful beaches, and a stunning selection of national parks. 

This country is definitely one for those who love the great outdoors. Aus is awash with activities that will get your adrenaline racing or simply chill you out along the coast. You’ll be able to choose from epic water sports like surfing and diving or spend the day sunning yourself at the beach.  

The costs of popular activities can be expensive. Taking a tour of a winery in the Yarra Valley costs approximately $50 per person, whereas if you want to spend the day diving you should put aside about $250 for the trip. 

cost of travel to Australia

Australia’s national parks are great places to get stuck into the natural scenery for a small price. A lot of the parks don’t charge entrance fees, while some only charge a small amount. They often have camping facilities and other amenities for visitors to use. 

If you want to make full use of the parks, it’s a good idea to purchase an affordable National Park Pass which can make longer visits much cheaper. You can spend days hiking in the wonderful scenery and spend hardly any money at all. 

When you’re in a town or city and want to spend the day at a museum or gallery, make sure to budget around $10-$20 for the ticket. Some places do have free entry days or offer discount prices to students. Cities like Sydney have passes for tourists which include skip-the-line entrance. 

To help you save money on attractions in Australia, here are some pointers to take into consideration:

  • Take a walk – One of the best ways to get to grips with a new city is to hit the streets. Sydney is a fantastic place to have a stroll, especially around the harbour. Walk across the bridge, meander the parks and soak up the history – all for free. Better yet, take the Free City Walking Tour which departs daily from Sydney Town Hall.
  • Hit up Darling Harbour on Saturday night – this vibrant hub for food and culture is the perfect place to catch the free Darling Harbour Fireworks. Simply kick back and enjoy and then wander around the neighbourhood soaking up the weekend ambience. 

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By now, you should hopefully have a pretty good idea of your Australia travel budget. I’ve outlined the cost of food, flights, accommodation, and activities. There are a few more things that you will need to factor into your daily budget, however. 

is Australia expensive to visit

Hidden daily costs can be hard to plan for in advance, but can quickly add up when you’re out and about on a trip. You could see some nice gifts you want to pick up for your family and friends, or you might even want to buy yourself some souvenirs to remember your trip.

Other costs that you might not foresee include paying for laundry at hostels, storing your luggage at a station, or buying a coffee every morning. All of these small costs will add up and can really make a dent in the cost of your trip. 

It’s a good plan to put aside around 10% of your trip budget for these one-off purchases so the costs don’t creep up on you. 

Tipping in Australia

As with most places in the world, tipping is a voluntary action and not something you have to do in Australia. That being said, you should try to leave a token of your gratitude for the waitstaff after a good meal or if you have received particularly good service. 

It’s normal to leave a tip in restaurants in Australia, around 10% is the normal amount that is left. Sometimes gratuity is already included on the bill at the end of the meal; if that’s the case, you don’t have to leave a tip. But you don’t actually have to pay the gratuity if you don’t think the service was up to scratch.

If you’re at a cafe and have enjoyed a nice coffee or lunch, then you could opt to leave a few dollars for the staff. In this case, around 5% or simply rounding up the bill is a good idea. Some people might just put a few dollars in the tip jar on the counter. 

When you’re on a tour or are taking part in an activity like scuba diving and you have really enjoyed your experience, it’s a nice gesture to tip the tour leader a few dollars at the end of the day. This is also very much appreciated if you’re taking advantage of a free walking tour in a city like Sydney. 

For services such as hairdressers and drivers, you don’t need to tip, but if you have been pleased with the level of service then a few dollars (or rounding up) is a nice amount to leave. The tip is not expected, however. 

At high-end hotels sometimes tipping is par for the course. Usually, guests would leave a couple of dollars for the concierge or the bellhop. It’s also fairly common to leave a token of appreciation for the housekeeping team to show them your thanks. 

Overall, Australians in the service industry are paid a good living wage and do not usually have to supplement their paycheck with tips. You don’t have to tip in Australia, but it’s always nice to tip for good service. 

Get Travel Insurance for Australia 

Before you jet off on your big Australia getaway, there’s one thing you should take a moment to consider. And no, it’s not if you should pack a few more pairs of pants. 

Life can throw all sorts of things in the way of a good time, so you might want to check out travel insurance before your tip. Being covered by travel insurance can help if things go wrong or can simply cover you for delayed flights or lost luggage. 

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

australia travel cost

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tips to save money in Australia

Ok, I’ve gone over pretty much all the big costs and hopefully helped to answer the question of ‘Is Australia expensive?’ So before we all head off into the sunshine, here are some final pieces of money-saving advice…

  • Try not to rush it – Australia is one big country and it’s best seen at a slow pace. If you want to see everything in a short amount of time you are going to quickly burn through your budget by spending over the odds on accommodation and flights. Take it slowly and enjoy.
  • Hit up the hostels – Hostels are where it’s at for budget travel in Aus. Not only are they good places for a cheap sleep, but they also have great social scenes and a list of free activities that guests can get involved with.
  • Have a water bottle : Don’t waste money on plastic, bottled waters; carry your own and refill it in the fountains and the tap. If you’re worried about potable water, get a filtered bottle, like the GRAYL, which filters out 99% of viruses and bacteria
  • Don’t be fixed to one date – If you really want to save money on your trip then you need to be flexible with when you fly. Costs of flights can fluctuate from week to week meaning you could save hundreds of dollars just by booking your trip for a week or two later. 
  • Book transport in advance – Trains and buses are the cheapest way to get around but to really secure good prices you need to book trains well in advance and buses are cheapest if you purchase a bus pass before you travel.
  • Earn money while you travel: Teaching English while traveling is a great way to make ends meet! If you find a sweet gig, you may even end up living in Australia.
  • Look for deals – There are so many deals to be had in Australia, from happy hours to bargain dinners in pubs. Just keep your eye out for cheap eats and activities. Join groups on social media, download apps, and sign up for mailers so you don’t miss out. 
  • Become a volunteer with Worldpackers : Give back to the local community and, in exchange, you’re room and board will often be covered. It’s not always free, but it’s still a cheap way to travel in Australia.
  • Don’t try to do everything   – Sometimes we simply try to fit too much into a trip. You might be better off just sticking to one portion of the country and seeing how it goes. In the long run, you could actually end up enjoying your trip a lot more and saving money on long-distance travel, too.

australia travel cost

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Australia isn’t that expensive. This far-flung destination has a rich array of wild natural scenery, super friendly people, and an easy-going beach scene. It’s true that it can be expensive – if you stay in expensive hotels and eat out every night. 

cost of a trip to Australia

But your trip doesn’t need to break the bank. Australia is well used to budget travellers and has got a great choice of cheap accommodation, backpacker bars, and affordable transport for you to take full advantage of.

What we think the average daily budget for Australia should be:

So, as long as you don’t try to do everything, a reasonable budget per day for Australia is around $45.

australia travel cost

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alexandria Zboyovski

Alexandria Zboyovski

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australia travel cost

Australia Budget Breakdown: Nail Your Dream Trip Costs

Imagine kangaroos hopping by as you sip world-class coffee in a Melbourne café—dreamy, right? But how much cash will that Aussie adventure set you back? Let's crunch numbers and pack dreams!

australia travel cost

Australia is famous for tropical beaches, wide-country spaces, Aboriginal culture, and lush rainforests. The country has so many beaches that it will take 27 years to visit, one per day. However, you'd want to know what a visit will cost you before you visit.

A one-week vacation in Australia costs an average of $2579 per person, including $1200 for your return flight. A solo traveler will spend an average of $197 per day on expenses. This average cost includes food, accommodation, local transportation, and other activities throughout your stay in Australia.  

Australia is large and expensive, but it offers visitors much value. The rest of the article will provide a detailed breakdown of travel costs. Read on also to find tips on how to save money vacationing in Australia.

How Much Money Should You Take For A 7-Day Trip to Australia?

australia travel cost

Accommodation, food and drinks, and tours are the big spenders after flight tickets. A reasonable amount of money you need to take on a 7-day trip to Australia is around $2,579-$3,000 . 

This average amount should cover your round trip and afford you mid-range accommodation. Mixing up your eating styles by eating out a few nights and cooking some meals yourself is also more affordable. 

Tours are expensive in Australia, and the least amount you can spend is $92.81 for the barrier reef snorkel tour. Budget spenders can always opt for other sightseeing activities such as a $15 surfing museum, a $65 surf lesson, and a $23 Sydney tower visit.

Intercity travel alone can be as expensive as $150. However, you can save by focusing on one city at a time. You can take advantage of some free activities like visiting the beach, the Sydney opera house, and botanical gardens.

Traveling To Australia On A Budget

australia travel cost

You can take a 7-day trip to Australia on a budget of $1050, but this comes with several lifestyle changes. If you can soldier through the inconveniences of taking standby flights, you can get a round trip to Australia for around $621.

Take advantage of Australia's dense network of campgrounds for lodging. There are free campsites all over Australia, and most of them are budget friendly . These camps have basic facilities and are mostly located in areas with relatively low costs of living.  

Pick campsites in central locations so you can easily walk to the beaches. If traveling with friends, you can rent a campervan for between $100-$200 per day to visit more scenic locations. 

Related Read: Best Time to Visit Australia

Basic Expenses On A Vacation To Australia

Before packing your bags for an Australia trip, creating a detailed budget for everything you'll need to spend on your trip is crucial. To enable you to create an accurate budget, here's an item-by-item breakdown of everything constituting the total cost of your Australia trip.  

1. Flight Tickets

australia travel cost

Flight tickets are one of the most significant expenses on your journey, taking away a substantial chunk of your budget. The price of flight tickets may vary depending on several factors, such as the peak season, the day of the flight, and booking in advance.

The average cost of a round trip to Australia is $1200. However, this cost increases to $2100-$2900 from late December to January and decreases to $1100-$1200 from late August to early September . Collected data shows that Tuesdays are the cheapest days to fly to your destination and back.

Many travelers found that booking their flights at least 60 days before departure is cheaper than booking within 72 hours. Australian flight tickets are expensive because of the limited number of airlines and the lack of competition.

2. Accommodation

australia travel cost

Accommodation is right on the heels of your flight tickets, also contributing significantly to your travel costs. Australia has a range of accommodation styles, such as hostels, hotels, Airbnbs, and vacation rentals.

Hostels are mainly found on the East Coast and include several options for different budgets. There are 12- bed shared dorms that cost between $25-$50 or ensuite rooms and private rooms for a slightly higher budget .

Hotels also offer different styles for different budgets. From the real-life experiences of many travelers, the average cost of a 1-star hotel is $50. 2-star- 5-star hotels cost $70, $80, $120, and $240, respectively.

Airbnb and vacation rentals offer a unique and comfortable option. They cost hundreds of dollars, from $100 to $1000 above. Although this is the most expensive option, they typically offer top-notch facilities to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

The prices of accommodation fluctuate with the city, length of stay, and season of visits, such as Christmas or New year. You can always cut the overall cost of accommodation by not ordering your meals from your hotel. 

Related Read: Does it Snow in Australia?

australia travel cost

As usual, food in Australia serves every budget, but the cost of a single meal will depend on your eating style. For example, eating out in some restaurants can be more expensive than cooking, and fine dining is usually more expensive than fast/street food.

Breakfast is cheaper than lunch and dinner, and some restaurants offer meal deals and discounts. The average breakfast cost is $20, while the main meal has a mid-range of $25-35 or an upper range of $35-$45. On the other hand, a MacDonald's meal costs just about $5-$7 .

Alcohol is costly in Australia because the government heavily taxes alcoholic drinks. The average beer cost in a bar is $5-$8, a glass of wine is $10 above, and cocktails cost $15. However, you can buy a box of Goon at $10-$15 if you don't mind cheap boxed wine.

4. Transportation

australia travel cost

Australia is a country and a continent that is considered the most significant island and sixth largest country on earth. Its large cities and structures mean that it has several tourist attractions and beautiful sightseeing locations.

Taxis are more expensive than public transportation, and car rentals are also available . Here are all the options available to you and what you can expect to pay for each. 

  • Taxi: Transportation is cheaper in smaller cities like Melbourne and expensive in bigger cities like Sydney. The average cost of a 20-minute taxi ride is $21.20 in Melbourne and $27.70 in Sydney. The waiting time is $34.00 in Melbourne and $56.68 in Sydney.
  • Public Transportation: Although public transportation is cheaper than taxis and car rentals, the fares are still pretty expensive. Australia is the second country in the world with the highest public transit at $104.52 per month. A single bus fare in Sydney is around $1.39-$2.99.
  • Trains: The Ghan and Indian Pacific provide train services between Australian cities. The Ghan travels between Adelaide and Darwin, while the Indian Pacific travels between Sydney and Perth. The average single train fare is between $2.32-$5.76.
  • Ferries: Several ferries connect locations along Sydney harbor, Swan River in Perth, and Brisbane River. The single average fare of a ferry is between $3.98-$4.97
  • Greyhound Buses: The most popular transportation network covering the East Coast, Red center, Northern Territory, and parts of the West Coast. This bus network offers unlimited travel for up to 30-90 days within a limited time frame. The average bus fare for a 7-day vacation is around $199.
  • Car Rentals Services: Renting a car will enable you to explore the many attractions and avoid the limitations of other means of transportation. The average cost of car rentals is $35 per day and depends on the location, the type of car, and your booking four weeks in advance. Since the requirements are not uniform in all areas, remember to make inquiries. For individuals looking for a convenient way to travel around Australia, considering a  private jet charter with The Air Charter Group  might be a good choice. This service provides comfort and luxury, while also helping to save time that you might spend dealing with the schedules and crowds associated with commercial flights. Particularly useful for those wishing to explore multiple locations across Australia's extensive territory, opting for a private charter could enhance your travel experience, giving you more time to enjoy the beautiful destinations in Australia and less time traveling.
  • Travel Insurance: Travel insurance when going overseas is as essential as breathing. In the event of an accident or getting robbed, you will prevent yourself from significant financial loss with travel insurance. There's no fixed price; therefore, compare quotes from different agencies to get the best price.

Also, if you're planning to take long road trips, you may want to consider getting comprehensive car insurance from a company like ROLLiN' to give you peace of mind when on the road.

Related Read: 25 Fun Things to Do on a Long Flight

australia travel cost

Australia has an extensive network of tourist attractions that are impossible to avoid. Some favorite big-name travel spots include the Sydney harbor bridge, the Great Barrier reef, dolphin kayaking, etc.

Taking tours around the big-name travel spots can get pretty expensive, costing several hundred dollars per tour . The following list will give an idea of how costly these tours can be.

  • A tour of the Sydney harbor bridge costs $243.95
  • A snorkeling tour at the great barrier reef costs $92.81
  • Fraser Island 4×4 tour costs $310.91 
  • The Budget open dive boat costs $460.73

Tips To Save Money On Your Australia Trip

Australia is a tourist haven with its beaches, deserts, and rainforests. It is a vast land so large it has three times more sheep than people, which makes it expensive.

However, visiting Australia doesn't have to be as costly as you think, especially when you know what costs to avoid and what costs not to. Here's a brief review of some money-saving tips to help you save money on your next trip to Australia.

1. Travel Off-Peak Season

australia travel cost

You will save a lot of money when you plan your trip away from Australia's peak season. Australia is not a summer destination because there's competition for flights and accommodation, which makes the rates go high. 

Fall (March to May) and winter (June to August) are the best time to visit Australia. During this period, flights are cheaper, and hotels offer the lowest price on accommodation, especially in June . Even with the snow in some areas, you will still enjoy Australia's vast deserts, waterfalls, and beautiful beaches.

Related Read: Best Time To Visit Indonesia

2. Take Self-Guided Tours

australia travel cost

There are free attractions like the botanical gardens, the Sydney opera house, and the beaches. Australia is also easy to navigate, with car rentals to the Northern Territory Outbacks for as low as $25. While there, visit Katherine to see interesting sights like the Jatbula trail, limestone cutta cutta caves, and hot springs.

The Gippsland lakes are over 600 square kilometers of lakes, lagoons, and marshes with exotic bird species, koalas, and dolphins. Swimming and fishing at Agnes Falls, Toorongo, and Amphitheater Falls are great tourist activities. Hutt lagoon is a stunning lagoon that changes colors from soft pink to lilac and sometimes red.

You can also rent a car for $52 a month to visit Fraser Island, the largest sand island. Or you can drive down from Cairns to the lush Daintree rainforests for $35 a month. There are several more tourist attractions, and all you need to do is look out for deals on car rentals .

3. Try Walking

australia travel cost

Australia has many well-maintained footpaths along coastal cliffs, urban laneways, and parklands you explore. Some of the world's longest tracks and trails are in Australia .

Tasmania is a world heritage-listed wilderness; you can explore the overlands there. Or you can explore the Northern Territory through the Larapinta trail across the West MacDonnell ranges.

4. Cook Your Meals

australia travel cost

Food prices in Australia take out the bulk of your money. Cooking your meals will save you a great deal of cash, especially when you stay in hostels. 

Go shopping at supermarkets to get the best deals out of your shopping. The best time to shop is at the end of the day when supermarkets offer up to 50% discounts, especially on fresh products . Local markets also offer good product deals towards the end of the day.

Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart organize "giving away food" events cooked from unsold products at supermarkets. You can attend these events to get a free meal.

5. Book Your Flight in Advance

australia travel cost

No matter your destination, booking your flight 1-3 months from your journey is a great way to save money. When making travel arrangements, remember that traveling midweek to Saturday is usually cheaper than Sunday to Mondays. 

Always remember to change your browser to incognito when booking your flight. Websites use cookies that can tell you just checked flight prices, increasing costs . Finally, book accommodation, tours, and other services in advance to ensure you get cheaper deals.

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Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog

Australia Road Trip Budget: A Detailed Cost Breakdown

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: December 16, 2022

Categories Australia

Australia-travel-b budget-important-facts-and-figures-lotte-travels.com

In this post you can read about our Australia road trip budget, I hope this will give you an idea about the cost to travel to Australia.

Australia is the 6th biggest country in the world, so big in fact that it counts as a continental landmass!

With more than 823,000 kilometers of road available to be explored, it is an amazing road trip destination ( read more Australia Trivia here ).

We love love love love road trips, in fact, it's our favorite way to travel. We've gone on lots of road trips in countries such as New Zealand , Japan , Portugal , Oman , Canada , and the U.S.A.

I can say from experience that road-tripping is one of the best and cheapest options to travel!

Australia road trip budget: how much does it cost to travel to Australia?

Inskip Peninsula and the Carlo Sandblow

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

How much does it cost to go to Australia?

Have you always dreamed about a Working Holiday in Australia? Check out Global Work & Travel and get a €100 discount with the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE .

Australia-working-holiday-Phenomenal-Globe-Travel-Blog

Australia is infamous for being a rather expensive destination, however, we managed to travel Australia on a very reasonable budget.

For everyone wondering: Is Australia expensive to visit? It doesn't have to be! We spent less than €100 a day (for us as a couple) during our 6-week road trip from Cairns to Melbourne.

Check the infographic below for our Australian budget breakdown and read along for tips to save money in Australia.

How to travel Australia on a budget! A trip to Australia doesn't have to be expensive, we spent less than €100/150 AUD per day during our 6-week road trip along the East Coast. Detailed budget breakdown and information about the costs of renting a camper van, campsites, petrol, food & activities. #australia #roadtrip

Australia travel budget: important facts and figures

  • I traveled around Australia  with my husband , and all expenses mentioned are for the two of us together.
  • I quote prices in € and Australian Dollar (AUD) . The exchange rate usually is around  €1 = 1,50 AUD. Of course, the exchange rate varies, check the most recent rates here .
  • We spent 6 weeks in Australia, on an average day we spent  €98 / 146 AUD .
  • Our average daily travel budget includes all our travel costs in Australia, it does not include the costs for our tickets to Australia. Also, as a travel blogger, I was fortunate enough to work with Travellers Autobarn campervan rental and several tour companies which decreased our expenses.
  • My trip started in Cairns and ended in Melbourne. You can find our East Coast road trip itinerary here .

Cost to travel Australia:  our average daily expenses

  • Campervan: 65% of daily costs
  • Accommodation: 4% of daily costs
  • Food and drinks: 19% of daily costs
  • Activities and miscellaneous expenses: 12% of daily costs

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains

1. Renting a campervan in Australia: how much does it cost?

I'm 100% convinced the cheapest way to travel to Australia is with a camper van (or a car and a tent).

We rented a Kuga campervan from Travellers Autobarn  and drove from Cairns to Melbourne in a little less than 6 weeks.

The Kuga van was great and very comfortable! The kitchen had a sink, a m icrowave, and a small fridge. The 35-liter water tank usually lasted us around 3 days.

Campervanning Australia - beautiful freedom campspot

The large bed could easily be converted to a seating area, but since we traveled in November and December we spent most of our time outside.

The curtains let in very little light, which was nice because the sun came up quite early in the South.  During our trip we never had any issues with the car, it was well-maintained and clean.

In the infographic, you can see that the daily rental costs for the campervan were  €63 / 93 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Rent of the campervan

Costs for petrol.

Campervan at a lake by sunset

Daily rental costs

I was fortunate to work with  Travellers Autobarn  and received a discount on the daily rental price of our Kuga. With this discount, the costs per day for the camper van were  €47 / 70 AUD .

The only insurance we added was a 75 AUD payment to insure any damage to the windshield.

We didn't take out any additional insurance to reduce our bond liability (in case of an accident we would have had to pay up to 2500 AUD).

It's always a gamble whether or not insurance will be worth it or not. During our New Zealand road trip I bumped into another car and I was very happy we had taken out additional insurance.

During our Portugal road trip we paid for extra insurance as well but didn't need it, so we kind of wasted that money.

In the end you won't know what's smart until you hand the vehicle back in, damaged or not. It's up to you if you want to risk it;-).

Check prices online

Depending on the season, the type of campervan you want to rent and the additional items you choose you can pay as little as 35 AUD per day .

You can see the different types of vans and get a quote on the Travellers Autobarn website .

View from the back of a campervan in Australia

Fuel isn't cheap in Australia and distances are big, so fuel made up a significant portion of our daily expenses (17%) .

On average we paid €16 / 23 AUD per day. We fueled up on either Unleaded 91 or Unleaded 95. Not all gas stations sell 91, but at the ones that do this is usually the most economical option.

What really helped us to find the cheapest fuel option available was the Motormouth website (also available as an app).

The website shows the current price level of petrol stations all around Australia, there can be quite a big difference between them.

Checking the Motormouth website or app before fueling up can definitely help to save some money!

The Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia

2. How to find budget accommodation and free campsites in Australia

In the infographic, you can see that the total daily costs for accommodation were  €4 / 6 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Paid campsites

  • Airbnb accommodation

We slept in our campervan pretty much all the time and were pleasantly surprised by how many free campsites we found during our road trip.

We found these campsites via Campermate , a great free app where you can find information about the site and read comments from recent visitors.

Some of these free campsites even had free hot showers! During our six-week road trip we only paid for 2 campsites, the rest of the sites were free.

Free campsite on a budget campervan trip Australia

We stayed at an Airbnb in Brisbane (2 nights) and Melbourne (1 night). In Yamba and Sydney, we stayed with friends (3 nights), which was great and also saved us a lot of money.

3. Cost of food in Australia

The easiest and most effective way to save money in Australia is by cooking your own food. A cheap dinner will set you back at least  €10/ 15 AUD  per person.

Cooking your own meal will only cost about  €10/ 15 AUD for a couple , so you'll already save 50% each day by making your own dinner!

We paid  € 1 9 / 28 AUD for food and drinks on an average day. We made our own breakfast, coffee, lunch and dinner on 95% of the days. Every once in a while we bought a fresh fruit juice, pizza or steaming bowl of ramen.

Oatmeal pancake - Australia road trip breakfast

4. Activities and miscellaneous Australia vacation cost

The average daily costs in this category were  €12/ 19 AUD . These costs can be split between:

Miscellaneous costs

Visit the Hill Inlet Lookout for the best view of the Whitsunday Islands

Most days we went bush-walking, explored a beautiful beach or did some sightseeing in a village or city, these activities were free. However, we also did some pretty cool excursions in Australia.

We went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, flew over the treetops with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and sailed around the marvelous Whitsunday Islands.

I worked with these companies and received a discount or complimentary trip, which saved us a lot of money.

This category is a little bit of everything, ranging from public transport in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra to costs for laundry, a local SIM, postcards home, etc.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Australia trip budget: in conclusion

That's all our Australia expenses! I hope this post has shown it's possible to travel to Australia on a budget and has inspired you to visit this beautiful continent! 

Feel free to ask any questions you may have and enjoy planning your trip to Australia !

Also check this post about work and travel in Australia in case you're interested in getting an Australian work and holiday visa.

Also read about the best things to do in Sydney with kids and about places to visit in Daylesford .

How to travel Australia on a budget! A trip to Australia doesn't have to be expensive, we spent less than €100/150 AUD per day during our 6-week road trip along the East Coast. Detailed budget breakdown and information about the costs of renting a camper van, campsites, petrol, food & activities. #Australia #travelbudget #roadtrip

This post was updated in October 2020.

Wednesday 4th of March 2020

Thanks a lot for this information. I wanted to know, we are doing a road trip from Cairns to Sydney on a campervan. The payment for the campervan has already been made so that’s counted. My question is, if we want to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef and to Whitsundays (basically that’s all we want to do as “paid” activities), do you think we, as a couple, can manage to spend an average of 60 eur per day? (This would be excluding the campervan as I mentioned above).

Do you have any details of your trips to Whitsunday and the great barrier?

Thanks so much!

Monday 16th of March 2020

Hi Beatriz,

That sounds like a wonderful trip! Regarding your question, well, it will be a bit of a tight budget as these two activities unfortunately don't come cheap... Sailing the Whitsundays is around 200AUD per person and diving is 300AUD for 2 dives and 320AUD for 3 dives. Without these activities, 60euro for a couple is definitely possible but if you really want to do these two activities I'd try and save another 1000AUD for your road trip (if possible).

You can find more information here: https://cruisewhitsundays.com/experiences/camira-sailing-adventure/ http://www.tusadive.com/prices/

Have a great trip! Lotte

Veronica Ricalde

Sunday 21st of October 2018

How safe is to stay in free Camping sites? we would like to go with two small Kids (6 months and 6 years) and my husband Freak out when i said that we can camp for free. do they have toiletts and showers? thank u and lovely regards

Thursday 25th of October 2018

Hi Veronica,

We never had any issues at the free campsites and I always felt safe. Free campsites usually do have toilets but no showers (though some do, but you may have to pay for the shower). In the Campermate app (https://www.campermate.com.au/welcome/index) you can find information about free (and paid) campsites. Keep in mind that some free sites are located along busy roads, which may not be ideal for you and your family. Enjoy your road trip!

Sunday 1st of April 2018

Hi Lotte! We are planning an East coast Australia road trip (4-5 weeks) in October and then on to New Zealand for 2 months. We will be using a campervan in both countries. How long in advance do we need to book the campervan to get the best deals? Can you still get a good deal a few weeks in advance or do they become really expensive by then? Thanks for your interesting blog!!

Monday 2nd of April 2018

Hi Charlotte,

Wow, your trip sounds awesome! Regarding your question, for Australia you'll be a bit ahead of the high season so I reckon you could get good deals there even if you don't book very early. For New Zealand however, you'll be traveling in peak season and I recommend to book as early as possible. While November may be easy to book, December is summer holiday for the Kiwis as well. Hope this helps! Have a wonderful time in Aussie and New Zealand!

Katie Farrant

Wednesday 17th of January 2018

Hey, I'm just wondering whether you will be uploading your Australia itinerary soon?! My partner and I are off there on the 31st Jan starting in Adelaide and going up to Cairns (by tours and greyhound) for 7 weeks. Would be great to read any recommendations you have for free/cheap activities. We have booked up a few tours- but the cost is adding up! We are off to NZ after Aus for 5 weeks and your blog made me decide to book a camper with car rental village! I can't wait!

Thanks for your comment and your trip(s) sounds great! Which tours will you be doing along the way? Yes, costs definitely add up but luckily many hikes and sightseeing in cities/villages is free. I'm working on the itinerary post, it's going to be very long (5000+ words;-). My goal is to publish the post this week because I start a new job on Monday. Perhaps you can subscribe via RSS feed so you'll receive an update when the article goes life?

So cool you'll be going to NZ as well, it's still my favorite country in the world... Have a great trip and let me know if you have questions about the itinerary once it's published.

Claire's Footsteps

All Destinations , Australasia , Australia

This is what it costs to travel australia.

australia travel cost

Australia: it’s an adventure, but it’s expensive . Especially if you’re not planning on working in Australia, travel there can put your bank account under a lot of strain. But there are plenty of different ways to enjoy Australia, for all budgets; whether you’re backpacking Australia on a shoestring or have a little bit more money to enjoy the luxuries. Here, I look at the cost of travel in Australia and how you can tailor make an Australia travel budget so you can enjoy the very best of the country while not bankrupting yourself in the process. Sound enticing?

It’s hard to make a one size fits all travel budget for Australia because there are so many different ways to explore the country. Some people want to stick to the hotspots of the east coast, others are keen to free camp their way up the west. Some may favour a whistle-stop tour to Uluru, the Top End, the Great Barrier Reef and the southern cities of Sydney and Melbourne, while others prefer to slow travel around the continent.

I’m going to explore some different trips and different budgets, so you can select the best fit for your desires and requirements. Also note that I have itineraries on every route (and more!) specified. You’ll find the links below!

Getting There Costs

australia travel cost

As you may know, Australia is a long way from everywhere. It is fairly expensive to reach from anywhere other than Asia, but you should be able to find some fairly cheap deals if you’re flexible with dates, airports and airlines. It might also be a good idea to spend some time in Asia before flying over as it both breaks up the journey and often works out cheaper.

The first time I entered Australia, I flew from Hong Kong to Sydney with a 2 day stopover in Singapore. It cost me £180/ $312 AUD/ $231 USD. The second time, I flew from Bali to Darwin – probably the shortest international plane journey from Australia. This was cheap as chips, costing me around $40 AUD/ £23/ $29 USD. On my way home from Australia, I flew from Melbourne to Chongqing, had 3 days in Chongqing and then flew to London Gatwick from there. The total cost was around £400.

There are so many different routes through Asia, so there will most likely be one that isn’t too bank-breaking.

Unless you’re from New Zealand, every nationality needs a visa for Australia. Luckily, it can easily be obtained online and the tourist 3 month visa is free.

If you want to work, you’ll need to apply for a working holiday visa. The type that you’ll need depends on where you’re from, and it also determines what kind of work you can do to extend your visa. People from the states used to get a bad deal, as they couldn’t extend their visas – but now their options for regional work are waaaay better than those on the other visas!

The working holiday visa costs $450 AUD. You can also use this visa even if you don’t have an intention of working and just want to holiday in Australia for a year (although you’ll have needed to save up a lot for this!!).

You can apply for the visa on the Australian government website or on a site like e-visums.co.uk .

Working in Australia

If you’re planning on a working holiday visa in Australia, you may need to provide evidence of having at least $5000 on arrival. This money will likely go on accommodation and living expenses before you find a job; although if you’re savvy and get a job quickly you could obviously save a big chunk of this – I didn’t get a job for 6 weeks after I arrived in Australia and I only spent $1500.

Working in Australia is a great way to save money, because they pay a mint. I’m talking $20-$30 an hour for restaurant and bar work, and $40+ an hour for labouring. Some of the best places to earn money are Sydney, Melbourne and Perth – although they are also expensive to live in.

I worked in Byron Bay, which may well be the worst place in Australia to work, but the best to live :). It’s difficult to find jobs in Byron Bay because everyone wants to live there, and any job offers only pay minimum wage! The place changed my life though , so I’m happy to be skint for it.

A lot of backpackers aged 18-30 tend to work when they get to Australia and use that money to travel. Not a bad way to do it…

Travelling in Australia – The Routes

East coast – cairns to melbourne.

australia travel cost

The east coast – from Cairns to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, is the most popular backpacker odyssey in Australia. Pricey hostel rooms and eating out can make it expensive, but there are lots of ways to save money as you go.

Splurge and do it all – 6-8 weeks from Cairns to Melbourne

Accommodation: This budget includes 42-56 nights in hostels. At an average of $30 per night, this would result in $1260-$1680 on accommodation.

Transport: A hop on, hop off Greyhound bus from Cairns to Melbourne pass costs $549. Note that it is cheaper if you just do the Cairns to Sydney or Cairns to Brisbane portion of the road trip. Campervan hire starts at around $1,130.04 and petrol costs about $1200. This would be split by whoever is in the car, of course.

Note: if this isn’t your only Australia road trip I strongly recommend you buy a car or campervan rather than hiring one. It works out a lot cheaper in the long run and you have more freedom. 

Activities: Here is a list of all the activities that you would want to include on your ultimate east coast adventure and the average costs:

  • Daintree Tour – $150
  • Great Barrier Reef Dive – $150
  • Skydive – check out Byron Bay skydiving here .
  • Whitsunday Cruise – $350 – see tour options here .
  • Magnetic Island  Package – $118
  • Scooteroo tour of 1770/ Agnes Water – $85
  • Surf Lesson in 1770 – $25
  • Fraser Island – $494 – click through for tour options .
  • Noosa Everglades Tour – $115
  • Blue Mountains Tour – $119
  • Wilson’s Promontory Tour – $135
  • The Grampians Tour – $124
  • Great Ocean Road Tour – $114

Food: For food, budgeting around $30 per day allows for two purchased smaller meals and one larger meal out. If you’re travelling for 8 weeks, that’s $1680.

Alcohol: drinking around 20 beers or glasses of wine out per week will cost $100-$160 – so anywhere between $600 – $1280 for the entire trip. If you get through a box of goon or ten beers per week bought from the bottle’o as well, you’ll be looking at another $100ish+ for the entire trip.

Save a little – 6 weeks from Cairns to Melbourne

australia travel cost

When I backpacked the east coast, I fitted into this category. A budget for 6 weeks in Australia includes all of the best tours, a mix of hostel stays and nights in free camp sites, some beer and goon and both cheap meals (and far too many subway sandwiches) out and self-cooked meals.

Accommodation: staying in hostels on the east coast enables you to meet other travellers and be in a great location for the activities; so you will want to stay in them at some points. If you were to stay in hostels half the time and free camp the rest of the time, you’ll spend around $620. This can obviously be cut down depending on how often you’re willing to free camp. Some hostels, like Nomads in Airlie Beach and Southern Cross Backpackers 1770, have camp spots/ places you can sleep in your car for less.

Transport: the most budget-friendly way to see the east coast is to find a ride share, which means that you’ll just be paying for your share of petrol. Depending on how many of you there are sharing the petrol, you’ll be paying $300 to $600 for the whole journey. Of course, you might want to buy your own car and see the coast this way; this is a financial commitment, but you’ll be able to get some money back when you sell it. Fuel costs around $1200 to travel from Cairns to Melbourne.

Or you could look at renting a car; which is not too expensive when split with friends. The greyhound pass is another option, costing $549, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to stay at free campsites doing so. If you don’t have another option, you’ll be able to save on your trip in other ways.

Activities : There are a few tours that you really have to do to get the essential east coast experience. My must-dos were:

  • The Great Barrier Reef – $150
  • Whitsundays – $350
  • Fraser Island – $449

Some self-drive trips can all be done in a tour too, but if there’s more than one of you it’s nearly always cheaper to drive – even when factoring in car rental costs. These excursions include:

  • Daintree Rainforest National Park
  • Atherton Tablelands
  • Magnetic Island (not strictly self-drive, but the ferry over costs $33 reutrn)
  • Byron Bay’s hinterland
  • Coffs Harbour’s hinterland
  • Blue Mountains
  • Wilson’s Promontory
  • Great Ocean Road
  • The Grampians National Park

Food: You can get by on the east coast on a budget of $15 – $20 per day, which includes a mix of eating out and cooking for yourself. That’s around $735 for yer whole trip.

Alcohol: Limiting yourself to 10 $5-$8 drinks per week means that you’ll spend around $80 on drinks out every week – $480 for your entire trip. Add in a box of $12 goon each week and a $20 box of beer and you’re looking at $672 on alcohol for your six weeks on the east coast.

Scrimp and save – 4 weeks from Cairns to Melbourne

australia travel cost

Accommodation: free camping up the coast will leave your wallet happy by costing you absolutely nothing! Check out my post for free camping tips .

Transport: A Greyhound Pass won’t cut it for this one – you’ll need to find your own (or someone else’s wheels) to really budget on the east coast. Making a mate who has their own car means that you’ll save a ton by just chipping in for petrol – you’ll pay between $600 – $300. Alternatively, buy or rent your own whip – rental can be pricey but can be split with friends, but if you buy a car and sell it at the end of your trip you’ll make a lot of the money back.

Activities: depending on your budget, you could just commit to the free things on the east coast, which includes national parks like Noosa national park, exploring towns like quirky Byron Bay and the cities of Brisbane , Sydney and Melbourne , and enjoying the thousands of kilometres of beautiful beaches. I do recommend the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays and Fraser Island trips highly; but pick and choose which you can afford and which interest you the most.

Food: If you’re organized and don’t impulse buy food, it’s easy to get by on $5 a day for cheap supermarket bought ingredients. This will cost you a total of $140 for the whole trip.

Alcohol: of course, you could not drink at all on the east coast, slashing your alcohol expenditure. If you can’t face that, a box of goon a week will cost you $12 per week or $48 for the entire trip.

The Tour Option

While the east coast is very easy to travel solo, there are also lots of pre organised tours that plough the route. This is a great idea if it’s your first time travelling, if you’re on your own or are short on time.

West Coast – Perth to Broome

australia travel cost

Splurge – a guided tour

There are lots of ways to save money on the west coast, but a guided tour isn’t one of them. However, if you don’t have access to a car, this is the only way to see the west – and it’s not to be missed.

Mid-range – 3 weeks from Perth to Broome

Accommodation: if you favour a roof over your head, you can stay in hostels when available. This isn’t possible everywhere on the west coast but can be found in some towns. Alternatively, opting for paid-for campsites means you’re guaranteed a shower and a camp kitchen. If you’re avoiding free campsites where possible, you’re looking at spending around $450 on accommodation for 3 weeks.

Transport: if you have your own car, or can share a ride, then you’ll just be paying for petrol on the west coast. It comes to about $1200 for the whole distance from Perth to Broome (with some side stops). If you need to hire a car, rates start from $2000 – $3000 for 3 weeks.

Activities: you’ll save money on activities on the west coast – there are nowhere near as many paid-for as the east. Some highlights include:

  • National Park Entry – $40 for every Western Australia national park for 6 weeks
  • Whale Shark Tour from Exmouth – $400 – book a whale shark tour in advance here  or learn more about a tour swimming with humpback whales .
  • Diving at the Navy Pier (for certified divers only) – $140

Other amazing parts of the west coast, like beautiful beaches and national parks, are completely free.

Food: spending $15-$20 per day on food will enable you to eat quite well, eating out where possible. That’s $315 – $420 for the whole trip.

Alcohol: you won’t be hitting up many bars on the west coast, but if you’re buying a couple of boxes of beer each week you’ll be looking at around $40 per week, or $120 for the entire trip.

Save – 2 weeks from Perth to Broome

australia travel cost

It’s possible to do the west coast road trip very cheaply, paying for only petrol and food. Here’s how much it can cost if you’re really looking to save.

Transport: if you have a vehicle sorted, just paying for petrol will cost around $1200 – split between however many people there are in the car.

Accommodation: you can free camp the whole way up the west coast, with the only exception being in Karijini National Park. You’ll want to spend at least 2 nights there and there are no free campsites within the park. Dales Campsite costs $10 per night, so $20 in total.

Food: if you’re very organized (there aren’t many Woolies or Coles along the west coast!) and are prepared to eat mainly tinned food, you can still get by on $5 per day for food. That’s $70 for two weeks.

Alcohol: if you’re really budgeting, alcohol should be omitted from your west coast expenditure.

Activities: the whale shark tour is one of the best things I’ve ever done, but it is expensive. If you don’t have the dollar, stick to a national parks pass, which is $40 for a vehicle and can be split with your travel mates.

The Centre – Darwin to Adelaide

australia travel cost

The Red Centre is one hell of a road trip. Spanning from the tropical top end, through some of the world’s most inhospitable desert and ending in temperate Adelaide , it’s a wonder why more people don’t do this voyage.

The Darwin to Adelaide road trip can be done cheaply or expensively, depending on how you want to travel.

Splurge: Guided Tour

Taking a guided tour is the most expensive option, but is essential if you don’t want to drive or rent a campervan.

Mid-Range: 3 week road trip

Accommodation: staying in proper campsites and hostels will set you back between $10-$30 per night. Campsites normally cost around $15-20, with hostels coming in at $25-$30. Because of the remoteness of a lot of places on the Darwin to Adelaide road trip, hostels are not available everywhere. If you’re paying for accommodation every night, factor in around $400.

Transport: around $1000 for petrol will get you through Kakadu and down the red centre to Adelaide. Factor in more if you want to take the Oodnadatta Track or the Red Centre Way. If you need to hire a vehicle, you’re looking at at least $2000, which can be split between you and your travelmates of course.

Activities: Kakadu National Park costs $40, which goes into preserving the park. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park costs $25 to enter. Don’t climb Uluru , by the way. All other national parks, and most other attractions are free. You might want to spend a bit of money seeing some attractions in Alice Springs (the desert park for example is $20). Budget around $100 to see all the attractions.

Food: food can be purchased in roadhouses and in towns or cities with restaurants, but often you’ll be cooking your own meals as well. If you want to eat out where possible, factor in $10 – $15 per day on food – so $210 to $317 for your whole trip.

Alcohol: prices at campsites and remote pubs and bars can be high. If you’re buying a couple of drinks every night, you could easily be spending $25 per night, so $525 for your whole trip.

Budget: 2 weeks

australia travel cost

Accommodation: you could free camp pretty much the whole way (maybe paying for accommodation in Alice Springs as there are not any free campsites in the city that I am aware of) for $0. If you stay a night in Alice, you’ll end up spending just $30 for your whole trip.

Petrol: Petrol will be as before – around $1000. If you’re really stuck for cash, try and find someone with a car rather than renting one.

Activities: Unless you really have no money, Kakadu is an absolute essential. It’ll be like nowhere you’ve ever been – so do try to find the $40 from somewhere, even if it means selling your soul… Uluru as well, is obviously pretty essential for anyone travelling in the red centre. When you see the incredible amount of work that goes into protecting the nature, you won’t mind spending the money. This means you’ll be spending a minimum of $25, but probably $65 on attractions.

Food: If you’re on a super budget, food can easily be had for $5 per day. This comes in at the princely sum of $70 for food for two weeks.

Alcohol: just like elsewhere in Australia, a couple of boxes of beer a week will set you back $40 – so $80 for the whole trip.

The North West – Broome to Darwin

australia travel cost

The north west road trip is one of the most spectacular experiences in Australia. The Kimberley region is home to beautiful waterfalls, red outback roads and gorgeous gorges (pun intended). It’s not too expensive, as it’s one of the shorter road trips on this page, and there’s no hotel or hostel accommodation for the bulk of this route. That’s right, camping is necessary.

Accommodation: On the Gibb River Road , there aren’t many free campsites. So budget around $70 for the whole trip to stay on campsites en-route.

Transport: prices are high on the Gibb River Road – if you can take a few tanks and fill up in Broome it is recommended. I’d say you’re looking at paying between $500 and $700 for the whole road trip – obviously if this is split between a few of you prices go down.

Attractions: The delightful bit about the Gibb River Road is that pretty much everything that you need to do is completely free! Windjana Gorge has an entrance fee of around $14, but all other gorges, waterfalls and parks are totally free. If you do have some spare cash, you might want to do some tours on Lake Argyle. You can do sunset cruises or lunch cruises on the river, which are absolutely spectacular. I’d also recommend staying at the Lake Argyle Campground when you get there – the infinity pool is a great respite after the madness of the Gibb River Road!

Food: You won’t be able to spend much on food – for the same reason – there isn’t much available! Make sure to pack lots of tins and not too many perishables unless you have a coolbox – the car gets hot during the days. Budget around $10 per day per person – this includes a meal at El Questro when you reach it, and one in Kunannurra as well.

Alcohol: Like with restaurants, there aren’t that many places to buy booze on the Broome to Darwin road trip. I’d recommend spending the time disconnecting and enjoying nature, but if you do want some beers, grab a 10 pack for around $20.

Please note, that the Gibb River Road is a very unsealed and bumpy road. Please get your car serviced, at least before you leave Perth, to check that there is nothing that would cause it to break down in the middle of the road. Make sure you have a spare tyre – or two if you can accommodate them. I burst a tyre on the road, it is very easily done. If I’d burst another one, I would have had to be towed off the road and fork out an extortionate bill.

australia travel cost

Tasmania, the island state to the south of Victoria, is somewhere that’s beauty is still not widely known about by backpackers. Sometimes known as the love child of Australia and New Zealand, there’s so much to explore on a Tasmania road trip that will leave you awe-struck. And best of all, it’s pretty cheap!

Accommodation: it’s entirely possible to free camp all the way around Tasmania; and actually, there aren’t that many hostels. You might want to stay in a hostel in Hobart to freshen up, so factor in around $30 for this. If you want to stay in Hobart for a few days, budget around $90 for accommodation. If you’d rather stay in paid-for campsites, factor in around $15 per night.

Transport: budget around $500 petrol for your Tasmania road trip. This can of course be split between however many of you are in the car. If you need to rent a car, factor in these costs as well.

Activities: You’ll need to pay $60 per car for a parks pass. This can obviously be split between whoever’s in the car. MONA is an essential museum to visit – it’s an art gallery with a big difference. Tickets cost $28. The other activity worth seeing is the Port Arthur convict site which costs $39. You can, of course, take boat trips and do other activities in Tasmania, but you’ll be able to see the highlights without. If you’re visiting Tasmania on a budget, just factor the $60 (split between you and your travel mates) for activities – if you want to see all the highlights, they’ll cost $127.

Food: you can obviously do a big shop and cook for yourself, in which case I’d say around $30 – $40 a week is enough. If you want to eat at a restaurant, budget between $10 and $20. Based on eating out twice a week and doing a food shop, food should set you back around $315 for three weeks.

Alcohol: Tasmania is another place that is best enjoyed sober, but if you do want to drink, the best/ cheapest bet is to buy whatever you want from the bottle’o. You know the drill. If you’re road tripping for 3 weeks and want to get two boxes of beer a week, that will work out to be $120.

Cost for 7 Day Trip to Australia

australia travel cost

Australia is a huge country, and unless you’re travelling from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea or Indonesia, it will take a while to get there. Becaues of this, I really wouldn’t recommend just spending 7 days in Australia – but if you do, it’s best to stick to one state, city or territory or take a couple of internal flights.

As this is primarily an overland travel blog – and I never took an internal flight in Australia – I can’t recommend internal flights too much, but Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas all offer internal flights to the major cities for fairly reasonable prices.

If you’re spending 7 days in Melbourne , expect to spend $40-$200 per night on accommodation. Budget $30 per day if you’re eating 2 meals out, or $10 per day if you’re cooking at your accommodation – check out this review of lentils as anything for a great sustainable budget-friendly restaurant. Essential paid-for activities in Melbourne include the Melbourne museum and the Immigration museum – other attractions like the AMCI and Hoiser Lane are free.

From Melbourne, you can day trip to some of Victoria’s best national parks and towns. Budget around $114 for a Great Ocean Road tour , $130 to visit the Grampians National Park and $80 for a trip to Ballarat (taking the train), a historic goldrush city. Check out this guide to visiting Melbourne on a budget for more information.

Sydney has a similar budget, with hostel dorms costing a minimum of $35 and some being more like $50, and hotel rooms costing $100-$200 + per night. Budget a similar amount for eating – $10-$30 per day will enable you to eat fairly decent food. A lot of attractions in Sydney are free – but the Australian Museum costs $10 to enter. Tours from Sydney include the Hunter Valley Wine Region and the Blue Mountains .

If you want to see some of Australia’s northern highlights, you could see Darwin and Kakadu, and then fly to Alice Springs to see Uluru. This is a pretty costly option; accommodation in Darwin costs $30-$200 per night, a Kakadu tour will cost $540, flights from Darwin to Alice Springs cost at least $200, accommodation in both Darwin and Alice Springs costs anywhere from $30 – $200 per night and an Uluru tour from Alice costs $395.

australia travel cost

Or you could explore the Cairns area, doing a Daintree rainforest tour (expect to pay around $150), dive the Great Barrier Reef for $150+ and take a Greyhound bus to Mission Beach (prices start at $25) and then to Townsville (for around $44) and then the ferry ($33) to Magnetic Island. Expect to pay between $20-$120 per night for accommodation in Far North Queensland, with meals out costing betwen $20 – $30 and beers being around $8.

If you only have 7 days in Australia, consider spending them in Tasmania. Basing yourself in Hobart will enable you to see the best parts of the island state. You can take tours to Mount Field , Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay and pay between $20 – $120 per night for accommodation. Meals in the city cost around $20 and beers are around $9.

Australia Spending Money Per Day

australia travel cost

As you can see by the huge, huge disparity of prices on this cost of travel in Australia guide, the spending money per day in Australia ranges hugely. Here’s what I reckon to be an average, based on my experience and my cool algorithm I’ve made up.

Note that all costs do not factor in vehicle hire costs and fuel is based on 2 people sharing. If you are taking the Greyhound buses, you may have to save some money on eating out and alcohol to reach this target:

  • East Coast Australia: $84 per day (based on 6 week road trip)
  • West Coast Australia: $70 per day (based on a 3 week road trip)
  • The Kimberleys: $42 per day (based on 2 week road trip)
  • Darwin to Adelaide: $64 per day (based on a 2 week road trip)
  • Tasmania: $23 per day (based on a 3 week road trip)

Of course, these can be made drastically cheaper or more expensive, depending which way you want to swing it.

If you’re in Australia on a 7 day trip, and are using organized tours, expect to pay at least between $100 and $200 per day. If you’re sticking to cities and staying in hostels, this can be lowered, but trust me the best part of Australia is its nature.

Average Cost of Trip to Australia

So, after all of these numbers, I guess you’re wanting to know what the coast of an average trip to Australia is? I’m gonna be honest.. I have no idea. It depends on how long your trip is (my 1.5 year trip was obviously a lot more than a 7 day trip!), your travel style and where you go. I could pluck a random number from thin air, but it probably won’t help much.

Did you like this post? Follow me on Facebook to stay updated – there’s still lots of Australia posts in the pipeline!

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Questions About Australia? Expert Advice

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People from all over the world choose our Australia travel packages to capture the Aussie essence of this vast continent – a land of drastic contrasts and wonders. Travel to Australia and experience unique Australian wildlife , the rugged Outback terrain, or our magnificent beaches and dive sites along the world heritage Great Barrier Reef . And those are just the obvious choices when you think of a trip to Australia. Explore the icons and tour the Sydney Opera House, maybe cuddle a koala or hand-feed a kangaroo. There’s so much more to see and do, it would take a lifetime to experience it all. But with our Australia vacation packages, you can enjoy the very best of this magical land on your trip.

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An Australian Vacation Lets Your Inner Explorer Go Wild

Australia is home to some of the world’s oldest and untouched landscapes. See the rich and diverse marine life of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef . Explore the oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree Rainforest, in Australia’s tropical state of Queensland. Or tour the award-winning Jenolan Caves , the oldest caves in world. One of only two Everglades environments on Earth is found in Australia – the pristine Noosa Everglades . Go on a road trip so great it’s in the very name – the Great Ocean Road .

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To experience the best of Australia travel on your own schedule, our independent vacation packages give you the flexibility to tour at your own pace. If you prefer to have a native Australian guide your experience, take a look at one of our  escorted Australia tours , filled with all the best places to visit in Australia . Or we can create your very own custom Australia travel package : just let us know what you’d like to do, and an About Australia travel agent will craft a package that’s just right for you. Newlyweds, take note: our friendly agents would love to help you plan a perfect honeymoon vacation to Australia.

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Frequently Asked Questions about a Taking an Australia Vacation

Here are our most frequently asked questions about our Australia packages.

How much does it cost to travel to Australia?

There is no average cost for a trip to Australia, because the total cost depends on so many factors. Flight and hotel prices vary by the time of year, and your style of travel (budget, 4-star or luxury) also affects the price of your vacation. Flights to Australia alone range between $800 – $1,200, and hotel stays with daily tours only add to the expenses. For a 9 day trip to Australia with comfortable hotels and flights included, expect to pay no less than $3,000. Look out for our special Australian vacation deals for  sales on our most popular Australia vacations .

What is the best time of year to go?

Spring (September – November) or Fall (March – May) are some of the best times to visit Australia for their mild weather. These are also known as shoulder seasons, when the crowd rushes of peak tourism season start to dwindle and prices on flights and hotels are lowered.

Do I need a visa?

Tourist visas are required for travel entry into Australia. Tourist visas are also commonly referred to as a Travel Visa, Visitor Visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). We will process your Australian Visa (ETA) when you book your trip with us.

How many days do you need to see Australia?

We recommend at least a 2 week (14 days) vacation to see all Australia has to offer. This gives you enough time to travel through the popular cities and destinations of the east coast, such as Melbourne, Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a venture into the Outback to see Uluru (Ayers Rock). This also gives you enough time to relax between each destination. It’s important to give yourself free time to explore Australia on your own.

Australia Travel Tips

To help prepare you to travel to Australia, we’ve compiled a list of our most helpful Australia travel tips and information.

Sales on Flights to Australia

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Australia?

Weather in Australia

Best Time to Travel to Australia

How to Plan a Trip to Australia

Do I Need Travel Insurance for a Trip to Australia?

Things to Know Before You Travel to Australia

Australian Currency

How Big is Australia?

Mistakes to Avoid When You Travel to Australia

What to Pack for a Trip to Australia

What’s it Like to Fly to Australia?

Best Australia Vacation Spots

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Destinations: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney

Activities: Beaches, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Iconic Landmarks, Museums, Pubs & Clubs, Rest & Relaxation, Restaurants, Shopping, Short Walks, Sightseeing, Snorkeling,

Tour Type: Independent Travel

Class: 3 - 4 stars

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Destinations: Australia – Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney

Activities: City Sights, Crocodiles & Reptiles, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, History,Kangaroos, Koalas, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions, Wildlife, Wildlife Encounters

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Destinations: Australia – Cairns, Ayers Rock & Sydney

Activities: Aboriginal Culture, Art, Birds, City Walking Tour, City Sights, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, History, Outback, Rainforest, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions, Waterfalls, Wildlife

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Destinations: Australia – Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney

Activities: Birds, City Sights, City Walking Tour, Cruises, Foodie, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Kangaroos, Koalas, Rainforest, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Wildlife

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Destinations: Australia – Port Douglas, Ayers Rock & Sydney

Activities: Touring, Historical Landmarks, Native Culture, Restaurants, Local Markets, Wildlife, Beaches, Outback, Great Barrier Reef, Rainforest, Snorkeling, Wine, Food & Wine

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Destinations: Australia – Melbourne, Port Douglas (Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest) and  Sydney

Activities: Beaches, City Sights, City Walking Tour, Cruises, Foodie, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Local Flavor, Rest & Relaxation, Sailing, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Wildlife

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Destinations: Australia – Sydney, Port Douglas, Ayers Rock & Melbourne

Activities: Aboriginal Culture, Beaches, City Sights, Educational, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Island Experiences, Natural Wonders, Outback, Rainforest, Sailing, Shopping, Short Walks, Snorkeling, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Wildlife

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Destinations: Australia – Cairns, Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Darwin, Sydney

Activities: Aboriginal Culture, Beaches, City Sights, Crocodiles & Reptiles, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Kangaroos, Koalas, Mountains, Natural Wonders, Nature, Rainforest, Scenic Lookouts, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Swimming, Wildlife in the Wild

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Destinations: Australia – Melbourne, Brisbane, Port Douglas, Ayers Rock, Sydney

Activities: Aboriginal Culture, Beaches, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, History, Kangaroos, Koalas, Natural Wonders, Outback, Rainforest, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Tourist Attractions, Wildlife, Wildlife Encounters

australia travel cost

Destinations: Australia – Melbourne, Great Ocean Road (Apollo Bay, Mt Gambier, Victor Harbor), Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Port Douglas, Sydney

Activities: Aboriginal Culture, Beaches, Coastal, Coastal Drives, Coastal Lookouts, Educational, Foodie, Great Barrier Reef, Island Experiences, Kangaroos, Koalas, Local Flavor, Local Markets, Natural Wonders, Nature, Rainforest, Sailing, Scenic Lookouts, Short Walks, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Swimming, Wildlife, Wildlife in the Wild

australia travel cost

Destinations: Australia – Launceston, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, Hobart, Melbourne, Hamilton Island, Gold Coast, Sydney

Activities: Beaches, City Sights, Coastal, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Island Experiences, Kangaroos, Koalas, Mountains, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Swimming, Wildlife, Wildlife Encounters, Food & Wine

australia travel cost

Destinations: Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Cairns, Gold Coast & Brisbane

Activities: Beaches, City Sights, Historical Landmarks, Wine Tour, Aboriginial Culture, Outback, Great Barrier Reef, Nature, Rainforest, Snorkeling, Theme Parks, Wildlife, Train Ride

australia travel cost

Destinations: Australia – Melbourne, Great Ocean Road (Apollo Bay, Mt Gambier, Victor Harbor), Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Ayers Rock, Port Douglas, Brisbane, Sydney

Activities: Art, Aboriginal Culture, Beaches, City Sights, City Walking Tour, Coastal Drives, Cruises, Great Barrier Reef, Historical Landmarks, Island Experiences, Kangaroos, Koalas, Local Flavor, Natural Wonders, Nature, Outback, Small Towns & Villages, Snorkeling, Wildlife, Wildlife in the Wild

australia travel cost

Destinations: Australia – Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Perth, Margaret River, Perth, Gold Coast, Airlie Beach, Spirit of Queensland Rail Journey, Fraser Island, Sydney

Activities: Beaches, Caves, City Sights, Coastal, Cruises, Food & Wine, Great Barrier Reef, Island Experiences, Kangaroos, Koalas, Local Flavor, Natural Wonders, Nature, Scenic Lookouts, Short Walks, Snorkeling, Swimming, Trains, Wildlife in the Wild, Wine, Wine Tastings

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About Australia

Australians looking to reduce travel costs in 2024

Despite the urge to reduce travel costs, the average length of planned international trips has risen by two days.

The cost of living continues to affect travel plans, with eight out of 10 (83%) Australian travellers looking to reduce their travel costs in the next 12 months, according to a report commissioned by Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI).

Despite this, the desire to travel remains high. The report, called the Future of Travel 2024, also found that 91% of respondents planned to travel domestically or overseas in the next year.

The average international trip length desired has also risen from 14 days in 2023 to 16 days per trip in 2024 – however, this is balanced out by a reduction in the average number of trips that respondents plan to take.

Almost half of Aussies (47%) also said that they consider travel to be more important than other discretionary spending items, and one in five (21%) said that it was their top priority, or much more important to them than other discretionary spending.

Millennials (born 1981–96) are the most unwilling to forgo travel, with 17% claiming travel was their top priority for discretionary spending, compared with between 4–6% for other age demographics. Additionally, 90% of millennials stated that they were willing to make trade-offs to reduce the cost of travel in the next year.

Many Aussies would drop insurance to cut costs

Concerningly, the report also found that 2.4 million Australians were willing to cut costs by not buying travel insurance – with Generation Z (born 1997–2012) twice as likely to do so than baby boomers (born 1946–64).

This is despite a high level of travel disruption in 2023 – a year in which 2.8 million Australians faced problems due to a weather event. Travellers from New South Wales (NSW) in particular were four times as likely as Queenslanders to have experienced an adverse weather event before or during overseas travel (13% compared with 3%). This is despite a similar number of people travelling from both states.

SCTI also reported that the average claim cost for international travel in 2023 was A$1,369 (US$897), while the average claim for domestic travel was A$1,163.

SCTI also recently won two awards at the 2023 Canstar Travel Insurance Awards .

Monthly CPI indicator rose 3.4 per cent in the year to January 2024

The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose 3.4 per cent in the 12 months to January 2024, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: "Annual inflation for the monthly CPI indicator was steady at 3.4 per cent and remains the lowest annual inflation since November 2021.”

The most significant contributors to the January annual increase were Housing (+4.6 per cent), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+4.4 per cent), Alcohol and tobacco (+6.7 per cent) and Insurance and financial services (+8.2 per cent). Partially offsetting the annual increase is Recreation and culture (-1.7 per cent) primarily due to Holiday travel and accommodation (-7.1 per cent). 

"CPI inflation is often impacted by items with volatile price changes like Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel. It can be helpful to exclude these items from the headline CPI to provide a view of underlying inflation. 

“When excluding these volatile items from the monthly CPI indicator, the annual rise in January was 4.1 per cent, down from 4.2 per cent in December. Annual inflation when excluding volatile items has been declining since the peak of 7.2 per cent in December 2022,” Ms Marquardt said.

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*Volatile items are Fruit and vegetables and Automotive fuel

Housing rose 4.6 per cent in the 12 months to January, down from 5.2 per cent in December. New dwelling prices rose 4.8 per cent over the year with builders passing through higher costs for labour and materials. 

Rent prices rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to January, reflecting a tight rental market and low vacancy rates across the country. 

Annual electricity prices rose 0.8 per cent in the 12 months to January 2024. The introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates for eligible households from July 2023 has mostly offset electricity price rises from annual price reviews in July due to increases in wholesale prices. 

“Excluding the rebates, Electricity prices would have increased 15.3 per cent in the 12 months to January 2024,” Ms Marquardt said. 

“Annual inflation for Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased to 4.4 per cent in January, up from 4.0 per cent in December. Annual inflation remains elevated for food, apart from fresh food categories. Meat and seafood and Fruit and vegetables, for example, saw lower or negative annual inflation,” Ms Marquardt said. 

Holiday travel and accommodation prices fell 7.1 per cent in the 12 months to January, following a 9.1 per cent annual fall in December. This was driven by falls in both domestic and international holiday travel. 

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Motorway trafiic

Australian households under pressure as cost of car travel rises at triple the rate of inflation

Drivers in capital cities faced increases of 12.4% in 2023 while the average driver in regional areas was hit with a 13.7% rise

Australian households are under increasing budget pressure when it comes to car travel as transport costs balloon to three times the inflation rate.

The typical household’s transport costs rose by about 13% in 2023, outpacing the inflation rate of 4.1%.

Drivers in capital cities faced increases of 12.4% while the average driver in regional areas was hit with a 13.7% rise.

High upfront costs for buying new vehicles, higher car loan interest rates and increasing insurance premiums were behind the ballooning transport costs, according to the Australian Automobile Association’s Transport Affordability Index.

Sabrina Mo works as a building designer in Sydney’s inner west and travels around New South Wales for work, including the occasional trip interstate.

She is feeling the cost increases.

Car registration and insurance costs increased by more than $300 in 2023 compared with the previous year while her toll payments almost doubled.

“Everything is just too expensive,” Mo said.

With the uncertain nature of the work taking her to wherever the projects are, she has to keep her transport budget open.

“Sometimes I might have to be out of the office for a whole week and sometimes I’ll be in the office for two or three weeks,” she said. “I have to drive wherever the demand is.”

In 2022 she was paying $1.20 a litre for petrol at the bowser but since 2023 it has been at least $1.60.

So she has had to make changes elsewhere.

“For other things like my groceries [budget] ... I can manipulate it because I can be creative and start cooking really cheaply.”

Transport costs rose by a smaller 0.7% in the final quarter of 2023 but that did not offset large increases throughout the year, leading to transport affordability declining substantially.

In December 2022, the average city household spent 15.6% of its income on transport but that rose to 17% a year later.

The transport expenditure for households in the region rose from 14.4% of its income to 15.8%.

The decline in transport affordability is becoming a heavy burden on Australians feeling the cost-of-living pressures as the peak motoring body’s managing director Michael Bradley called on governments to consider these pressures when formulating policy.

“Transport is a significant and unavoidable expense for households and is also one of the key drivers of general inflation,” Bradley said.

In the December quarter, Canberra was the most affordable capital with the average household spending 14.8% of income on transport.

Hobart was the least affordable where 19.3% of an average household’s income went to transport.

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Cost of living comparison

A month’s rent is $1,280 cheaper in hobart than sydney. find out how else the cost of living differs between states..

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Housing cost of living comparison

Food cost of living comparison, transport cost of living comparison, overall cost of living comparison, how to fight the increasing cost of living.

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australia travel cost

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Ever wondered how much money you could save by living in a different city to the one you're currently in? We've broken down the main costs of living in the major cities across Australia, from housing and food to transport, and provided estimates of how much you're likely to pay.

The most expensive place for housing in Australia is Sydney. Including utilities , it's 48.51% higher than the cost of Adelaide, which is the least priciest capital city.

Monthly rent in a 2 bedroom apartment* is likely to cost you around $671 more a month in Sydney than in Melbourne. That increases to $1,015 if you want to live in an expensive area. You can save a small amount when it comes to utilities, however. Gas, electricity and water are $23 cheaper a month in Sydney and broadband costs are around the same.

The cheapest major city for housing in Australia is Adelaide. Overall, it's 61.19% less expensive than in Sydney with rent being on average $1,338 cheaper a month. Almost all of the money you save is down to cheap rent though because utilities, Internet and other household goods in Adelaide are among the most expensive in Australia.

Note : The figures in this guide are based on the combined average of pricing found on 2 cost-of-living websites: Expatistan and Numbeo.

Most expensive cities for housing

The most expensive major city for housing and utilities is Sydney. To give you a comparison of how much more it is, check out how it compares to the other big cities in Australia:

  • It's 36% more expensive than in Melbourne
  • It's 45% more expensive than in Perth
  • It's 52% more expensive than in Hobart
  • It's 25% more expensive than in Brisbane
  • It's 48% more expensive than in Adelaide

Canberra is the most expensive city for food in Australia. On average, it's 8% more expensive than Melbourne which comes in second place and 26% more expensive than Darwin, the least expensive capital for food costs.

australia travel cost

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Sydney is also the most expensive city for transport. Public transport in the country's most populated city is more expensive than in Adelaide by almost double (48%) although you'll pay about the same for a taxi. There's just a 4c difference between fuel in Sydney and Melbourne but the same car, simply bought in different cities, is likely to cost you almost $2,000 more.

Darwin and Hobart are much cheaper, particularly when it comes to public transport. They're 68% and 58% cheaper than in Sydney. You can get around both cities via public transport for less than $100 a month, which puts Sydney's staggering $200 bill into perspective.

Cheapest cities for transport

  • Darwin. The Northern Territory's capital is on average the cheapest major city in Australia when it comes to transport. It's 68% cheaper than in Sydney
  • Hobart. Transportation in Hobart is 57% cheaper than in Sydney
  • Adelaide. Coming in at just over the $100 mark, Adelaide is 48% cheaper than in Sydney.
  • Canberra. Transport costs 25% less than in Sydney
  • Perth. Transport costs 20% less than in Sydney
  • Melbourne. Transport in Victoria's capital is about 18% less than in Sydney
  • Brisbane. Transport is approximately 1% cheaper than Sydney.
  • Sydney. Last by some distance, Sydney is the most expensive city for all types of transport.

The table below gives you an idea of the differences between the overall costs of living in Australia's state capital cities. Sydney is still the most expensive city in Australia — you'll pay around a quarter more for living expenses in Sydney than if you lived in Darwin or Melbourne, and even more if you stayed in Adelaide or Hobart.

The overall costs of living in Adelaide and Hobart are very similar. According to Finder stats, Hobart is marginally the cheapest capital city to live in, followed closely by Adelaide.

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Protect your income

With inflation on the rise and uncertainty in the economy, it's important to protect you recurring income. Income protection insurance can provide you with a monthly benefit as high as $30k if an injury or sickness were to prevent you from working at a point in time.

Income protection calculator: How much cover you could get

Gross annual income, percentage covered, we estimate that you could get ... (click calculate to see results).

Best income protection policies for 2024

Groceries

Understand where exactly your money is going first, and then adjust your budget slightly

Figure out how much your everyday essentials such as groceries and bills are costing you, and how much you spend on extra things like eating out, entertainment purchases, and holidays/travel spending. Budgeting apps like the Finder app can help you do this, by letting you see all your money in one place. Once you have a rough idea of your spending habits, you can then figure out where there's room to cut back.

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Be smart with your groceries

Making a few changes to how you do your usual grocery shopping can help you save a decent amount each week. Here's some of them:

  • Buy frozen veggies as a cheaper alternative to fresh ones, plus they won't go to waste!
  • Embrace canned foods like beans, tuna and tomatoes. These ingredients are a great base for soups, stews, and pastas, as are rice and grains.
  • Buy dried foods in bulk, as it can be cheaper. Supermarkets usually have discounted tinned goods, so it's worth stocking up your pantry with these when the special offers are on, compared to buying bit by bit over time at full price.
  • Check out grocery comparison apps like Frugl to compare the cost of products between different supermarkets.

Investing

Invest some of your spare cash

If you have some extra cash laying around that isn't going towards bills, you can make your money grow even more.

  • If you haven't already, consider switching your existing savings account to a bonus interest savings account . It pays extra interest than other savings accounts, if you meet certain criteria.
  • Invest in other assets like shares or cryptocurrency . You can earn a higher return on your capital, but this can come with additional risk.

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Cristal Dyer

Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.

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Shipping to Australia from the US (2024)

shipping to Australia

Shipping To Australia From The US

The relationship between the United States and Australia encompasses a wide range of economic interactions, with shipping playing a crucial role in bridging the distance for businesses and individuals alike. Whether it's for personal reasons, business transactions, or e-commerce, understanding the ins and outs of shipping from the US to Australia is essential for ensuring your items arrive safely and efficiently. This blog aims to provide a comprehensive guide to navigate through the complexities of international shipping, including regulations, carrier options, costs, and preparation tips to make your shipping experience as smooth as possible.

Understanding Shipping Regulations

Shipping items internationally requires a good understanding of customs regulations to avoid unexpected delays or legal issues. Australia has specific customs regulations that importers must adhere to, including declaring goods and paying any applicable duties and taxes. It's crucial to be aware of prohibited and restricted items, such as certain foods, drugs, and weapons, to ensure your shipment complies with Australian laws. Necessary documentation typically includes a detailed invoice, a customs declaration form, and, for certain goods, special permits or certifications. Familiarizing yourself with these requirements can prevent your shipment from being held up at customs.

Choosing the Right Shipping Carrier

When shipping to Australia from the US, choosing the right carrier is key to balancing cost, speed, and reliability. Major carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL offer various services tailored to international shipping needs. USPS is often the most cost-effective option for smaller packages, while FedEx and UPS provide faster, more comprehensive services for larger shipments. DHL specializes in international shipping and may offer competitive rates and transit times for shipping to Australia. Each carrier has its own set of pros and cons, depending on shipment size, urgency, and budget. Comparing services and prices can help you select the best carrier for your needs.

Shipping Options and Costs

The cost of shipping to Australia can vary widely based on several factors, including the size and weight of the package, the chosen service level (Standard, Economy, Express), and the carrier. Standard shipping options are more affordable but take longer, while express services expedite delivery at a higher cost. Additional services like tracking and insurance can also affect the overall price. It's important to use online calculators provided by carriers to estimate costs and transit times, keeping in mind that prices can range significantly. For example, shipping a 5-pound package might cost anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on the service level and carrier.

Preparing Your Shipment

Proper preparation of your shipment is crucial for smooth customs clearance and safe delivery. Packaging should be sturdy and appropriate for the item's weight and fragility, with sufficient cushioning material to prevent damage during transit. Clearly labeling your package with the recipient's address and contact information, along with the necessary customs documentation, is essential. Ensuring your package is well-prepared can help avoid damages and delays.

Tracking and Insurance

Opting for tracking and insurance is highly recommended when shipping internationally. Tracking provides peace of mind and allows you to monitor your shipment's progress, while insurance protects against loss or damage. Most carriers offer these services at an additional cost, but they can be invaluable, especially for valuable or time-sensitive shipments.

Customs and Delivery

Once your shipment arrives in Australia, it will undergo customs clearance, where duties, taxes, and any applicable charges will be assessed. Understanding the customs process can help manage expectations regarding delivery times. After clearance, the package will be handed over to local couriers for final delivery. Being aware of this process can assist in planning and tracking your shipment more effectively.

Shipment Types To Australia

Shipping to Australia from the US can be done through various methods, each with its own set of advantages, costs, and delivery times. Understanding these options can help shippers choose the best method based on their specific needs, such as speed, budget, and the nature of the goods being sent.

Parcel Shipping: This is the most common method for sending small to medium-sized packages and includes services provided by carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Parcel shipping offers several service levels, from economy to express, catering to different urgency and budget requirements.

Freight Shipping: For larger shipments that cannot be sent as parcels, freight shipping is the preferred method. Freight shipping to Australia can be divided into:

Air Freight: Ideal for time-sensitive shipments, air freight is faster but more expensive than ocean freight. Typical delivery times range from 3 to 8 days, depending on the service level chosen. This option is suitable for high-value goods or items that need to be delivered quickly.

Ocean Freight: A cost-effective solution for large, heavy, or bulky shipments that do not require fast delivery. Ocean freight can be significantly cheaper than air freight but comes with longer transit times, typically between 20 to 40 days, depending on the origin and destination ports, service chosen, and customs clearance processes.

Courier Services: These are specialized services offered by companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL for express shipments. Courier services provide door-to-door delivery with tracking and insurance options, making them suitable for important documents and high-value packages. Delivery times can be as quick as overnight to 2-5 days, depending on the chosen service level and specific requirements of the shipment.

Consolidated Shipping: An option that combines multiple shipments headed to the same destination into one container. This can be a more economical choice for shippers with smaller loads, as it allows them to share container space and costs with others. The delivery times for consolidated shipping vary but are generally aligned with standard ocean or air freight schedules.

Factors Affecting Shipping Costs and Delivery Times

The cost of shipping and the delivery time are influenced by several factors, including:

Type of Shipment: Air freight is typically more expensive than ocean freight but offers faster delivery.

Weight and Volume: Shipping costs are calculated based on the weight and size of the shipment, with larger and heavier items costing more to ship.

Distance: The further the destination, the higher the shipping cost and the longer the delivery time.

Customs and Duties: Any applicable customs duties and taxes can affect the overall cost and potentially delay delivery times if there are issues with customs clearance.

Service Level: Express services cost more but provide faster delivery compared to economy services.

Tips for Efficient Freight Shipping

Plan Ahead: To avoid rush charges, plan your shipment well in advance, especially for ocean freight, which has longer lead times.

Package Efficiently: Ensure your goods are packaged compactly and securely to reduce shipping costs and prevent damage.

Understand Incoterms: Familiarize yourself with international commercial terms (Incoterms) to understand the responsibilities of shippers and receivers.

Insurance: Always consider purchasing insurance for your freight to protect against loss or damage during transit.

With a comprehensive understanding of the different types of shipments and freight options available for shipping to Australia from the US, shippers can make informed decisions to optimize their shipping strategy, balancing cost, speed, and reliability. By considering the factors that affect shipping costs and delivery times and following best practices for freight shipping, businesses and individuals can ensure their shipments arrive safely and efficiently.

Reship The US, UK & Canada To Australia

Reship, a package forwarding service, has revolutionized the way customers shop from the US and ship to Australia, making the process accessible, affordable, and convenient. By offering a solution that enables shoppers to purchase goods from US retailers that do not directly ship to Australia or that may have high international shipping rates, Reship provides a cost-effective and efficient alternative. Here’s how Reship facilitates this process and how it can significantly reduce shipping costs to as low as $20.

Utilizing Reship for Affordable Shipping

1. sign up and get a us address.

Upon registering with Reship , customers are provided with a US-based address. This address allows them to shop from US retailers as if they were based in the United States, expanding their shopping options to include stores that might not ship internationally.

2. Shop from Your Favorite US Retailers

Customers can shop online from their preferred US retailers and use the provided US address at checkout. The goods are then shipped to Reship's warehouse , bypassing the need for direct international shipping from the retailer.

3. Consolidation and Repackaging

One of the key benefits of using Reship is the ability to consolidate multiple purchases into a single shipment. This service can significantly reduce shipping costs by optimizing package size and weight. Additionally, Reship offers repackaging services to ensure items are securely packed in the most cost-effective manner.

4. Choose Your Shipping Method to Australia

Reship partners with various carriers, offering different shipping options to Australia. Customers can select from economy to express shipping based on their budget and how quickly they need their items. This flexibility allows for shipping costs to start as low as $20, depending on the package's size and weight and the selected shipping option.

5. Customs Handling and Support

Reship also assists with customs documentation, ensuring that all the necessary paperwork is correctly filled out to minimize delays during customs clearance. Their customer support can guide customers through the specifics of shipping to Australia, including any restrictions or prohibited items.

Advantages of Using Reship

Access to US Retailers: Shop from stores that do not ship to Australia or offer better prices domestically within the US.

Cost Savings: Through package consolidation and selection of competitive shipping rates, customers can save on shipping costs.

Customization: Choose from various shipping options to match your budget and time requirements.

Ease of Use: Reship handles the logistics, from receiving and consolidating packages to preparing them for international shipment.

By leveraging Reship’s services , Australian customers can enjoy the vast selection and competitive prices of US online shopping with the added convenience of affordable and flexible shipping options. This service not only democratizes access to international goods but also introduces a cost-effective way to navigate the often expensive waters of global shipping.

Tips for a Smooth Shipping Process

Ensure all paperwork is accurate and complete.

Be aware of Australian holidays and workdays, as these can affect delivery times.

Use durable packaging and clearly label your shipment.

Consider the time of year, as peak seasons can impact transit times and costs.

Stay informed about any changes in customs regulations or carrier policies.

Shipping to Australia from the US can be a straightforward process with proper planning and understanding of the necessary steps. By choosing the right carrier, understanding shipping options and costs, and preparing your shipment correctly, you can ensure your items arrive safely and efficiently. Remember to factor in customs regulations and potential delays, and consider tracking and insurance for added security. With these tips and insights, you're well-equipped to navigate the complexities of international shipping, making the distance between the US and Australia seem a little shorter.

FAQs on Shipping to Australia from the US

What are the most important customs regulations to know when shipping to australia.

Customs regulations in Australia require all imported goods to be declared. Prohibited items include certain foods, weapons, and drugs. All shipments must be accompanied by a completed customs form, and in some cases, additional permits or certifications may be required.

How do I choose the right shipping carrier for my needs?

Consider the size and weight of your package, how quickly you need it to arrive, and your budget. Compare services and rates from major carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL, taking into account their delivery times, cost, and reliability.

What is the difference between air freight and ocean freight?

Air freight is faster but typically more expensive, suitable for time-sensitive or high-value goods, with delivery times ranging from 3 to 8 days. Ocean freight is more cost-effective for larger, non-urgent shipments, with longer delivery times of 20 to 40 days.

How can I reduce shipping costs to Australia?

To reduce costs, consider shipping via ocean freight if time allows, choose consolidated shipping options, and package your goods efficiently to minimize weight and size. Also, compare rates from different carriers and choose the most cost-effective service that meets your needs.

What kind of items are prohibited from shipping to Australia?

Australia prohibits the import of certain items without a permit, including but not limited to fresh or packaged foods, certain animal and plant products, weapons, and drugs. Always check the latest customs regulations before shipping.

Do I need insurance for shipping to Australia?

While not mandatory, shipping insurance is highly recommended for international shipments to protect against loss or damage. Most carriers offer insurance at an additional cost.

How long does customs clearance take in Australia?

Customs clearance times can vary, generally taking between 1 to 3 days. However, this can be longer if there are issues with the paperwork or if the shipment requires inspection.

Can I track my shipment to Australia?

Yes, most carriers offer tracking services for international shipments, allowing you to monitor your package's progress from pickup to delivery.

What paperwork is required for shipping to Australia?

You'll need a completed customs declaration form, a commercial invoice detailing the shipment's contents and value, and possibly additional permits or certifications depending on the nature of the goods.

Are there any specific packaging requirements for shipping to Australia?

While there are no universal packaging requirements, it's important to ensure your items are securely packed in durable materials to withstand the journey. Fragile items should be clearly marked and provided with additional padding.

What happens if my shipment is delayed or lost?

Contact the shipping carrier for assistance. If you purchased insurance, you might be eligible for compensation. Carriers typically have protocols for tracing lost shipments and can provide updates on delays.

Can I ship personal effects to Australia?

Yes, you can ship personal effects, but they may be subject to inspection and customs duties depending on their value and quantity. It's advisable to check with the carrier or customs for specific requirements.

How much does shipping from the US to Australia cost?

Shipping costs vary widely based on the shipping method (parcel, air freight, ocean freight), package size and weight, and the carrier. Costs can range from as low as $20 for small parcels via economy services to several hundred dollars for larger shipments or express delivery.

What is the typical shipping time from the USA to Australia?

Delivery times vary by shipping method. Express shipping can take 2-5 days, standard air freight typically takes 5-10 days, and ocean freight can range from 20 to 40 days, depending on the specific service and origin/destination cities.

What is the cheapest shipping option from the USA to Australia?

The cheapest shipping options are usually provided by USPS for parcels and ocean freight for larger shipments. Prices and availability of services can vary, so it's advisable to compare rates from multiple carriers.

How much is shipping to Australia with USPS?

USPS offers several international shipping options to Australia, with costs depending on the service chosen and package weight. For example, Priority Mail International can start at around $40 for a small package, but prices vary widely.

What should I know about international shipping from the US to Australia?

International shipping requires adherence to customs regulations, proper packaging, and accurate labeling. It's important to choose a reliable carrier and consider shipping times, costs, and any potential customs duties or taxes.

Why is shipping from the US to Australia so expensive?

High shipping costs can be attributed to the distance between the two countries, fuel costs, carrier fees, and the need for international logistics and customs processing. Additionally, the size and weight of the package can significantly impact the price.

Which service is best for shipping from the US to Australia?

The "best" service depends on your needs. For speed, FedEx, UPS, and DHL offer express services. For cost-effectiveness on smaller parcels, USPS is competitive. For large shipments, consider freight services that match your timeline and budget.

What are the costs for UPS shipping to Australia?

UPS shipping costs to Australia depend on the package size, weight, and chosen service level. Prices can start at around $50 for UPS Worldwide Saver service for a small package but can increase significantly for larger shipments or faster delivery options.

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wishlist

Australia on a budget in 10 days

Enjoy beautiful beaches, encounter koalas and explore coral reefs and rainforest on this wallet-friendly trip up the east coast.

By Lee Atkinson

You can’t see all of Australia in 10 days, but you can do a great deal on a budget. Hire a car and drive north from  Sydney  to the laid-back surf town of  Byron Bay  before discovering the famous  Gold Coast . You'll finish up at  Cairns  for an unforgettable experience on the  Great Barrier Reef .

What to expect

  • Enjoy the best of Sydney without spending a fortune
  • Relax on some of the world's best beaches
  • Explore the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest near Cairns
  • Time: 10 days
  • Distance: 2,600 kilometres (1,615 miles)
  • Transport: plane, car
  • Nearest major city: Sydney
  • Price: $

Australia on a budget in 10 days

Day 1: One perfect day in Sydney

Manly ferry, Sydney Harbour, Sydney, NSW © Destination NSW

Manly ferry, Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW

Seeing Sydney is easy on a budget because many of the city's best attractions are free, or cost just a few dollars. Start with a walk through the historic village, The Rocks , which sits on the harbour, right underneath the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. This area contains many narrow, cobblestone laneways and historic buildings made of local sandstone, including Sydney's oldest surviving pub, The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel . Stop at The Lord Nelson for a coffee or glass of local beer before walking to the ferry terminal at Circular Quay , about eight minutes away. Board the ferry for the scenic, 30-minute ride to Manly Beach , taking in sights such as the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Enjoy an affordable meal at Manly Wharf Hotel and stroll the famously beautiful beachfront before catching the return ferry back to Circular Quay. Next, walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and back. People spend hundreds of dollars climbing its famous arch, but walking across the bridge is free and offers another spectacular perspective. Finish off your day watching the sun set behind the bridge with a drink at Opera Bar , right beside the Opera House.

Day 2: Day trip by train to the Blue Mountains

Scenic Cableway, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW © Destination NSW

Scenic Cableway, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, New South Wales © Destination NSW

The World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Blue Mountains is an easy two-hour train ride from Sydney's Central Station. Get off at Katoomba and take the signposted 10-minute walk to Echo Point to see one of the most photographed landmarks in the country, the sandstone towers called the Three Sisters . From here, you can take a 45-minute walk that offers great views over the Jamison Valley or follow the longer, more challenging Giant Stairway trail down into the valley, along the base of the cliffs and back up again, over roughly three hours. Alternatively, take a ride on the world's steepest passenger railway and get a bird's eye view from either Scenic Cableway or the glass-floored Scenic Skyway . All three depart from Scenic World . Enjoy afternoon tea in one of Katoomba's beautiful Art Deco cafés. The Paragon turned 100 in 2016 and serves delicious handmade chocolates for just a few dollars. Or order a glass of bubbles in the opulent Champagne Charlies bar at the historic Carrington Hotel before boarding a train and heading back down the mountain to Sydney.

Day 3: Take a road trip up the Legendary Pacific Coast

Emerald Beach, Coffs Coast, NSW © ST Surf Images

Emerald Beach, Coffs Coast, New South Wales © ST Surf Images

Australia is one the best countries in the world for road tripping . Hire a car and head north out of the city on the Pacific Highway, a route taken by many Sydneysiders on their annual summer pilgrimage to holiday towns such as Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay . This popular route is sometimes known as "the Legendary Pacific Coast". Over the next three days, you'll enjoy a relaxed, scenic drive to your ultimate destination, the Gold Coast , but your first stop is only two hours away. At the Australian Reptile Park , you can watch some of Australia's most venomous snakes and spiders being milked to produce antivenom, and meet native animals such as wombats, platypus and kangaroos. Next stop is the town of Port Macquarie , 2.5 hours north of the Reptile Park. Here, you can join a free tour of the world's first koala hospital , held daily at 3pm, before driving the final two hours to the town of Coffs Harbour. Gaze out at the horizon from one of the area's many coastal beaches, like Emerald Beach . It's not only surfers that come to enjoy the waves here, but also kangaroos. Coffs Harbour is a good spot to spend the night, with plenty of affordable holiday units and resorts. 

Day 4: Go bananas about the beaches

Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour, NSW © Big Banana

Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales © Big Banana

It's a little known fact that there are more than 150 giant sculptures of "big things" across Australia, from supersized pineapples to enormous potatoes. At Coffs Harbour you'll see the sculpture that started the craze in 1964: the Big Banana . The Big Banana Fun Park is great for kids and the chocolate-covered frozen bananas on a stick are a treat. Spend the morning here, then drive to the seaside town of Yamba . This is the longest stretch of driving you'll do, a five-hour stint, but it's worth it. At Yamba, you can try some of the town's famous prawns at the Yamba Marina , where several seafood shops get prawns straight from the fishing boats. Walk off lunch on the short walking trail in nearby Iluka Nature Reserve , part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. From here it's around a 90-minute drive to famous Byron Bay , where there are holiday apartments and cabins close to the beach.

Day 5: Chill out in Byron Bay

Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay, NSW © James Horan, Destination NSW

Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay, New South Wales © James Horan, Destination NSW

Cape Byron is the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, so get up early and head to the lighthouse to be one of the first in country to watch the sun rise. Then head to one of the town's many cafés for breakfast. The Pass Café , at the lighthouse end of the beach, is a locals' favourite. Spend a day relaxing on the beach, kayak with dolphins with Cape Byron Kayaks or take a surfing lesson with Mojosurf . If you are here between June and November join one of the local tour operators on a whale watching cruise.

Day 6: High times on the Gold Coast

Miami-North Burleigh Lookout, Gold Coast, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Miami-North Burleigh Lookout, Gold Coast, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

It’s just a one-hour drive from Byron to the Gold Coast , famous for its high rise towers, high energy theme parks and glitzy shopping malls. You don’t have to spend big to enjoy it, though, because the beaches are the main attraction. The Gold Coast can seem like one endless stretch of sand, but each beach offers something new. A few of the best are the beaches in Burleigh and Surfers Paradise . After you arrive in the Gold Coast, view it all is from the Skypoint Observation Deck of Q1, a building that stretches 230 metres (755 feet) into the sky. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed lunch or dinner at one of Australia's greatest traditions, the Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), or surf club. These buildings are found at many of Australia's beaches and are the home of Australia's famous lifesavers. Many of them have onsite restaurants. Try Rainbow Bay SLSC, which overlooks one of the coast's most famous beaches. Or head to Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC, which is so close to the ocean that you're almost sitting on top of the waves. Both places serve up meals such as salt and pepper squid and the fisherman’s basket, a selection of fresh, local seafood.

Day 7: Sun, sand and surf

The Village Markets, Burleigh Heads, QLD © The Village Markets

The Village Markets, Burleigh Heads, Queensland © The Village Markets

There’s so much to do in and around the Gold Coast that you could spend a week here and not be bored. But if you've only got a day you should hire a surfboard, kayak or stand-up paddle board from one of the many surf shops you'll find at most Gold Coast beaches. Alternatively, cool off in the Currumbin Rock Pools , a free natural swimming pool in a mountain creek in the Currumbin Valley, a 15-minute drive from Currumbin Beach. If it’s a weekend, visit one of the coast's many beachfront markets. The Village Markets at Burleigh Heads, on the first and third Sundays of the month, sell everything from emerging fashion and vintage treasures to art, jewellery, handmade skincare and home-cooked food. Tonight, you're catching an evening flight to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef .

Day 8: Day trip to the reef

Snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

The city of tropical Cairns is your gateway to the northern stretches of the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, found just off the beaches here. Many tour operators depart from the city's shores and motor out to the reef (about 90 minutes away), for a full day of snorkelling or diving at one of the reef's many  coral cays and islands . If you've always wanted to try scuba diving this is a good place to do it, as there are lots of companies that offer introductory dive courses for underwater first-timers. 

Day 9: A rainforest adventure at Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation, Daintree National Park, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Cape Tribulation, Daintree National Park, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

Spend your second day in Cairns exploring the oldest rainforest in the world. The Daintree is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and has survived more than 135 million years, earning it a World Heritage listing. Hire a car from Cairns city centre or airport and drive around three hours north to reach Cape Tribulation , or join one of the many 4WD or coach tours from Cairns. However you decide to go, getting there via the Captain Cook Highway is half the fun. The road hugs the coastline for most of the way and the views are magnificent. When you arrive at the Daintree Rainforest , don't miss Mossman Gorge, where a clear river tumbles over huge boulders in the middle of a butterfly-filled forest of palms and ferns. Learn about Aboriginal culture and traditional uses of the area's unique plants on a guided Dreamtime Walk from the Mossman Gorge Centre . The rainforest meets the sea at Cape Tribulation, where you can wander through the forest and mangroves without getting your feet wet on one of the three boardwalks in Daintree National Park.

Day 10: Back to Bondi

Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW © Destination NSW

Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW

Enjoy an early morning dip in the Lagoon, a huge, free, saltwater swimming pool on the Cairns Esplanade , before flying back to spend your last day in Sydney . Stretch your legs on the one-hour clifftop walk between Bronte and Bondi Beach . It's Sydney's most famous coastal walk, with one spectacular view unfolding after another the entire way.  It becomes the world's largest free outdoor sculpture gallery in October and November during the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. In winter you might be lucky enough to see whales from the many clifftop vantage points along the way. Follow the trail all the way to Bondi Icebergs , as famous for its scenic ocean pool, where hardy locals swim even in winter, as its fine dining clifftop restaurant overlooking the golden curve of Bondi Beach. It's one of Sydney's most iconic dining experiences, but head downstairs to the club bar and bistro, which serves food and drinks for half the price of the upmarket Icebergs Dining Room with exactly the same view. Now that’s a bargain.

Explore more nearby

Snorkeller, Fitzroy Reef Lagoon, Great Barrier Reef, QLD © Darren Jew, Tourism and Events Queensland

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Budget And Invest

Budget And Invest

15 Low-cost Airlines for Cheap Flight Deals

Posted: January 3, 2024 | Last updated: January 3, 2024

<p>I travel internationally frequently, making trips between the United States and Australia three to four times a year. Occasionally, I also visit countries in Europe or Asia. You might assume I have a hefty budget for travel, but that’s not the case. Despite earning an average income, I prioritize travel because it’s my passion. To make it affordable, I opt for economy seating, utilize credit cards that earn frequent flyer miles, and choose budget airlines. While some of these airlines may not have stellar reputations, they consistently offer the most affordable options for my travel needs.</p>

I travel internationally frequently, making trips between the United States and Australia three to four times a year. Occasionally, I also visit countries in Europe or Asia. You might assume I have a hefty budget for travel, but that’s not the case. Despite earning an average income, I prioritize travel because it’s my passion. To make it affordable, I opt for economy seating, utilize credit cards that earn frequent flyer miles, and choose budget airlines. While some of these airlines may not have stellar reputations, they consistently offer the most affordable options for my travel needs.

<p>Known for its no-frills approach and generous baggage policy, Southwest often offers competitive fares. I’ve found their staff to be generally friendly. However, their no allocated seating system is unusual, and you won’t find their prices listed on any aggregator sites. Yet their website is worth checking out for price comparisons. They have routes throughout the USA, Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean.</p>

1. Southwest Airlines

Known for its no-frills approach and generous baggage policy, Southwest often offers competitive fares. I’ve found their staff to be generally friendly. However, their no allocated seating system is unusual, and you won’t find their prices listed on any aggregator sites. Yet their website is worth checking out for price comparisons. They have routes throughout the USA, Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean.

<p>A significant player in Europe, Ryanair provides many routes across the continent, making it a go-to for many budget travelers. For example, you can expect fares such as $93 round trip between London and Vienna during May or even cheaper in the colder months. If you have a little money to spare, upgrade to their upfront seats for quicker deplaning and more comfort.</p>

A significant player in Europe, Ryanair provides many routes across the continent, making it a go-to for many budget travelers. For example, you can expect fares such as $93 round trip between London and Vienna during May or even cheaper in the colder months. If you have a little money to spare, upgrade to their upfront seats for quicker deplaning and more comfort.

<p><span>It’s an essential cost that often arises unexpectedly, whether for a spontaneous getaway, attending a wedding, or dealing with a funeral. Planning and budgeting for airfares in advance can alleviate the stress of last-minute bookings, and it’s worth noting that airlines adjust seat prices based on availability—more available seats usually mean lower prices. Similarly, while train or bus travel might not be a regular occurrence, financial preparedness is prudent to avoid having to dip into other budget categories.</span></p>

I always think of EasyJet and Ryanair together when considering budget European airlines. EasyJet offers a wide range of destinations and frequently has enticing promotions. They fly all over Europe, Morocco, Egypt, and some Middle Eastern countries. You can grab a round trip flight between London and Cairo for under $300 or an $85 round trip fare between Athens and Milan.

<p>Combining value with comfort on domestic routes, JetBlue offers amenities like free in-flight entertainment and complimentary snacks. While they’re well known for routes all across the Americas and the Caribbean, they also go directly to several destinations in the UK and Europe. Bad reviews of this airline tend to deal with how rude the staff is more than any other issue.</p>

Combining value with comfort on domestic routes, JetBlue offers amenities like free in-flight entertainment and complimentary snacks. While they’re well known for routes all across the Americas and the Caribbean, they also go directly to several destinations in the UK and Europe. Bad reviews of this airline tend to deal with how rude the staff is more than any other issue.

<p>Serving various destinations across Asia, AirAsia is renowned for its frequent sales and extensive network. I’ve traveled between Australia and Asia on this airline. The fares are cheap enough to upgrade to a better seat for a low cost. If you’re traveling within Asia, you can find plenty of destinations for under $50 one way.</p>

Serving various destinations across Asia, AirAsia is renowned for its frequent sales and extensive network. I’ve traveled between Australia and Asia on this airline. The fares are cheap enough to upgrade to a better seat for a low cost. If you’re traveling within Asia, you can find plenty of destinations for under $50 one way.

<p>While known for its à la carte pricing model, Spirit can be a good option for those willing to forgo some amenities for a lower fare. They only travel within the US, and that’s good as they certainly don’t have the comfort level for lengthy international flying times. I do like that their seats don’t recline, as it means that I don’t end up with someone’s seat back in my face. This airline can be cost-effective, but sometimes the add-ons end up being more than you’d pay with another airline. It’s worth comparing prices.</p>

6. Spirit Airlines

While known for its à la carte pricing model, Spirit can be a good option for those willing to forgo some amenities for a lower fare. They only travel within the US, and that’s good as they certainly don’t have the comfort level for lengthy international flying times. I do like that their seats don’t recline, as it means that I don’t end up with someone’s seat back in my face. This airline can be cost-effective, but sometimes the add-ons end up being more than you’d pay with another airline. It’s worth comparing prices.

<p>Like Spirit, Frontier provides basic services at competitive prices, especially on domestic routes within the U.S. Based in Denver, Frontier Airlines operates over 100 A320 family aircraft and serves 120 destinations in the Americas. Known for its 43% fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines, Frontier offers free flights for children under 14 through its Discount Den club.</p>

7. Frontier Airlines

Like Spirit, Frontier provides basic services at competitive prices, especially on domestic routes within the U.S. Based in Denver, Frontier Airlines operates over 100 A320 family aircraft and serves 120 destinations in the Americas. Known for its 43% fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines, Frontier offers free flights for children under 14 through its Discount Den club.

<p>Allegiant Airlines offers unique cost-saving measures by not flying to every city daily and allowing passengers to customize services. They provide discounted IconBundles, potentially saving travelers up to $114 per person. Additionally, while free random seating is available, passengers can choose specific seats for an extra fee, although seat availability together for families is not guaranteed.</p>

8. Allegiant Air

Allegiant Airlines offers unique cost-saving measures by not flying to every city daily and allowing passengers to customize services. They provide discounted IconBundles, potentially saving travelers up to $114 per person. Additionally, while free random seating is available, passengers can choose specific seats for an extra fee, although seat availability together for families is not guaranteed.

<p>Voted Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline for six consecutive years, the airline prioritizes delivering the lowest fares alongside high comfort and service standards. The focus is on providing flexibility, allowing travelers to begin with a basic ticket and customize their journey by adding only the necessary services. They fly to over 100 destinations within Europe.</p>

9. Norwegian Air Shuttle

Voted Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline for six consecutive years, the airline prioritizes delivering the lowest fares alongside high comfort and service standards. The focus is on providing flexibility, allowing travelers to begin with a basic ticket and customize their journey by adding only the necessary services. They fly to over 100 destinations within Europe.

<p>The airline strategically selects a blend of primary, secondary, and regional airports to achieve the lowest cost base in Central and Eastern Europe. This approach allows Hungarian airline Wizz Air to provide efficient customer service at competitive prices, which is evident in its fare structure. They also offer further discounts if you join their Discount Club.</p>

10. Wizz Air

The airline strategically selects a blend of primary, secondary, and regional airports to achieve the lowest cost base in Central and Eastern Europe. This approach allows Hungarian airline Wizz Air to provide efficient customer service at competitive prices, which is evident in its fare structure. They also offer further discounts if you join their Discount Club.

<p>Fancy a quick trip over the pond? Norse Atlantic flies directly from New York’s JFK to many European destinations. Let’s say you wanted to go from New York to London in May—you could fly into London’s Gatwick Airport and return the following weeks for $500. If you’re worried about the safety of any of these airlines, given the low cost, rest assured that all airlines flying into the USA are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).</p>

11. Norse Atlantic Airways

Fancy a quick trip over the pond? Norse Atlantic flies directly from New York’s JFK to many European destinations. Let’s say you wanted to go from New York to London in May—you could fly into London’s Gatwick Airport and return the following weeks for $500. If you’re worried about the safety of any of these airlines, given the low cost, rest assured that all airlines flying into the USA are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

<p>A subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Scoot offers affordable options for travelers primarily exploring Asia-Pacific destinations. However, they also fly to Greece and Australia, making an affordable journey between them. I recently flew with them one way from Athens to Melbourne for $400. The seats are surprisingly comfortable for a budget airline—even for someone on the tall side.</p>

A subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Scoot offers affordable options for travelers primarily exploring Asia-Pacific destinations. However, they also fly to Greece and Australia, making an affordable journey between them. I recently flew with them one way from Athens to Melbourne for $400. The seats are surprisingly comfortable for a budget airline—even for someone on the tall side.

<p>Known for its connections between North America and Europe, Iceland Air offers a unique stopover in Iceland and competitive fares for transatlantic travel. Icelandair serves as Iceland’s primary airline, providing routes from the USA to both Iceland and various European destinations. Travelers can include an Icelandair Stopover at no extra cost when flying with the airline. Round-trip flights from New York are available for under $400 for those interested in witnessing the Northern Lights.</p>

13. Iceland Air

Known for its connections between North America and Europe, Iceland Air offers a unique stopover in Iceland and competitive fares for transatlantic travel. Icelandair serves as Iceland’s primary airline, providing routes from the USA to both Iceland and various European destinations. Travelers can include an Icelandair Stopover at no extra cost when flying with the airline. Round-trip flights from New York are available for under $400 for those interested in witnessing the Northern Lights.

<p>If I need a cheap flight from Australia to the US, this is the one I use. I often find direct flights for around $200 from Sydney or Melbourne to Hawaii. From there, I can catch another budget airline to the mainland. Jetstar is a budget airline belonging to Australia’s Qantas Airlines. They operate all over Australia, Asia, and Hawaii.</p>

14. Jetstar

If I need a cheap flight from Australia to the US, this is the one I use. I often find direct flights for around $200 from Sydney or Melbourne to Hawaii. From there, I can catch another budget airline to the mainland. Jetstar is a budget airline belonging to Australia’s Qantas Airlines. They operate all over Australia, Asia, and Hawaii.

<p>A prominent European airline, Vueling provides affordable options across the continent and has become a preferred choice for many travelers seeking value. I used them while traveling in Spain and found them efficient and extremely cheap. In one case, I realized I wanted to change a booking date, but the change fee would cost more than the original booking. At $40, I decided to let it go and book a different flight. I also traveled with them from Barcelona to Athens for under $200 to make my Scoot connection to Australia.</p>

15. Vueling

A prominent European airline, Vueling provides affordable options across the continent and has become a preferred choice for many travelers seeking value. I used them while traveling in Spain and found them efficient and extremely cheap. In one case, I realized I wanted to change a booking date, but the change fee would cost more than the original booking. At $40, I decided to let it go and book a different flight. I also traveled with them from Barcelona to Athens for under $200 to make my Scoot connection to Australia.

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  1. Is Australia Expensive To Visit? The Complete Cost Of Travel To Aus

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  2. How Much Does It Cost To Travel Australia: Road Trip Budget

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  3. How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Australia?

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  4. The true cost of a trip to Australia (spending money per day and more

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  5. How much does it REALLY cost to travel in Australia?

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  6. How Much Does it Cost to go to Australia?

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  1. Budget Trip To Australia Trip from India 8 DAYS 9 NIGHTS

  2. You should travel Australia #travel #travelvloggers

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COMMENTS

  1. Australia Travel Cost

    How much does it cost to travel to Australia? You should plan to spend around $163 (AU$250) per day on your vacation in Australia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average for one day: $35 (AU$53) on meals; $30 (AU$46) on local transportation

  2. The Cost of Travel in Australia (2023): My Detailed Budget Breakdown

    You can visit Australia on any budget, from a $40 a night hostel in Cairns that's highly-rated on Booking to the spectacular $500 a night Four Seasons Sydney, which offers up the best views of the Sydney Opera House in the city. (Those prices are in AUD, by the way. 1 AUD is equal to 0.60 USD/EUR, or 0.53 GBP.)

  3. How Much Does it Cost to Travel Australia in 2024?

    Typical Costs in Australia. When you travel to Australia, your typical costs tend to look like this: Hostels: Hostels cost 25-30 AUD in smaller cities and 25-70 AUD per night in places like Sydney or Melbourne. As always, the smaller the dorm, the higher the cost. Private rooms are 80-150 AUD per night.

  4. Cost of a Trip to Australia & the Cheapest Time to Visit Australia

    The average cost for 4 people to visit Australia for a week is $4,483-$10,863 ($640-$1,552 per day) Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $168 to $345 per day for four people's daily expenses. Flights: $2,485 to $7,266 for economy. Lodging: $137 to $175 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms. or $162 to $197 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental.

  5. Australia Travel Cost: How Much to Budget for an Unforgettable

    The cost of traveling to Australia varies depending on factors like the time of year, type of accommodation, and activities. Generally, a basic daily budget for backpackers is $70-$100 AUD, mid-range travelers should budget $150-$250 AUD per day, and luxury travelers should expect to spend over $400 AUD per day.

  6. Backpacking & Budget Travel Guide for Australia (Updated 2024)

    Greyhound Australia. Premier. Greyhound also offers several bus passes. Their Whimit Passes range from 15-120 days of unlimited travel and are perfect for traveling around on a whim (hence the name). They come in 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120-day passes costing 349-729 AUD. To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud.

  7. How Much Does It Cost To Travel Australia? 2023 Budget Breakdown

    The cost of campervanning Australia varies heaps depending on your route, time frame, campervan model and of course the season - so the further in advance you book it the better. Expect to pay from $60AUD per day though, with rates much higher in the peak, summer season, around $110+ per day. For an epic Campervan deal in Australia click here.

  8. How much does a trip to Australia Cost?

    Pacific / Australia /. Visitors to Australia usually spend between $63 and $443 per day on average for one person and $127 to $887 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $165 (AU$250) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers.

  9. The true cost of a trip to Australia (spending money per day and more

    Wine: From $5 AUD per bottle in a bottle shop, $10+ AUD per glass in a bar. Wine from a bottle shop is one of the few things in Australia that is surprisingly cheap. If you want, you can get a decent bottle of wine for $5 AUD! However, you're guaranteed to get a good drop if you go to $10-15 AUD.

  10. How much does a trip to Australia cost?

    You can expect to spend between A$160-A$250 a night, per couple, on accommodation in Australia. This will get you a private room with your own bathroom in a 3-4-star hotel or apartment rental. See latest hotel deals in Australia. Hostels are, of course, cheaper, but a private room with a shared bathroom will still cost around A$90 per night.

  11. Australian budget guide

    Popular day tours, like whale watching and guided walks, cost around AUD$100 to AUD$200. If you're booking high-demand activities - such as the Field of Light or swimming with whale sharks - secure your spot at least a month in advance to avoid disappointment.

  12. Cost of travel in Australia

    Here is a list of your visa options for a trip to Australia : Tourist Visa (for 3 to 12 months) (eVisitor Visa Subclass 651 / Visitor Visa Subclass 600) : Free or 145$ for a 1st application then 365$ after a WHV. WHV (for 1 year) (Working Holiday Visa / Subclass 417 & 462) : 510$ (can be renewed under conditions)

  13. How Much Does It Cost to Travel Around Australia?

    A generous budget for four weeks of travel along the west coast would be around AU $4,000. Organized tours will be expensive, costing around AU $3,000 for a 10-day trip from Perth to Broome. The Pinnacles, north of Perth, Western Australia. Photo credit: Getty Images/John Crux Photography.

  14. Travel to Australia

    Discover Australia's sparkling beaches, friendly wildlife and natural wonders. There's never been a better time to travel to Australia, so come and say g'day! Travel to Australia - Australian Tourism Information - Tourism Australia

  15. How Much To Budget For A Month In Australia (2023 Update)

    Great Barrier Reef Day Trip ( scuba dive taster) - $240 (£133) Skydive (15,000 feet) - $359 (£199) Cape Tribulation day trip - $189 (£105) If I had to pull out what the average backpacking Australia trip would include over a month I'd say you'd be hoping to include: Great Ocean Road Tour. Kayaking tour. Surf lesson.

  16. Is Australia Expensive? (Insider's Guide for 2024)

    2 Weeks in Australia Travel Costs. To help you out with an outline of the prices, you'll find a summary of the average costs of a two-week trip to Australia below. Is Australia Expensive; Expenses Estimated Daily Cost Estimated Total Cost; Average Airfare: $146: $1,199: Accommodation: $18-$200: $252-$2,800: Transportation: $0-$40: $0-$560: Food:

  17. Australia Budget Breakdown: Nail Your Dream Trip Costs

    A one-week vacation in Australia costs an average of $2579 per person, including $1200 for your return flight. A solo traveler will spend an average of $197 per day on expenses. ... Accommodation is right on the heels of your flight tickets, also contributing significantly to your travel costs. Australia has a range of accommodation styles ...

  18. Australia Road Trip Budget: A Detailed Cost Breakdown

    How to travel Australia on a budget! A trip to Australia doesn't have to be expensive, we spent less than €100/150 AUD per day during our 6-week road trip along the East Coast. Detailed budget breakdown and information about the costs of renting a camper van, campsites, petrol, food & activities. #australia #roadtrip

  19. This is What it Costs to Travel Australia

    Food: For food, budgeting around $30 per day allows for two purchased smaller meals and one larger meal out. If you're travelling for 8 weeks, that's $1680. Alcohol: drinking around 20 beers or glasses of wine out per week will cost $100-$160 - so anywhere between $600 - $1280 for the entire trip. If you get through a box of goon or ten beers per week bought from the bottle'o as well ...

  20. Australia Travel Packages, Tours & Custom Trips

    How much does it cost to travel to Australia? There is no average cost for a trip to Australia, because the total cost depends on so many factors. Flight and hotel prices vary by the time of year, and your style of travel (budget, 4-star or luxury) also affects the price of your vacation. Flights to Australia alone range between $800 - $1,200 ...

  21. Deals and travel packages

    *Product Disclaimer: Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services.Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable.

  22. Australians looking to reduce travel costs in 2024

    The cost of living continues to affect travel plans, with eight out of 10 (83%) Australian travellers looking to reduce their travel costs in the next 12 months, according to a report commissioned by Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI). Despite this, the desire to travel remains high.

  23. Monthly CPI indicator rose 3.4 per cent in the year to January 2024

    Housing rose 4.6 per cent in the 12 months to January, down from 5.2 per cent in December. New dwelling prices rose 4.8 per cent over the year with builders passing through higher costs for labour and materials. Rent prices rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to January, reflecting a tight rental market and low vacancy rates across the country.

  24. Australian households under pressure as cost of car travel rises at

    The typical household's transport costs rose by about 13% in 2023, outpacing the inflation rate of 4.1%, according to the Australian Automobile Association's Transport Affordability Index.

  25. Australian visa and entry requirements FAQs

    Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions. Find out more about working holiday visas here.

  26. Cost of living comparison: Australian cities 2024

    Sydney Melbourne Perth Brisbane Adelaide Hobart Darwin Canberra; Monthly rent for 85m2 furnished accommodation in an expensive area: $3,526: $2,511: $2,239: $2,680

  27. Shipping to Australia from the US: Costs, Times, & Carrier Options

    The cost of shipping to Australia can vary widely based on several factors, including the size and weight of the package, the chosen service level (Standard, Economy, Express), and the carrier. Standard shipping options are more affordable but take longer, while express services expedite delivery at a higher cost.

  28. Australia on a budget in 10 days

    Day 1: One perfect day in Sydney. Seeing Sydney is easy on a budget because many of the city's best attractions are free, or cost just a few dollars. Start with a walk through the historic village, The Rocks, which sits on the harbour, right underneath the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. This area contains many narrow, cobblestone laneways and ...

  29. 15 Low-cost Airlines for Cheap Flight Deals

    I travel internationally frequently, making trips between the United States and Australia three to four times a year. Occasionally, I also visit countries in Europe or Asia. You might assume I ...