If you’re planning a trip to Australia and wondering about the costs, you’ve clicked on the right article! You probably already know that Australia isn’t the cheapest travel destination. But how expensive is traveling in Australia really? To give you a complete picture, we’ll break down the costs in Australia by category. We’ll give you some price examples and have conveniently converted everything to dollars. This way, you can decide for yourself what budget you might need for a trip through Australia. Please note that all prices mentioned in this article are in US dollars.
Food and Drink Costs in Australia
Food is one of the most expensive aspects of traveling in Australia. Fortunately, you can make it as expensive or cheap as you want. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, it’s a good idea to cook a lot in your accommodation. Australia has many large supermarkets that sell mostly the same products as in supermarkets in the Netherlands or Belgium. The prices are also quite similar, so you can easily estimate how much you’ll spend if you plan to cook a lot during your trip.
Australia has all kinds of restaurants. For cheap breakfasts and lunches, bakeries are your best bet. In every town, you’ll find a bakery selling sandwiches, typically priced around $7. A slice of banana bread costs around $3, and the same price applies for a cup of coffee. When you dine or have lunch in a restaurant, the prices for a main dish start between $13 and $20.
Transportation Costs in Australia
Australia is a vast country, so if you’re going on a road trip, you’ll need to cover a lot of miles. You can choose to rent a car, a camper, or travel by bus. Renting a car or camper gives you much more freedom. The cost of renting a car in Australia depends on the travel period and location. On average, you’ll pay between $60 and $72 per day, including full insurance. The cost of renting a camper depends on what type of camper you want and the season you’re traveling in. The smallest campers (converted cars) start at $83 per day, including full insurance. If you want a larger camper, expect to pay about $110 per day, including full insurance. If you prefer traveling by bus, it’s best to buy a bus pass from Greyhound Australia. They offer many different types of bus passes, so giving one price is difficult. Cheap bus passes start at $242, but on average, you can expect to pay around $330.
Activity and Tour Costs
Let’s start with some good news; many attractions and national parks are completely free in Australia. You’ll rarely pay an entrance fee for a waterfall or beach. You also don’t have to pay to visit Daintree National Park or walk through the beautiful botanical garden in Sydney. However, organized tours and activities tend to be on the pricey side. A two-day sailing trip to the Whitsundays costs around $330, a day trip to Noosa Everglades costs $99, and a 2-hour surf lesson in Byron Bay costs $55. Your budget for Australia really depends on what you want to do and see.
Accommodation Costs in Australia
Accommodation costs in Australia can be high, but you can keep the price down by staying in hostels. A bed in a dorm room typically costs between $28 and $50 per night. If you opt for a double room in a hostel, expect to pay around $55 to $77. If you prefer staying in a B&B or hotel, prices range from $88 to $132+ per night. For more information on accommodation prices in Australia, you can check out our tips for accommodation in Australia.
Average Daily Costs in Australia
It’s hard to say exactly what the average costs are for traveling in Australia because everyone has different travel styles. You’re in control of your budget, so it’s mainly about how you want to travel and what you want to do. You can keep the costs fairly low if you don’t engage in many expensive activities, cook a lot yourself, travel by bus, and stay in hostels. In that case, expect an average daily budget of around $83 per person. If you decide to stay in mid-range hostels and hotels and eat out at least once a day, you can expect a daily budget of about $110 per person. If you plan to eat out twice a day, rent a car, stay in good hotels, and do a lot of tours, expect to spend $165 per day or more when traveling as a pair, as you can share the rental car costs. As we said, it’s all up to you!
