How Much Does a Trip to Australia Cost?

Everyone has sticker shock when they land in Australia. They see how much things cost and their jaw drops. Heck, even Australians get sticker shock — and they live there! Time and time again, travelers blow through their budget quickly here because no one ever expects the country to cost as much as it does.

When I first traveled to Australia, I grossly underestimated how much I needed. It cost me double what I thought because of a strong Australian dollar and poor planning.

On my next visit, I was better prepared, but I still overspent because I wasn’t prepared for such dramatic inflation.

On my most recent trip to Australia, I spent $3,400 USD in 33 days. That total includes all my day-to-day expenses, flights, transport, tours, and anything I bought. Averaging roughly $100 USD a day, it would have been a lot more had I not been able to stay with friends and get discounted tours. I ate a lot at expensive restaurants, flew to a few places, and spent a lot of money using the Internet on my phone. If it wasn’t for my friends and the discounts I got, I would have spent about $150 USD per day — if not more!

Wondering how much you’ll spend on your trip? Here’s a breakdown of where my money went, typical costs, and how you can save money while you’re here:

 

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 30-55 AUD per night in places like Sydney or Melbourne. As always, the smaller the dorm, the higher the cost. Private rooms start at 120 AUD per night.
• Hotels: If you prefer budget hotels, prices start around 150 AUD per night for a basic two-star room.
• Food: A cheap, no-frills meal in Australia will run you about 15–25 AUD. A fancy meal at a more upscale restaurant costs around 60–80 AUD. Even McDonald’s is expensive—a value meal is 15 AUD!
• Alcohol: For a country that loves to drink, they make it very costly to do so. Beers cost around 10 AUD. Happy hours and backpacker bars tend to have cheap drinks, usually for around 50% off. But booze adds up fast here!
• Tours: A typical multi-day tour costs around 475-750 AUD. Most day trips can be found for 150–300 AUD. Entry into national parks is around 8–12 AUD. Free walking tours can be found in the larger cities (just remember to tip).
• Transportation: You can find cheap transportation in Australia if you look. Greyhound offers two passes for travelers: National Whimit pass (449 AUD), which covers the entire country, and East Coast Whimit pass (309 AUD), which covers only the east coast.

 

How Much is a Vacation to Australia?

A trip to Australia can cost a lot or a little — it all depends on your travel style and ability to budget.

On a very tight budget, I think a traveler could get by in Australia on 95 AUD per day. It would entail couchsurfing or house-sitting, cooking just about all your meals, limiting your partying, and spending most of your money on transportation and just a few activities. While not impossible, it would require you to constantly watch your pennies. But some travelers do it and you could probably do it too.

However, I think if you were to budget 205 AUD per day, you would be able to travel around the country without compromising too many experiences. This would get you hostels, a few meals out each week (while cooking the rest), a few drinks at the bar here and there, a Greyhound bus pass, and a mix of big and small activities (such as museum visits, food tours, and a visit to the Great Barrier Reef).

Beyond that, the sky is the limit if you want to splash out!

 

How to Save Money in Australia

There’s no doubt that Australia is an expensive country to visit. So what’s a traveler to do? Here are a few helpful tips to ensure you keep costs low:

Cook – Cooking your meals can save you a lot of money. Hostels, Airbnbs, and even some guesthouses have kitchens where you can cook. Also, look for hotels with free breakfast so you can score a free meal. It may not be glamorous, but you’ll save money.

Drink less – Alcohol causes all good budgets to die. If you want to save money, drink less. Or drink goon (boxed wine). Goon is the perennial favorite of travelers. It gives you a killer hangover but also the most bang for your buck.

Stay with a local – Couchsurf with locals to save on accommodation. Every night out of the hostel is more money for activities. This is also a great way to meet locals and get involved with the local culture.

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. Ask at the front desk if this is something you want to try.

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 a hostel message board.

If you just want to rent a car and share the cost with friends, use Discover Cars to find the best deals.

WWOOF it – 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 connect with a local family.

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.

Camp – Camping is very affordable here, with basic tent plots costing as little as 7 AUD per night. If you have gear, this can save you a ton.

Get a sightseeing pass – Major cities, like Melbourne and Sydney, have sightseeing passes that bundle many of the most popular attractions together. This will save you money over paying for each individual entrance fee. Some sightseeing passes also include access to public transportation.

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.

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The best way to save money in Australia is to mix and match how you spend. You need to counter the high costs of one activity with the lost costs of another. That’s why I always say it’s important to research costs beforehand and know what you want to spend money on. Once you do that, you can create a budget that is better tailored to your needs.

The general numbers above are just that — general. Your mileage will vary (and can be better) once you know what you want to do in the country.

However, we all know budgets, no matter how well we plan, get broken. So always make sure you have a little extra spending money. That way, you won’t miss out on any once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Australia may not be a cheap country to visit but, with the right planning, it doesn’t have to break the bank either!