Australia is a vast island continent known for its stunning natural wonders, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback's red deserts. With vibrant cosmopolitan cities like Sydney and Melbourne, unique wildlife including kangaroos and koalas, and world-class beaches, Australia offers diverse experiences for every traveler.
Local currency: Australian Dollar (AUD, AU$).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Australia.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- AU$30-50/night (dorm bed)
- Budget
- AU$70-120/night (budget hotel or Airbnb room)
- Midrange
- AU$150-280/night (3-4 star hotel)
- Luxury
- AU$350-1,500+/night (5-star hotel)
Food
- Street
- AU$8-15 (market food, takeaway, food trucks)
- Local
- AU$15-25 (casual cafe or pub meal)
- Midrange
- AU$35-65/person (sit-down restaurant, two courses)
- Fine
- AU$100-400+/person (hatted restaurant, degustation)
Transport
- Bus
- AU$3-5 (single city bus or metro trip)
- Taxi
- AU$15-30 (average city Uber/taxi ride)
- Airport
- AU$20-80 (airport transfer by train/taxi depending on city)
- Daytrip
- AU$30-120 (day trip by bus or organised tour)
Activities
- Museum
- AU$0-20 (most major museums are free or low cost)
- Sites
- AU$15-45 (tourist attractions, zoos, wildlife parks)
- Tour
- AU$50-150 (guided city or harbour tours)
- Excursion
- AU$120-300 (Great Barrier Reef day trip, winery tour, outback excursion)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Australia costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
AU$700-1,000/week (hostel accommodation, self-catering some meals, public transport)
Midrange traveller
AU$1,500-2,500/week (budget hotel, eating out daily, some tours and activities)
Luxury traveller
AU$4,000-10,000+/week (5-star hotels, fine dining, private tours, premium experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Use Opal cards (Sydney), myki (Melbourne), and go cards (Brisbane) for public transport — they offer significant discounts over cash fares and daily/weekly caps prevent overcharging
Australia's supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) have high-quality deli and bakery sections where a full meal costs AU$8-12 — ideal for lunch savings when travelling on a budget
National parks often charge per vehicle rather than per person — hiring a car and splitting park entry fees among 4-5 people dramatically reduces costs for nature experiences
Book domestic flights 6-8 weeks ahead with Jetstar or Virgin Australia for best fares — Sydney to Melbourne fares drop to AU$49-79 with advance booking
Hostels in Australia often provide free social events (BBQs, city tours) and have excellent common room facilities — YHA hostels near major attractions are particularly well located
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
Sydney's most popular free activity — a 6km cliff-top coastal path from Bondi Beach to Coogee passing ocean pools, sea cliffs, and hidden coves. Allow 2 hours and stop at the Bondi Icebergs pool for photos.
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and Melbourne
Both cities have spectacular free botanical gardens with harbour views (Sydney) or Federation Square access (Melbourne). Sydney gardens host bats, ibis, and stunning Opera House sightlines.
National Museum and War Memorial Canberra
Australia's finest national museums including the National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial are completely free entry, offering world-class permanent collections.
South Bank Parklands Brisbane
Free outdoor beaches, lagoons, and green spaces in Brisbane's cultural precinct, including Streets Beach (free outdoor swimming lagoon in the city centre) and the Gallery of Modern Art with free entry.
Melbourne Laneways and Street Art
Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane, and Caledonian Lane offer ever-changing street art murals in Melbourne's iconic laneway culture. Combine with the free covered Victorian Arcades for an architectural walk.
Fremantle Historic Precinct
WA's most intact colonial port town has free walking through its Victorian streetscapes, free beach access at South Beach, and a free self-guided maritime heritage trail along the waterfront.
Blue Mountains Clifftop Walks
The Three Sisters lookout at Echo Point is free, and the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Federation Clifftop Walk offer dramatic gorge views at no cost beyond the return Blue Mountains train ticket (AU$8 from Sydney).