How Much Does it Cost to Go to Australia?

There’s nowhere quite like Down Under when it comes to sun, sea, and spectacular city breaks. But, how much does it cost to go to Australia, and how can you make a trip fit your needs if you’re tightening your budget? You’re likely to spend at least $1,500 per person, per week, but the overall cost really depends on what you do, and where you’re flying from.

So, grab an eSIM for Australia to get your mobile data covered, and let’s look at what you’ll get for your money when you travel to Oceania.

How much it costs to go to Australia with a full budget breakdown

In this guide, using our own experiences and expert advice, we’ve put together some average figures on what you can expect cost-wise from a trip to Australia and back. To do this, we’ve needed to consider flights, accommodation, food and drink, transportation within the country, and what you might want to see and do when you’re here.

Estimating the average cost of a trip to Australia

As with all our cost guides, we’re looking at the price of traveling to Australia based on three budgeting tiers - budget, mid-range, and luxury. As one of the key aspects of budgeting for your trip will also depend on how long you’re staying for, we’ve split these estimated tiered costs into one, two, and three-week stays.

Budget tier travel to Australia will include finding cheap hostels, eating cheaply from supermarkets and vendors, and taking up free activities. Luxury experiences account for the best hotels and resorts, fine dining, and exclusive days out. The mid-range, of course, falls somewhere in between!

Keep in mind, of course, that these costs are estimated based on data available at the time of publishing, and a per-person rate.

Compare travel costs for different trip lengths

You’re likely to spend anywhere up to $20,000 for a week’s round trip for one person to Australia, but that’s based on the biggest luxuries! Here’s how the costs break down, tier by tier, based on how long you’re going for:

Cost of a 1 week trip to Australia

• Budget: Up to $2,700 per person
• Mid-range: Up to $10,000 per person
• Luxury: Up to $20,000 (possibly more) per person

Cost of a 2 week trip to Australia

• Budget: Up to $5,400 per person
• Mid-range: Up to $20,000 per person
• Luxury: Up to $40,000 (possibly more) per person

Cost of a 3 week trip to Australia

• Budget: Up to $8,100 per person
• Mid-range: Up to $30,000 per person
• Luxury: Up to $60,000 (possibly more) per person

Understanding flight costs to Australia

Flights to and from Australia will, naturally, scale up in price the further away you are! When traveling from the US, economy flights are likely to cost around $1,500-$1,800 per person minimum - though, when you travel outside of peak season (any time from March to November), costs are likely to be lower.

You’ll usually find it cheapest to travel economy from Asia or Europe, where you may only need to pay a few hundred dollars for a round trip. Always plan in advance and check SkyScanner before you go.

Exploring accommodation prices in Australia

When budgeting for accommodation in Australia, account for hostels, hotels, and luxury resorts. Here’s a quick breakdown.

Hostel accommodation costs

Depending on where you stay, you might only pay $25-$40 for a dorm bed in somewhere like Brisbane or Melbourne. Keep in mind that you’ll share a room with others, however.

Mid-range hotel prices

Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere between $80 to $300 per night at a mid-range hotel during off-peak. Look for operators such as York Mansions and Miss Maud.

Luxury hotel prices

Whether boutique or high-end, there are plenty of luxury resorts in Australia, such as the Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island and the Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra.

But, be prepared to spend at least $400 a night per person for the privilege, with costs escalating into the thousands at the best resorts.

Calculating food and dining costs in Australia

Eating out in Australia really doesn’t have to be costly, as there are plenty of street food vendors and supermarkets. That said, if you want to take advantage of fine seafood dining across the country, there’s plenty to pick from.

Budget food options

When on the budget tier, head to local marketplaces and zones such as Eat Street in Brisbane for tasty, authentic street food. Depending on how many meals you eat out, consider reserving $10-$15 each per day.

Mid-range dining prices

Mid-range dining tends to revolve around pub food, meaning you’ll want to look for drinking holes, family establishments, and hotels with deals. Reserve about $20-$30 each per day if this is your target.

High-end restaurant costs

Fine dining Down Under can escalate to as much as $250+ per person, thanks to high-end seafood, city views, and wine tastings attached. Unless you’re on the luxury tier, reserve these dining experiences once or twice during your trip.

Budgeting for nightlife and entertainment in Australia

Budgeting for drinks, dancing, and other entertainment in Australia is pretty straightforward. You’re looking to spend around $10 on a glass of wine, and $8 on a pint of beer, and tickets into clubs and events will usually demand $20 or more, depending on what you’re seeing or doing.

Transportation costs within Australia

For the cheapest travel across Australia, we recommend sticking to public transport, but there’s still lots of freedom in hiring cars and taking taxis, too.

Public transport expenses

According to the Expat Network, you’re likely to spend anywhere from $3-$10 per trip on buses, trains, ferries, and light rail, depending entirely on where you’re traveling. Costs here have been reduced significantly in recent years, meaning getting around areas like Canberra and Sydney has never been cheaper.

We recommend checking out public transport cards in Australia to really knock down these prices further. Rocky Travel’s guide, for example, recommends Go-Cards and Opal Cards, which serve different cities.

Car rental costs

Renting vehicles in Australia really does vary in terms of cost. You’re looking at anywhere from $20 to $900 a day on average, depending on the size of the car you hire, and whether or not you’re visiting in peak season. We recommend getting an SUV if you’re keen to get off the beaten track, meaning around $40 a day is usually the sweet spot.

Taxi and ride share prices

It’s worth using a taxi-hailing app like 13cabs when traveling across Australia, though there are plenty of private firms dotted across the country. Expect airport transfers to be fairly costly, say around $50-$70 if you’re heading from a major city airport. Taxis get more expensive at night, so ask for estimates.

Costs of activities and attractions in Australia

From the Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach, Australia is absolutely jam-packed with things to see, do, and experience. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most popular experiences across the country, and what they’re likely to cost per person.

Remember, costs will vary depending on when you visit and what you do at each of these attractions, plus they are estimated at the time of publishing. Always make sure to check the projected costs for your visit before you go so you can budget accordingly.

As you can see, it’s not necessarily expensive to visit Australia, but it still makes sense to budget in advance to experience as much as you can feasibly afford to! Before you go, save even more money with a great value eSIM for Australia and New Zealand from the mobile data experts here at SIMOVO.