How Much Does it Cost to go to Australia?
Australia – the land down under, as it is affectionately known, is a popular travel destination. People come to see the wildlife, to surf at the beaches, and to explore the Outback. However, as much as Australia has to offer, it also has a reputation for being a very expensive travel destination. So, how much does it cost to go to Australia? Read on to find out.
For the purpose of this article, I am basing my estimate on a two-week stay. These estimates are made on a per person basis, so if you are travelling as a couple, be sure to double them (except for hotels).
Australia Trip Cost
| Estimated cost | |
|---|---|
| Airfare | $1,400 |
| Accommodations | $2,100 |
| Local transportation | $600 |
| Attractions | $500 |
| Food and drink | $700 |
| Random Spending | $200 |
| Total | $5,500 USD |
The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.
If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a generous welcome bonus that’s often worth more than $900 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees, and it comes with airport lounge access.
Airfare
Flying to Australia from North America is a very long flight, especially if you are flying from the east coast of Canada or the USA. So, it’s no surprise that flight costs will be a significant expense. You can expect to pay at least $1,400 for a return flight, possibly more depending on what city you choose to fly into and the time of year.
The reality is, there’s no cheap way to get to Australia. That said, if you have a lot of loyalty points, such as Aeroplan, this could be a good route to redeem your points to help offset your costs.
Reminder: Australian seasons are opposite to those in North America. Our winter is their summer, so keep that in mind when choosing when to go. Remember that certain holidays like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, or Anzac Day and popular festivals or events like the Australian Open (tennis) or Melbourne Cup (horse races) may also increase your airfare since they are considered peak seasons.
Accommodations
Australia attracts all types of travellers, from budget backpackers to luxury travel enthusiasts. As such, there is a wide variety of accommodation options across the popular cities and parts of the country. Now, keep in mind, ‘budget’ is a relative term and what is considered to be cheap in Australia may still end up being more expensive than you hope.
I’ve based my accommodation estimate on a midrange hotel in a large city (Sydney). Keep in mind, smaller towns and areas will likely be cheaper. That said, you should budget about $150 per night for a midrange hotel in Australia.
My preferred booking site is booking.com since it lists hotels, apartments, B&B’s, vacation homes and inns. In addition, they price match, and you’re not required to pay until after your stay for almost all accommodations. After five bookings, you become a member of their Genius program, which gets you an extra 10% off on selected properties.
- Find hotels in Sydney
- Find hotels in Melbourne
- Find hotels in Brisbane
- Find Hotels in Perth
- Find Hotels on the Gold Coast
- Find hotels in Darwin
- Find hotels in Adelaide
If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.
Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, which gives you up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels, which could easily have a value of over $500.
Local transportation
Australia is a vast country, so you’ll need to plan ahead on a feasible itinerary or else you will be wasting a lot of time and money on transportation. For long distances, you’ll need to fly. However, flying domestically isn’t cheap. For example, a flight from Melbourne to Perth can cost about $500 return.
There is a backpacker bus called the Oz Experience. However, unlike the Kiwi Express in New Zealand (which is incredibly popular), the Oz Experience doesn’t necessarily have the best reviews.
For this reason, most people choose to rent a car or use the public bus system to get around Australia. Greyhound Australia offers travel pass type tickets that serves a lot of the popular places on the east coast. The cost for the WHIMIT ticket (any route, any direction) is about $225 for the 15-day pass.
The obvious issue is that taking the bus can take a lot longer. You could end up spending days on the bus. Most people don’t have that kind of time to spare. Take a look at your itinerary and decide what’s the best bet, but factor in your time too, since it’s valuable.
Attractions
Australia has a lot to see, and not just in the cities. Many of the biggest highlights of this country are the natural ones. For example, Uluru and Kakadu National Parks in the Northern Territory and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. Since this is the case, you will likely take some day trips. Day trips vary significantly in cost, from about $35-$200+ depending on what you want to see or do. I’m going to suggest $500 for attractions though I recommend you do some planning ahead of time to figure out what you want to see and do. You may be able to drop this estimate, or you may have to increase it.
Need some ideas on unique things to do in Australia? Consider:
Food and drink
Like everything else in Australia, the prices for food and drink are more expensive than in other countries. Even for places that are considered cheap, like McDonald’s (referred to as Macca’s). On average, basic food prices in Australia look something like this:
- Breakfast: $10
- Lunch: $15
- Dinner: $25
Which is equal to $50 per day. Oh, and if you like to drink and party, you’ll definitely want to add more to your budget. Alcohol in Australia is, unsurprisingly, very expensive.
Random spending
It’s always a good idea to have a little extra cash on hand, just in case. Maybe you want to do some shopping, maybe you’ll want to do an extra day tour, or maybe you just want to let loose and have a night out. Since Australia is a more expensive country, I recommend budgeting an extra $200 for random spending.
Cost to go to Australia
So, how much does it cost to go to Australia? Based on my estimates, you can expect to pay about US $5,500. Yes, this is expensive. However, you can cut down these costs pretty easily. Stay in budget accommodation, cook your own food instead of eating out, focus more on free attractions than paid one and day trips, and don’t travel around as much.
That said, remember that Australia is quite far away and will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many, so it may be worth saving a little longer so you can spend the money and get the type of experience you want.
For more inspiration, check out these guides on Perth, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Italy, Greece, the Maldives and Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Australia?
Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so if you are travelling from Canada, the USA, Europe or elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, remember the seasons are reversed. Summer is December, January, and February, while winter is June, July August. That being said, Australia is huge, and temperatures range across the country. There are also the wet and dry seasons to be aware of, as well as personal preferences. Humidity can be quite high in some places.
Do your research first but shoulder season, as with most places, is always a favourite time with visitors. This means October and November for spring or April and May for fall.
What is Australia so famous for?
Plenty! Wildlife from kangaroos, koalas, and whales. Its nature ranges from desert to coral reefs to plains of wildflowers. Of course, there is also the city life. The architecture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a favourite and Melbourne is known for street art and great restaurants. From food to hiking to snorkelling and more, Australia offers plenty of opportunities for a variety of interests.
How long should a trip to Australia be?
Again, Australia is huge, and some will argue that tourists could spend months in Australia and still not see it all. Of course, most of us don’t have the luxury of being able to travel for months at a time anyway, which is why I suggested this two-week itinerary which will show you some of the highlights. Many first-time visitors stick to New South Wales and Queensland. But Western Australia is a great pick for adventure seekers and ocean lovers
