Travel budget in Australia

Australia: calculate your travel budget

Australia: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Australia for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 88 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 18 per person
  • $ 14 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 2098* (3066 $)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 130 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 46 per person
  • $ 22 per person
  • $ 15 per person

Total budget:

$ 4097* (5992 $)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 155 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 82 per person
  • $ 38 per person
  • $ 29 per person

Total budget:

$ 6282* (9184 $)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Australia in 2024

Cost of living: Australia VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Australia in 2024 is 13% higher than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Australia by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Australia compared to the national average.

Cities /Australia View Details
Mildura 10% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Mildura
Canberra 7% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Canberra
Cairns 6% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Cairns
Gladstone 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Gladstone
Sydney 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Sydney
Buderim 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Buderim
Mackay 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Mackay
Adelaide 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Adelaide
Darwin 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Darwin
Hobart 1% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Hobart
Perth 1% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Perth
Melbourne 4% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Melbourne
Brisbane (Queensland) 6% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Brisbane (Queensland)
Hobart (Tasmania) 9% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Hobart (Tasmania)
Alice Springs 11% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Alice Springs

Show all cities (31 more)




Local prices in Australia by expense type

Australia: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Australia is 10% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 18/person
($ 12 to $ 34)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 42/person
($ 28 to $ 70)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 11/person
($ 9.6 to $ 12)

5% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 7.6 for 500ml
($ 4.9 to $ 11)

28% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 5.6 for 330ml
($ 2.8 to $ 8.3)

63% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.6/cup
($ 2.8 to $ 4.9)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.8/can
($ 2.1 to $ 3.4)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 2.3/bottle
($ 1.8 to $ 3.4)

14% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Australia: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Australia costs 32% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 114/night
($ 62 to $ 334)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 179
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 122/night
($ 60 to $ 358)

24% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 137/night
($ 66 to $ 413)

42% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 237
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 173/night
($ 87 to $ 482)

46% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 319
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 216/night
($ 105 to $ 600)

53% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 465
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 124/month
($ 59 to $ 359)

27% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 175/month
($ 70 to $ 509)

30% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 250
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 173/month
($ 78 to $ 584)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 138/month
($ 80 to $ 356)

40% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 231
Family room
Family room
$ 214/month
($ 99 to $ 561)

1% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 216

Australia: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Australia costs 12% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.7/litre
($ 1 to $ 2.8)

54% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 2.5/500g
($ 1.5 to $ 4.1)

27% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 4.3/12 eggs
($ 2.8 to $ 6.2)

17% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 8.9/kg
($ 6.2 to $ 13)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 3.3/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 4.5)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 4.5/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 6.8)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.1)

14% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.7
($ 0.6 to $ 3.4)

22% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Australia: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Australia is 16% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 3.4/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 5.2)

39% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.9/km
($ 1.4 to $ 3.4)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

37% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 4.1
($ 2.4 to $ 6.2)

18% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Car hire
Car hire
$ 57/24hrs
($ 35 to $ 124)

21% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 72

Australia: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Australia costs 4% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 15/ticket
($ 12 to $ 20)

5% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 19/hr
($ 12 to $ 25)

14% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Australia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Australia is 99% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 33/pack
($ 27 to $ 39)

213% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 81
($ 42 to $ 114)

54% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 57
($ 25 to $ 98)

31% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → Sydney
Los Angeles  → Sydney
Los Angeles  → Sydney
$ 1376
(fair price: $ 1089)
Melbourne → Sydney
Melbourne → Sydney
Melbourne → Sydney
$ 129
(fair price: $ 108)
Sydney → Melbourne
Sydney → Melbourne
Sydney → Melbourne
$ 131
(fair price: $ 110)
Sydney → Brisbane (Queensland)
Sydney → Brisbane (Queensland)
Sydney → Brisbane (Queensland)
$ 143
(fair price: $ 127)
Melbourne → Brisbane (Queensland)
Melbourne → Brisbane (Queensland)
Melbourne → Brisbane (Queensland)
$ 191
(fair price: $ 164)
Vancouver → Sydney
Vancouver → Sydney
Vancouver → Sydney
$ 1682
(fair price: $ 1398)

Book a flight Flight prices to Australia




About the information on the cost of living in Australia

The information about the cost of living in Australia shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Australia updated on 03-10-2024.

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