Travel budget and cost of living in Sydney (Australia) how much does a trip cost?

Sydney travel budget

Sydney: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Sydney

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

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Sydney compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Sydney in 2024 is 17% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Sydney in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Sydney by expense type

Restaurant budget in Sydney

Lunch

$ 17/person
($ 10 to $ 34)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 40/person
($ 27 to $ 83)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 10/person
($ 9.1 to $ 12)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 6.8 for 500ml
($ 5.3 to $ 10)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 5.6 for 330ml
($ 3.3 to $ 8.1)

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56% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.3/cup
($ 2.6 to $ 5.4)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2.6/can
($ 1.9 to $ 3.6)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2.1/bottle
($ 1.4 to $ 3.3)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Sydney

1-star hotel

$ 115/night
($ 72 to $ 245)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

2-star hotel

$ 99/night
($ 49 to $ 417)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 157

3-star hotel

$ 127/night
($ 49 to $ 465)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 229

4-star hotel

$ 171/night
($ 79 to $ 819)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 306

5-star hotel

$ 306/night
($ 129 to $ 926)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 482

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 107/month
($ 53 to $ 197)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Room with kitchen

$ 167/month
($ 50 to $ 782)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 241

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 192/month
($ 71 to $ 1059)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 212

Cottage or guest house

$ 148/month
($ 80 to $ 339)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 224

Family room

$ 214/month
($ 64 to $ 676)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 215

Supermarket food budget in Sydney

Milk

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1 to $ 2.9)

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46% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2.8/500g
($ 1.6 to $ 4.6)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4.3)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 4.1/12 eggs
($ 2.6 to $ 5.5)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 8.4/kg
($ 6.5 to $ 12)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.2/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 4.9)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 4.3/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 5.9)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 1.6
($ 0.6 to $ 3.3)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Sydney

Bus ticket

$ 3.3/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 5.3)

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31% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.9/km
($ 1.4 to $ 7.8)

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69% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 5.3
($ 3.3 to $ 6.5)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Car hire

$ 47/24hrs
($ 21 to $ 229)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 55

Leisure activity budget in Sydney

Cinema

$ 16/ticket
($ 14 to $ 21)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 22/hr
($ 18 to $ 27)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Sydney

Cigarettes

$ 34/pack
($ 24 to $ 37)

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226% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 80
($ 47 to $ 125)

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48% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 69
($ 34 to $ 99)

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55% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Sydney

$ 133
(fair price: $ 112)

Los Angeles → Sydney

$ 1445
(fair price: $ 1153)

London → Sydney

$ 1319
(fair price: $ 1087)

Vancouver → Sydney

$ 1677
(fair price: $ 1424)

New York City → Sydney

$ 1623
(fair price: $ 1427)

Auckland → Sydney

$ 350
(fair price: $ 284)

Book a flight Flight prices to Sydney