How much does Australia cost?
Australia is famously expensive, but smart planning keeps it manageable. Prices below are in Australian dollars (AUD). At the time of writing, 1 AUD is roughly 0.60 EUR, so adjust as rates change.
Daily budgets
- Backpacker: 90-140 AUD per day. Hostel dorm, supermarket food, public transport, free beaches and parks.
- Mid-range: 180-300 AUD per day. Private room or budget hotel, casual restaurants, the odd tour.
- Comfort: 350+ AUD per day. Boutique hotels, car hire, restaurant dining, paid experiences.
Sample prices
- Hostel dorm bed: 35-55 AUD
- Budget hotel double: 130-220 AUD
- Flat white coffee: 4.50-6 AUD
- Casual lunch (cafe or pub): 18-28 AUD
- Dinner with a drink: 35-60 AUD
- Schooner of beer: 7-11 AUD
- Loaf of bread / 1L milk: 3-4 AUD each
- Sydney Opera House tour: around 43 AUD
- Great Barrier Reef day trip from Cairns: 200-280 AUD
Transport
Cities use tap-on/tap-off contactless travel. Sydney's Opal system caps daily and weekly spend; a typical day is 8-12 AUD. Intercity coaches and trains are cheap but slow; for big distances, domestic flights (Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas) are often the best value if booked early. Car hire runs 50-90 AUD a day plus fuel at roughly 1.90-2.20 AUD per litre.
Money and cards
Australia is near cashless. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, and contactless and Apple/Google Pay are standard. Carry a little cash for markets and rural spots. Many cafes add a small surcharge for card payment, and weekends/public holidays often carry a 10-15% surcharge. Use a card with no foreign-transaction fee and always pay in AUD, not your home currency, to avoid bad exchange rates.
Saving tips
- Cook from supermarkets like Woolworths, Coles and Aldi; eat your big meal at lunch when set menus are cheaper.
- Tap water is safe and free everywhere; carry a bottle.
- Beaches, coastal walks, national parks and most galleries are free.
- Travel in shoulder season (autumn or spring) for lower flights and hotels.
- Book tours and domestic flights weeks ahead for the best prices.
- Tipping is not expected, so it is not a hidden cost.
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