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

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.

* 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

On average, the cost of living in Australia in 2024 is 11% 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.

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Local prices in Australia by expense type

Australia: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 18/person
($ 11 to $ 34)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 42/person
($ 28 to $ 69)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 11/person
($ 9.5 to $ 12)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 7.5 for 500ml
($ 4.8 to $ 11)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 5.7 for 330ml
($ 2.7 to $ 8.1)

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61% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 3.6/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 4.8)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2.7/can
($ 2 to $ 3.3)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2.2/bottle
($ 1.7 to $ 3.3)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Australia: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 115/night
($ 63 to $ 337)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 181

2-star hotel

$ 123/night
($ 61 to $ 362)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163

3-star hotel

$ 139/night
($ 66 to $ 418)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 239

4-star hotel

$ 174/night
($ 87 to $ 487)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 323

5-star hotel

$ 218/night
($ 106 to $ 606)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 470

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 125/month
($ 60 to $ 363)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 173

Room with kitchen

$ 177/month
($ 71 to $ 515)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 174/month
($ 79 to $ 591)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Cottage or guest house

$ 140/month
($ 81 to $ 360)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 234

Family room

$ 216/month
($ 100 to $ 567)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Australia: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1 to $ 2.7)

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53% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 2.6/500g
($ 1.4 to $ 4.1)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.9)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 4.2/12 eggs
($ 2.7 to $ 6.1)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 8.8/kg
($ 5.8 to $ 13)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.2/kg
($ 2 to $ 4.5)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 4.6/kg
($ 2 to $ 6.8)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.1)

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16% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 1.7
($ 0.6 to $ 3.3)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Australia: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 3.3/ticket
($ 2.3 to $ 5.1)

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36% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.8/km
($ 1.4 to $ 3.3)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

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34% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.1
($ 2.5 to $ 6.1)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 57/24hrs
($ 35 to $ 125)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73

Australia: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 15/ticket
($ 12 to $ 21)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 18/hr
($ 11 to $ 25)

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16% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Australia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 32/pack
($ 27 to $ 38)

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207% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 80
($ 45 to $ 113)

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50% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 56
($ 25 to $ 96)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → Sydney

$ 1415
(fair price: $ 1117)

Melbourne → Sydney

$ 132
(fair price: $ 110)

Sydney → Melbourne

$ 132
(fair price: $ 111)

Sydney → Brisbane (Queensland)

$ 144
(fair price: $ 129)

Melbourne → Brisbane (Queensland)

$ 193
(fair price: $ 166)

Vancouver → Sydney

$ 1706
(fair price: $ 1426)

Book a flight Flight prices to Australia