Australia isn't cheap — but it's more affordable than most people think if you know where your money goes and where you can save. Here's a practical, no-fluff guide to budgeting an Australian trip in 2026.
By Cooee Tours12 min read
The most common question we hear from international visitors planning a trip to Australia: "How much will it actually cost?" The honest answer is that Australia is mid-to-upper range globally — more expensive than Southeast Asia, roughly comparable to the UK or Canada. But the cost is manageable on most budgets, and some of the best experiences here are completely free. Here's how to plan realistically.
Realistic Daily Budgets (Per Person, AUD)
These are honest daily estimates for 2026, including accommodation, food, local transport, and some activities. International flights are separate.
Category
Backpacker
Mid-Range
Comfortable
Accommodation
$30–50
$100–160
$200–350
Food & drink
$25–40
$50–80
$80–150
Local transport
$10–20
$20–40
$40–80
Activities & tours
$10–20
$30–60
$60–120+
Daily total
$80–130
$200–340
$380–700+
Context: These figures are in Australian dollars. At current exchange rates (early 2026), A$1 is roughly US$0.63 / £0.50 / €0.58. A$200/day mid-range is about US$126 — comparable to a mid-range day in London or Vancouver.
Saving on Flights
International flights to Australia are usually the single biggest expense. The good news: they're also where the biggest savings are available.
Book early, but not too earlyInternational flights to Australia are typically cheapest 2–4 months before departure. Set Google Flights price alerts and book when you see a meaningful drop.
Fly shoulder seasonAvoid December–January (Australian summer / peak season). February–April and September–November offer significantly cheaper fares and better weather in many regions.
Be flexible on datesUse Google Flights' date grid to compare fares across weeks. Shifting departure by 2–3 days can save hundreds of dollars on the same route.
Open-jaw flightsFly into one city, out of another (e.g. in to Sydney, out of Cairns). Avoids backtracking and sometimes costs less than return flights to the same city.
Domestic flights: Internal flights between Australian cities vary wildly in price. Jetstar and Bonza offer budget fares, but book early — last-minute domestic flights can be surprisingly expensive. For the east coast, bus and train can be cheaper for short-medium distances.
Accommodation Strategies
Accommodation is your second-biggest ongoing cost. The range is enormous — from $25 hostel dorms to $500+ hotels — so your choices here determine your overall budget more than almost anything else.
Hostels ($25–50/night)Australia has excellent hostels, especially along the east coast. YHA properties are consistently good. Private rooms in hostels ($80–120) offer a middle ground.
Airbnb / holiday rentals ($100–200/night)Best value for couples or groups who can split costs. Self-catering saves significantly on food. Book well ahead for popular areas.
Motels & apartments ($120–200/night)Regional motels are often better value than city hotels. Many include basic kitchens. The further from Sydney and Melbourne, the better the rates.
Camping ($15–40/night)National park campgrounds are affordable and often spectacular. Powered caravan park sites cost more but include amenities. A great option for extended trips.
Biggest savings lever: Stay outside the CBD. In Sydney and Melbourne, accommodation 20–30 minutes from the city centre by public transport can be 40–60% cheaper than equivalent city-centre rooms.
Eating Well Without Blowing Your Budget
Australia's food scene is excellent but restaurant dining adds up fast. A sit-down dinner for two with drinks can easily reach $120–180. The good news: you can eat very well for much less.
Self-catering is the biggest saver
Australian supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, Aldi) are affordable and well-stocked. Breakfast and lunch from a supermarket costs a fraction of eating out. Many accommodations have kitchens — use them for at least one meal a day and save restaurant dining for the experience you genuinely want.
Where to eat cheaply and well
Asian restaurants and food courts offer the best value dining in most Australian cities — generous portions for $12–18. Pub bistros serve hearty meals for $18–25. Bakeries are excellent for cheap, filling breakfasts. Weekend markets in most towns serve fresh food at good prices. Avoid tourist-strip restaurants where you're paying for the location, not the food.
Free BBQ culture
Australia has free public BBQ facilities in parks, beaches, and picnic areas across the country. Buy meat, vegetables, and bread from a supermarket and cook a proper meal for under $10 per person. This is genuinely how Australians eat — it's not a budget compromise, it's a cultural experience.
Getting Around Australia
Australia is vast — and underestimating distances is the most common budgeting mistake international visitors make. Sydney to Melbourne is roughly the same distance as London to Edinburgh. Sydney to Cairns is like London to Istanbul.
City public transportSydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane all have good public transport. Contactless payment works on most systems. Day passes or weekly caps save money if you're staying put.
Car rentalEssential for regional travel and road trips. Rates start around $40–60/day for a compact car. Fuel costs roughly $1.70–2.10/litre. Budget for tolls in Sydney and Melbourne.
Greyhound busThe cheapest long-distance option along the east coast. Multi-day passes (Whimit) offer unlimited travel for a set period. Slower but significantly cheaper than flying.
Regional trainsNSW TrainLink and Queensland Rail connect major towns. Advance fares are cheapest. The Spirit of Queensland (Brisbane–Cairns) is a comfortable alternative to flying.
Free and Low-Cost Experiences
Some of the best things in Australia cost nothing. This is genuinely true, not a platitude — the country's natural landscape is the main attraction, and most of it is publicly accessible.
Beaches (all Australian beaches are public)
National park bushwalks (most QLD parks: free entry)
Queensland specifically: The Gold Coast hinterland, Noosa headland, Burleigh headland, South Bank Brisbane, and the Cairns Esplanade are all free and among the best things to do in each city. Pair free self-guided exploration with one or two guided Cooee Tours experiences for the highlights you can't easily reach alone.
Timing Your Trip for Value
When you visit has a bigger impact on cost than most people realise. The difference between peak and shoulder season can be 30–50% on accommodation alone.
Peak (expensive)December–January (summer holidays), Easter, school holidays. Prices peak, availability drops, popular spots are crowded. Book months ahead if you must travel peak.
Shoulder (best value)February–April, September–November. Better prices, fewer crowds, and often better weather. Autumn (March–May) in Queensland is ideal — warm, dry, and affordable.
Sample 10-Day Budget: Mid-Range East Coast Trip
Here's what a realistic 10-day trip might look like for a couple on a mid-range budget, flying into Sydney and out of Cairns:
Activities & tours (reef trip, 2 × day tours, entries)
$400–600
Travel insurance
$80–120
Estimated total per person
$3,400–4,600
Where the tours fit: A Cooee Tours day trip runs from around $99–250 per person depending on the tour. Two or three guided experiences across a 10-day trip is a good balance — enough to access places and knowledge you couldn't get alone, without making tours your entire budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a trip to Australia cost per day?
Roughly $80–130 AUD for backpackers, $200–340 AUD for mid-range, and $380+ AUD for comfortable travel. These are per-person estimates including accommodation, food, transport, and some activities. Costs vary significantly by city — Sydney and Melbourne are more expensive than regional Queensland.
What is the cheapest time to visit Australia?
Shoulder seasons — February to April and September to November — offer the best combination of lower prices and good weather. Avoid December–January and school holidays when prices peak and availability drops.
Is Australia expensive compared to other countries?
More expensive than Southeast Asia, comparable to the UK or Canada. The biggest costs are flights to Australia and internal transport. Day-to-day expenses are manageable on a mid-range budget, and many of the best experiences — beaches, national parks, coastal walks — are free.
How can I save money on flights?
Set Google Flights price alerts 2–4 months ahead. Be flexible on dates (±3 days). Fly shoulder season. Consider open-jaw routing (in to one city, out of another). Use budget carriers for domestic legs but book early.
What free things can I do in Australia?
Beaches, national park walks, coastal trails, botanic gardens, public art galleries and museums, weekend markets, free public BBQ areas, wildlife spotting, and swimming holes. Some of the best experiences in Australia genuinely cost nothing.
Make Your Budget Go Further with a Guided Day Tour
Cooee Tours day trips start from $99 per person — small groups, local guides, transport included. See the highlights without the car hire, navigation stress, or entry fee surprises.
Australia is worth the investment — and it doesn't have to break the bank. The key is being realistic about costs, strategic about timing and transport, and knowing that many of the country's best experiences are free or low-cost. Plan your big expenses carefully (flights, accommodation), eat smartly, and spend your activity budget on the experiences that genuinely need a guide or boat to access. The rest — beaches, walks, sunsets, wildlife — Australia gives you for free.