Australia operates with the Australian dollar, abbreviated AUD. Exchange rates as of 2024 place one AUD at approximately 0.65 USD, 0.60 EUR, and 0.51 GBP, though these fluctuate. All figures below reflect prices travelers encounter on the ground, drawn from accommodation booking platforms, government transport websites, restaurant menus, and field reports from 2023–2024. Seasonal variation exists, particularly between peak periods of December through February and shoulder months of March through May and September through November. Regional differences prove substantial, with Sydney and Melbourne commanding premiums of 20 to 40 percent over Adelaide or Hobart for equivalent services, while remote areas such as Alice Springs or Broome carry inflated costs due to supply chain logistics.
Hostel dormitory beds in Sydney range from AUD 35 to AUD 65 per night depending on location and season. Inner suburbs such as Kings Cross, Surry Hills, and Newtown sit at the higher end. Melbourne hostels in Fitzroy, St Kilda, and the central business district charge AUD 30 to AUD 55. Brisbane dormitories cost AUD 28 to AUD 50, with properties near Fortitude Valley and South Bank commanding premiums. Perth hostel beds range from AUD 25 to AUD 45, Adelaide from AUD 22 to AUD 40, and Hobart from AUD 25 to AUD 42. Cairns, despite tourist traffic driven by Great Barrier Reef access, maintains dormitory rates of AUD 25 to AUD 48. Darwin hostels charge AUD 28 to AUD 50, with higher rates during the dry season of May through October when visitor numbers peak. Alice Springs dormitories cost AUD 30 to AUD 55, elevated by isolation and limited supply. Budget hotel rooms or motel accommodations in capital cities start at AUD 90 in Adelaide and Hobart, AUD 100 in Brisbane and Perth, AUD 110 in Melbourne, and AUD 120 in Sydney, with rates climbing to AUD 180 to AUD 250 for comparable properties during summer holidays.
Mid-range hotel rooms in Sydney average AUD 180 to AUD 320 per night, with properties near Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, and Bondi Beach at the upper end. Melbourne mid-range accommodations cost AUD 150 to AUD 280, Brisbane AUD 140 to AUD 260, Perth AUD 130 to AUD 240, and Adelaide AUD 120 to AUD 220. Canberra hotel rooms range from AUD 130 to AUD 240, with prices spiking during parliamentary sitting weeks. Hobart mid-range properties charge AUD 130 to AUD 250, particularly elevated during the summer tourism season and the Dark Moho festival period in January. Cairns hotels cost AUD 140 to AUD 280, Gold Coast properties AUD 130 to AUD 260. Rental apartments through platforms such as Airbnb show entire one-bedroom units in Sydney starting at AUD 120 per night in outer suburbs and reaching AUD 300 in areas such as Manly or Paddington. Melbourne entire apartments range from AUD 100 to AUD 250, Brisbane AUD 90 to AUD 220.
Food courts and casual counter-service restaurants provide meals for AUD 10 to AUD 18. A chicken schnitzel or fish and chips portion at a pub costs AUD 18 to AUD 26. Vietnamese pho or Thai curry dishes in urban centers range from AUD 12 to AUD 20. Indian curry meals with rice or naan cost AUD 14 to AUD 22. Chinese restaurants in areas such as Chinatown Sydney or Boxhill Melbourne serve main dishes for AUD 15 to AUD 28. A standard meat pie from a bakery costs AUD 5 to AUD 7, a sausage roll AUD 4 to AUD 6. Sandwich shops and cafes charge AUD 8 to AUD 15 for filled rolls or wraps. A breakfast at a cafe consisting of eggs, toast, and coffee costs AUD 18 to AUD 28 in Sydney and Melbourne, AUD 14 to AUD 22 in smaller cities. Coffee alone ranges from AUD 4.50 to AUD 6 for a flat white or cappuccino across Australian cities, with specialty roasters charging up to AUD 7. Supermarket shopping for self-catering shows a loaf of sliced bread at AUD 2.50 to AUD 5, depending on brand and type. A liter of milk costs AUD 1.50 to AUD 2.50, a dozen eggs AUD 5 to AUD 8, a kilogram of chicken breast AUD 11 to AUD 15, a kilogram of beef mince AUD 12 to AUD 18.
Sit-down restaurants with table service in Sydney charge AUD 25 to AUD 45 for main courses at mid-range establishments. Melbourne restaurant mains cost AUD 22 to AUD 40, Brisbane AUD 20 to AUD 38, Perth AUD 20 to AUD 38. A 300-gram steak at a steakhouse costs AUD 35 to AUD 55. Barramundi or other seafood mains range from AUD 32 to AUD 52. Italian restaurants charge AUD 20 to AUD 35 for pasta dishes, AUD 18 to AUD 28 for pizza. Greek restaurants in Melbourne suburbs such as Oakleigh or Lonsdale Street serve souvlaki plates for AUD 18 to AUD 28, mixed grills for AUD 28 to AUD 42. Chinese banquet-style dining in groups reduces per-person costs to AUD 25 to AUD 45 when dishes are shared. Japanese izakayas charge AUD 8 to AUD 18 per small plate, with full meals totaling AUD 35 to AUD 60. Korean barbecue restaurants offer all-you-can-eat options for AUD 35 to AUD 50 per person. Licensed restaurant dining includes wine by the glass at AUD 10 to AUD 18, beer at AUD 9 to AUD 14, cocktails at AUD 18 to AUD 25. A bottle of mid-range Australian wine in a restaurant costs AUD 40 to AUD 80. Fine dining establishments in Sydney and Melbourne charge AUD 80 to AUD 150 per person for mains, with tasting menus ranging from AUD 120 to AUD 350 before wine pairings.
Public transport in Sydney uses the Opal card system, with a single train or bus trip in the central zone costing AUD 3.61 off-peak and AUD 4.71 peak for adults. The daily cap sits at AUD 16.80 on weekdays, AUD 8.40 on Sundays. A weekly travel cap reaches AUD 50. Ferry services from Circular Quay to Manly cost AUD 7.72 one way. Melbourne uses the Myki card, with metropolitan train and tram trips in Zone 1 costing AUD 4.90, a daily cap of AUD 9.80, and weekend daily caps at AUD 7.60. Brisbane's TransLink go card charges AUD 3.31 to AUD 4.85 for single trips depending on zones, with daily caps from AUD 6.62 to AUD 16.80. Perth Transperth SmartRider fares range from AUD 2.12 to AUD 5.52 for single trips, daily caps at AUD 11.70 across all zones. Adelaide Metrocard trips cost AUD 3.89 for two-hour travel, AUD 10.40 for day passes. Hobart Metro Tasmania buses charge AUD 3.60 for single trips, AUD 7.20 for day tickets. Canberra's Transport Canberra MyWay card sets single trips at AUD 3.52 off-peak, daily caps at AUD 9.60.
Intercity train services via NSW TrainLink connect Sydney to Brisbane with fares from AUD 86 to AUD 150 in economy class for the approximately 14-hour journey. Sydney to Melbourne on the same service costs AUD 76 to AUD 140 for the 11-hour trip. Sleeper cabins add AUD 150 to AUD 300. Queensland Rail services between Brisbane and Cairns cost AUD 250 to AUD 400 in economy for the 24-hour journey, with sleeper compartments from AUD 400 to AUD 700. The Ghan train from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs charges AUD 1,099 to AUD 1,499 for the lowest sleeper category on the three-day journey, with gold service cabins reaching AUD 3,000 to AUD 4,000 depending on season. The Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth costs AUD 1,299 to AUD 1,799 for basic sleeper accommodations on the four-day crossing, gold service from AUD 3,500 to AUD 5,000. These premium rail services include meals and off-train excursions.
Intercity bus travel through Greyhound Australia shows Sydney to Melbourne fares at AUD 60 to AUD 100 depending on booking timing and season, with the trip lasting 12 to 13 hours. Sydney to Brisbane costs AUD 85 to AUD 140 for the 15-hour journey. Brisbane to Cairns ranges from AUD 200 to AUD 300 for the 29-hour trip. Melbourne to Adelaide costs AUD 70 to AUD 120 for the 10-hour route. Perth to Broome runs AUD 300 to AUD 450 for the 33-hour journey. Premier Motor Service operates coastal New South Wales routes, with Sydney to Byron Bay costing AUD 70 to AUD 110 for the 12-hour trip. Firefly Express runs Melbourne to Sydney for AUD 45 to AUD 80 overnight.
Domestic flights show considerable price variation. Sydney to Melbourne flights on Qantas, Virgin Australia, or Jetstar range from AUD 89 to AUD 300 for economy seats depending on booking advance and time of day. Sydney to Brisbane costs AUD 90 to AUD 250, Sydney to Cairns AUD 150 to AUD 400, Sydney to Perth AUD 250 to AUD 600. Melbourne to Brisbane ranges from AUD 100 to AUD 280, Melbourne to Cairns AUD 180 to AUD 450, Melbourne to Adelaide AUD 80 to AUD 220. Brisbane to Cairns costs AUD 100 to AUD 280. Adelaide to Alice Springs ranges from AUD 200 to AUD 450, Adelaide to Darwin AUD 250 to AUD 500. Perth to Broome costs AUD 200 to AUD 450. Hobart to Melbourne ranges from AUD 100 to AUD 250. Budget carriers Jetstar and Tigerair typically undercut full-service options by AUD 20 to AUD 50 on equivalent routes but charge for checked baggage, seat selection, and onboard refreshments. Checked baggage fees add AUD 20 to AUD 50 per bag on budget airlines.
Car rental rates for compact vehicles start at AUD 35 to AUD 50 per day for week-long bookings in major cities through companies such as Budget, Hertz, or Thrifty. Daily rates for shorter rentals reach AUD 50 to AUD 80. Mid-size sedans cost AUD 45 to AUD 70 per day for weekly rentals, SUVs AUD 70 to AUD 120. Campervan rentals for two-person vehicles range from AUD 80 to AUD 150 per day depending on age of vehicle and season, with four-berth motorhomes costing AUD 120 to AUD 250 per day. Rental costs in Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Western Australia include higher rates due to limited fleet availability, adding 10 to 20 percent premiums. Insurance options add AUD 15 to AUD 50 per day depending on excess reduction levels. Fuel prices as of 2024 average AUD 1.80 to AUD 2.20 per liter for unleaded petrol in urban areas, with diesel at AUD 1.90 to AUD 2.30 per liter. Remote area fuel stations such as those on the Nullarbor Plain or in the Kimberley region charge AUD 2.50 to AUD 3.00 per liter. A Toyota Camry sedan consumes approximately 7 liters per 100 kilometers, translating to AUD 13 to AUD 15 fuel cost per 100 kilometers in cities, AUD 18 to AUD 21 in remote regions.
Entrance fees to national parks vary by state. New South Wales charges AUD 8 per vehicle per day for parks such as Royal National Park and Blue Mountains National Park, though many areas remain free. Queensland national parks including Lamington and Daintree require no entry fees, though camping permits cost AUD 6.75 to AUD 13.50 per person per night. Great Barrier Reef day trips from Cairns cost AUD 150 to AUD 300 per person including boat transport, equipment, and lunch. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Northern Territory charges no entry fee as of 2024, following previous rates of AUD 25 per adult for three-day passes, this change implemented in 2019. Kakadu National Park costs AUD 40 per adult for seven-day passes, AUD 25 for seniors. Tasmania Parks Pass costs AUD 30 per person for eight weeks or AUD 60 per vehicle, covering properties such as Cradle Mountain and Fremantle National Park. Purnululu National Park in Western Australia requires AUD 15 per vehicle entry. Most state-managed parks do not charge entry but impose fees for camping, ranging from AUD 10 to AUD 35 per site per night depending on facilities.
Sydney Opera House guided tours cost AUD 42 for adults, with backstage tours at AUD 175. Performance tickets range from AUD 65 to AUD 350 depending on production and seating. Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb costs AUD 174 to AUD 388 depending on time of day and day of week, with higher rates for dawn and twilight climbs. Taronga Zoo Sydney charges AUD 49.90 for adults, with combined ferry and entry packages at AUD 61.50. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium costs AUD 42 for adults, with combination tickets for multiple attractions reaching AUD 80 to AUD 120. Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria maintains free entry to permanent collections. Old Melbourne Gaol charges AUD 30 for adults. Melbourne Zoo costs AUD 42 for adults. Eureka Skydeck charges AUD 25 for adults. Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne range from AUD 75 to AUD 150 for day trips. Queensland's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane charges AUD 49 for adults, with koala holding experiences adding AUD 30. Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast costs AUD 64 for adults. Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania charges AUD 42 for adults, covering site entry and a harbor cruise.
Organized tours show wide price ranges. Multi-day tours of the Great Barrier Reef with liveaboard diving operators cost AUD 800 to AUD 1,500 for three-day trips including meals, equipment, and accommodation on the vessel. Kakadu National Park three-day camping tours from Darwin range from AUD 600 to AUD 900. Uluru sunrise and sunset tours from Yulara cost AUD 80 to AUD 150 for half-day experiences. Three-day Larapinta Trail walking tours near Alice Springs cost AUD 1,200 to AUD 1,800 including guides, camping equipment, and meals. Daintree Rainforest day tours from Cairns range from AUD 150 to AUD 250. Whitsunday Islands sailing trips cost AUD 400 to AUD 800 for two-day, one-night experiences. Tasmania's Cradle Mountain multi-day hikes cost AUD 2,500 to AUD 4,000 for fully guided experiences with hut accommodation. Ningaloo Reef whale shark swimming tours in Western Australia cost AUD 395 to AUD 450 for full-day trips from Exmouth. Blue Mountains day tours from Sydney range from AUD 80 to AUD 140.