Cost of travel in Australia in 2026

Australia, known for its stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and unique wildlife, continues to be a dream destination for travelers worldwide. However, understanding the cost of travel is essential for planning your trip efficiently. This article will break down the various expenses you can expect while traveling in Australia, including accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and more.

Budget Before You Go

Airfare

Your flight will be the single biggest line in your budget before you leave. Return fares from Europe to Australia typically run AUD 1,200 to 2,000, and where you land in that range depends on three things: when you fly, when you book, and how many stopovers you’ll tolerate.

When you fly

Australia’s peak and Europe’s peak don’t overlap, which works in your favour if you’re flexible:

• December to January — the most expensive window of the year. Australian summer holidays and Christmas at the same time. Expect AUD 1,800–2,500+, and book months ahead.
• February to May — the cheapest period, and the best value overall. Australian autumn is genuinely pleasant almost everywhere. Around AUD 1,100–1,500.
• June to August — European summer holidays push prices up again despite it being Australian winter. AUD 1,400–1,900.
• September to November — a second good window. Spring in the south, dry season still running in the north. AUD 1,200–1,700.

If your dates are flexible, February to May is where the money is. You’ll pay several hundred dollars less than someone arriving in December, and you avoid the worst of the heat, the crowds and the accommodation crunch. It’s also easier to find work: the summer wave of arrivals has moved on.

Where you land

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the cheapest arrival points and have the most competition. Perth is often surprisingly good value from Europe, being the closest Australian city, worth checking if you’re planning to start on the west coast. Darwin, Adelaide and Cairns usually cost more to reach and have fewer options.

Make your stopover count. Nearly every route to Australia involves at least one, most often in Asia or the Gulf. Many airlines let you extend it to a few days for little or no extra cost, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Doha are all worth a stop, and it breaks up 24 hours of flying considerably. Three stopovers on a budget itinerary will save you a few hundred dollars and cost you a day and a half; only you can judge whether that’s a good trade.

More on this: finding cheap flights to Australia · the best stopovers from Europe · when to buy your ticket

Passport and driving licence

You’ll need a passport valid for the whole of your stay — check the expiry date now rather than three weeks before you fly, because renewals take time in most countries. Costs and processing times vary: budget the equivalent of AUD 150–200 and allow at least six weeks.

If your driving licence isn’t in English, you’ll need either an International Driving Permit, obtained in your home country before you leave, or an official NAATI-certified translation, which you can arrange online at any time. Both must be carried alongside your original licence, never instead of it.

Visa

You’ll need a valid visa to enter Australia. Fees are set by the government and revised every 1 July — these are the current amounts:

• eVisitor (subclass 651): free, for eligible European passport holders, up to 3 months per visit
• Visitor visa (subclass 600): AUD 250 applying from outside Australia, more if you apply onshore
• ETA (subclass 601): AUD 20, for eligible passport holders including the UK, US and Japan
• Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 / 462): AUD 840 for a first visa, AUD 1,000 for a second or third
• Student visa (subclass 500) — AUD 2,500

Health Insurance

Without insurance you risk exposing yourself to the true cost of treatment outside the European zone. Depending on the length of your stay and your trip (tourist, WHV) you will need to get the proper cover for your stay in Australia.

These insurances will cover you in the event of an accident or infectious disease. Your hospital costs, repatriation costs, accidents during the practice of certain sports (to be checked with the company), or your civil liability will be covered.

Note that some countries have reciprocal health agreement with Australia. Therefore nationals from those countries will benefit from Medicare in Australia (national healthcare system). Make sure to check this point before buying a cover.

Accommodation & Living Costs in Australia

Housing / Accommodation

• Campgrounds: If you are lucky enough to be able to drop anchor in a free camp, then take advantage of it! That’s what adventure is all about, living in the great outdoors in picturesque areas! You also have the possibility to pay for a caravan park which will allow you to enjoy at least hot showers, a laundry and a kitchen corner (about 20$/night and 70$/week).
• In your vehicle : You will have to find an authorized place to spend the night.
• Youth hostels: depending on the city and the period you book, rates can vary from $40/night (dormitory of 10) to $60/night on weekends. In general, a week varies between $120 and $250.
• Wwoofing & HelpX: Great alternatives for those looking to live with locals, with free food, laundry and accommodation in exchange for a few hours of work per week.
• Housesitting: allows you to stay in someone’s home while they are away, taking care of their property and pets. It’s a popular way for travelers to save on accommodation costs while exploring different parts of the country.
• Airbnb: For an entire home/apartment count around AUD 150 – AUD 350 per night. Price will wary based on location and size. For a private room, it will be cheaper (AUD 80 – AUD 150 per night). Staying with hosts, often includes local tips.
• Flat rental: Who wouldn’t dream of a flat overlooking the beach? With a deposit of between $200 and $1000 (depending on the owner), you can expect to pay approximately $350/week in rent (with roommates) to fully enjoy your holiday!
• Hotels: Of course you also have the option of spending your nights in hotels. Budget will vary between 120$ and well up to you… depending on your preferences.

Food and Dining costs

Buying groceries and cooking for yourself is the most economical choice: expect to spend A$100–140/week on staples (Aldi, Coles, Woolworths). Eating out costs:

• Fast food :  A$15–25/meal
• Casual cafés & pubs :  A$30–40/meal
• Mid-range restaurants :  A$50–65/meal

Getting Around

Australia is a much larger continent than Europe. This means that you need to plan ahead and find the most suitable means of transport.

Lifts (or carpooling)

This is an almost free way of getting around, where you contribute to the fuel costs and meet many backpackers! Recommended for those thirsty for adventure. To do this, a quick look at the Facebook groups in Australia is welcome

Coach & Bus Passes

The network is extensive and efficient but often at the same price as the plane and the train. The two main companies are Greyhound and Premier Motor Service. For those who would mainly choose this means of transport, a Greyhound package is worth considering. In addition, here is an order of prices according to the destinations:

Route / Company	Premier Motor Service	Greyhound (Advantage)
Melbourne – Canberra	–	85 $
Agnès Water – Byron Bay	95 $	180 $
Sydney – Melbourne	–	120 $
Sydney – Brisbane	100 $	170 $
Coober Pedy – Adélaïde	–	180 $
Sydney – Cairns	300 $	510 $

Trains

In general, the journey time is several hours longer and the fare is the same as that of a bus or plane. That said, it is still much more comfortable for long journeys. And there are some iconic and famous train journeys in Australia like The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth), The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) or The Overland (from Melbourne to Adelaide).

Motorbike & private vehicle

One of the best adventures you can have is a motorbike trip, but it does have a few drawbacks (exposure to the weather, minimal luggage). This is why a car remains a great option! Whether you have a 4WD, a campervan or a classic car, the road is waiting for you!

Car & campervan hire

• Compact car:  A$45–70/day off-peak,  A$80+ in high season
• Campervan (2-berth):  A$60–90/day off-peak,  A$160+ in December–January
• Relocation deals:  A$1–10/day if you’re flexible on dates and route — the cheapest way to cover long distances by far

Rates fall sharply past two weeks’ hire, and the season matters more than the operator. Full breakdown: campervan and motorhome rental prices.

Domestic flights

Fast and often cheaper than the bus over long distances. Rough one-way fares booked in advance:

• Sydney – Melbourne: from  A$70
• Melbourne – Cairns: from  A$150
• Sydney – Perth: from  A$200
• Melbourne – Alice Springs: from  A$250
• Perth – Darwin: from  A$200

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Rex compete on most routes, set fare alerts a few weeks ahead rather than booking on the day.

Fuel

Budget around A$1.75–1.85 per litre on the coast, checked mid-2026. Prices climb steeply the further you get from a city: in remote areas, expect 30 to 40% more, and Outback roadhouses can be higher still.

Don’t plan a long trip on a fixed fuel price. 2026 has been unusually volatile, the national average hit a record of around  A$2.53/L in April before easing back. Check a live source such as the ACCC or a free state app (FuelWatch in WA, FuelCheck in NSW, MyFuel NT) before committing to a big drive.

Activities & Sightseeing

Many activities are free in Australia. Go to the beach, surf, visit cultural centres, explore the streets, markets of cities, or even climb a mountain and discover a waterfall. There are many ways to explore the country and do activities for free or a small fee. But to give you a rough idea about costs here:

• Popular Sites: $20 – $50 entry fee. Examples include Sydney Opera House tours, and Melbourne Aquarium.
• National Parks: $11 to $25 entry fee per vehicle. Fees for entry and camping.

Sample weekly budgets

Individual prices only tell you so much, what most people want to know is what a week actually adds up to. Here are four realistic profiles, all in AUD, based on around 100 km of driving a day.

Indicative figures in AUD, checked August 2026. Fuel based on roughly 70 litres a week at  A$1.80/L.

The gap between the first and last column is almost entirely about the vehicle. Owning one costs a few thousand up front but almost nothing per week, and you recover most of it when you resell. Hiring costs nothing up front and  A$400 or more every week. As a rule of thumb: beyond four to six weeks, buying and reselling works out cheaper — below that, hiring wins.

Two things move these totals more than anything else. Free camping is the single biggest saving available in Australia, and it’s widespread if your vehicle is self-contained. And cooking for yourself: eating out twice a day roughly doubles the food line.

Read also: Road trip in Australia — budget · Choosing and buying a vehicle · Where to camp in Australia

Budget Touring in Australia

Here are some options of tours in Australia and their costs:

• K’gari (Fraser Island) 3 nights & Skydiving: from $650
• Seaplane flight: from $250
• Whitsunday 1 day & scuba diving: $250.

• Day Tours: Minimum $120 (few hours / basic) but can go up to $250. Guided tours to places like the Great Barrier Reef or Blue Mountains.
• Multi-Day Tours: minimum $550 up to $1,500 (or more!). Includes accommodation, meals, and activities.

Budget for a Working Holiday

Here’s a realistic estimate for a year on the road with a WHV. Bear in mind you’ll be earning as well as spending — most backpackers work several months and finish the year roughly where they started, or ahead.

Up-front costs

• Working Holiday visa:  A$840
• Health insurance: from  A$600 for 12 months, more with manual work or adventure sports covered
• Flights:  A$1,200–2,000 return from Europe, depending on season
• Vehicle: from  A$5,000 to buy — usually recoverable when you resell
• Certificates: RSA around  A$125, White Card around  A$60

Running costs, per week

• Activities and going out:  A$100–200
• Food:  A$100–140 self-catering
• Fuel:  A$120–180 depending on distance
• Accommodation: free camping to  A$210 on powered sites

Budget for holidaying in Australia

For the lucky ones who are travelling in Australia for 3 weeks just to enjoy the country, here is an idea of the budget to plan:

• Vehicle rental: min $150/day depending on vehicle
• Fuel: $120/week (depending on kms)
• Tourist visa: Free
• Travel Insurance: $200
• Tours : minimum $1000 – 1500
• Food & Activities (restaurants, clubs, pubs …): $500/week
• Plane tickets A/R – $2500

See you soon on the roads!