Thinking of travelling to Australia? Great choice! You are going to discover an amazing country and live an unusual experience. But, how much should you estimate your budget? Indeed, you are perfectly right to ask it. And it’s because it’s on everyone’s lips that we’re offering you this article. After reading it, you will be able to establish the costs to be considered according to the type of trip you are planning.
Table of Contents
Budget before coming to Australia
Plane ticket
Airfare will undoubtedly be one of the biggest expenses before you leave. Australia is at the other end of the world, so going there will have a significant cost!
Tickets prices change constantly during the year. Thus, there are 3 main periods:
- October to February (spring/summer & Australian holidays): ≤ £1100 return (including 1 stopover, good airline and 24h travel time)
- March to June (winter): ≤ £850 return (including 1 stopover, very good airline and 24 hours travel time)
- July to September (winter/autumn & European holidays): ≤ £1100 return (including 1 stopover, good airline and 26h travel time)
Since Covid-19 pandemic, prices have risen quite a bit. For this beginning of year 2023, count around 1400 EUR (1200 GPD) for a return ticket with a stopover.
Passport and Driver’s licence
To travel outside the European Union, you need a passport. To obtain or renew it, it is necessary to make a request to your town hall with supporting documents. The cost of a passport (1st request or renewal) is £75.50 if you apply for it online in the UK. The application is more expensive if you apply by paper form (£85).
If you already have one, make sure it is valid for at least as long as the duration of your stay.
If your driver’s licence is not in English then you will need to obtain an international licence. The process is free in general but quite lengthy so be sure to make the request well in advance.
Visa
To enter Australia, you will need a visa. Here is a list of your visa options for a trip to Australia :
- Tourist Visa (for 3 to 12 months) (eVisitor Visa Subclass 651 / Visitor Visa Subclass 600) : Free or 145$ for a 1st application then 365$ after a WHV
- WHV (for 1 year) (Working Holiday Visa / Subclass 417 & 462) : 510$ (can be renewed under conditions)
Make sure you apply for a visa from the official government website
Health Insurance
It is important to take out travel insurance in case your credit card or insurance company does not cover costs abroad. 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.
There are a lot of offers on the market. Among those, World Nomads policies provide different levels of coverage for all key areas while you are travelling.
Cost of living in Australia
Housing
Depending on your preferences, housing can be one of the most affordable or most expensive expenses. Here are your options:
- In a tent: free to $70 per week. If you are lucky enough to be able to drop anchor in a free camp, then take advantage of it! That’s what adventure is all about, living in the great outdoors in picturesque areas! And it’s free! You also have the possibility to pay for a caravan park which will allow you to enjoy at least hot showers, a laundry and a kitchen corner (about 20$/night and 70$/week). Of course, this requires a vehicle 😉
- In your vehicle : You just have to find an authorized place to spend the night. Easy, mate !
- Youth hostels: depending on the city and the period you book, rates can vary from $25/night (dormitory of 10) to $60/night on weekends (dormitory of 5). In general, a week varies between $120 and $250
- Woofing & 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. A great option!
- 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 $300/week in rent (with roommates) to fully enjoy your holiday!
- Hotels: Of course you also have the option of spending your nights in hotels. Budget will vary between 120$ and well up to you… depending on your preferences.
Food
Hello TimTam, canned food, pasta and wraps! Anything that can be kept for a long time and in all kinds of heat (well, almost). Because on a road trip, every day is a new opportunity, a new destination, so we might as well take care of what we buy:
- Small budgets: between 30$ and 50$/week for grocery shopping. This includes simple foods and meat in small quantities, but also some sweets.
- The average Road Trip budget: about $60 to $70/week. Fresh vegetables and spices are best, with a reasonable amount of meat.
- The gourmet budget: for those who love good food, if you wish to garnish your dishes, a minimum of 80$/week should be considered to maintain your ‘joie de vivre’ Down Under
Transportation
How to get around and how much does it cost? Australia is a much larger continent than Europe. This means that you need to plan ahead and find the most suitable means of transport. So, here are some ideas to travel through this fabulous country:
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
Buses
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:
| Premier Motor Service | Greyhound | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | Advantage | Premium | ||
| Melbourne – Canberra | – | 67 $ | 83 $ | 98 $ |
| Agnès Water – Byron Bay | 93 $ | 170 $ | 180 $ | 193 $ |
| Sydney – Melbourne | – | 99 $ | 119 $ | 129 $ |
| Sydney – Brisbane | 98 $ | 111 $ | 169 $ | 211 $ |
| Coober Pedy – Adélaïde | – | 181 $ | 181 $ | 186 $ |
| Sydney – Cairns | 309 $ | 446 $ | 512 $ | 565 $ |
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. For example, The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth), The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) or The Overland (from Melbourne to Adelaide).
Motorbike & private car
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!
Renting a vehicle
Renting a vehicle is probably the most popular way to travel in Australia. Car hire generally costs around $30 per day. For a campervan rental, you can expect to pay around $1000 for 10 days. Rates vary depending on the season and the model / equipment of the vehicle etc.
Cheap campervan hire
Find the best deals on Motorhome Republic to rent a cheap van.
By plane
Fast and affordable, it allows you to get from one end of the country to the other in a short time. So, we invite you to take a look at airline platforms such as Skycanner, to find the best flight. To get an idea, count approximately: (return ticket)
Sydney – Melbourne: $100
Melbourne – Cairns: $300
Sydney – Perth: $400
Melbourne – Alice Spring: $500
Perth – Darwin: $400
Activities
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.
Budget for a road trip in Australia
You want to go on a road trip, and if you have the ability, arrive with the maximum of funds in the Australia! The most important thing about a road trip is your vehicle. So how much does it cost? What should you plan for? First of all, if you want to travel to isolated places, prefer a 4WD rather than a campervan. Il will allow you to access every corner of Australia. The budget for a vehicle will depend on many things, such as the period of purchase, the vehicle you pick, the city where you purchase, its general state etc. Another option is to rent a vehicle for your road trip, it will give you the option to pick it up somewhere and drop it off in another city. It is also a great option if you are only looking for a short road trip in Australia (East coast or West coast for example).
Read also : Road Trip in Australia – Budget
Budget touring in Australia
How about sailing on the Whitsunday Islands? Or skydiving? Of course, depending on what you want and where you are, the prices will differ. Nevertheless, here are some options of tours in Australia and their costs:
- Fraser Island 3 nights & Skydiving: $500
- Seaplane flight: $200
- Whitsunday 1 night & scuba diving: $150
Budget for a WHV in Australia
Here is an estimate for a WHV when traveling on the roads. Expenses will be as follow:
- Purchase of a vehicle: $4000 (at least)
- Fuel: $100/week
- Food: $60/week
- WHV Cost: 510$
- Health Insurance: $400 per year
- Tour: $450 to $1000
- Activities (restaurants, bars, parties…): $150/week
- Plane tickets not counted
So count approximately $20 000 per year (can be higher or lower depending on your life style, activities etc).
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: $100/day
- Fuel: $120/week
- Food: 70$/week
- Tourist visa: $0
- Travel Insurance: $200
- Tours : between $450 and $800
- Activities (restaurants, clubs, pubs …): $150/week
- Plane tickets A/R – minimum £1000
See you soon on the roads!
