Australia is a mid-to-high destination budget-wise — comparable to Japan or Scandinavian countries in daily cost of living, but with the long-haul flight supplement weighing heavily on the overall budget. Reference budget of €130/day/person covers a comfort trip excluding flight: mid-range 3* hotel or Airbnb, reasonable meals, car rental, selected activities.
A comfort traveller for two in shoulder season will budget: 3-4* hotel €130-200/night for two, meals €50-80/person/day (café/brunch €15-25, lunch €20-30, dinner €30-50), car rental €50-80/day, activities (Great Barrier diving, national parks, guided tours) €50-100/day. The luxury traveller finds bliss in iconic resorts: Park Hyatt Sydney (€800-1,500/night), Crown Towers Melbourne (€500-900/night), Longitude 131° at Uluru (€3,000-5,000/night all-inclusive), Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania (€1,500-3,000/night all-inclusive).
The backpacker traveller (especially young Working Holiday Visa holders) can get by on €70-100/day: dorm hostels €25-40/night (YHA, Base, Nomads widespread), meals in food courts and Coles or Woolworths supermarkets (€10-15/meal), Greyhound bus passes, shared van road trip (rental €50-80/day split between several). It is the most popular travel style among 20-35 year olds, particularly on the east coast Cairns-Sydney-Melbourne.
By expense category: accommodation (40-50% of budget) — dorm hostel €25-40/night, 3* hotel €100-150/night, 4* €180-300/night, 5* €400-800/night. Food (20-25%) — café breakfast €15-25/person, lunch €20-30, dinner €35-60, fine dining €100-200/person, pub beer €8-12, espresso €4-5. Transport (15-20%) — domestic flights €100-450/trip, car rental €40-80/day, train €50-100/trip, long-distance bus €30-80/trip, taxi/Uber in cities €10-30/trip. Activities (10-15%) — Great Barrier diving €150-250/day, snorkelling €80-150, Uluru sunset excursion €70-120, national park €8-15/vehicle.
Practical tips: Visa/Mastercard universally accepted — Australia is one of the most advanced contactless payment societies, no need to plan much cash. ATMs numerous (fees AUD 2-4 per withdrawal). Tipping not expected — high minimum wages (AUD 23.23/h in 2024) — exceptional service deserves 10%, otherwise nothing. GST of 10% is included in all displayed prices. Wi-Fi generally good in hotels and cafés, but rural/Outback zones can be disconnected — buy a local Telstra SIM (best national coverage) or Optus on arrival: AUD 30-50 for 30 days with generous data. Voltage 230V (Europe-compatible) but plugs are type I (three V-shaped flat pins) — adapter mandatory, available on site for AUD 5-10 or before departure. Left-hand driving requires 24-48h adjustment for Europeans — be particularly careful at roundabouts and first rental hours. Distances and dehydration in the Outback: always carry at least 4 litres of water per person per day in vehicle in the desert, plus paper map (mobile network cut), full tank at every station.
Read also
- Sydney and the East Coast — Iconic Sydney, Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and New South Wales beaches.
- Melbourne and Victoria — Cultural Melbourne, Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles, Phillip Island.
- Great Barrier Reef — Cairns, Port Douglas, Whitsundays: the world's largest coral reef (UNESCO 1981).
- Outback and Uluru — Sacred Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs: the legendary red heart of Australia.
- Wild Tasmania — Hobart, Cradle Mountain, MONA and Salamanca Market: the green island south of the continent.