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Australia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
You can travel Australia on a budget, but it takes planning: hostels, self-catering and free nature are the key. A realistic minimum is about A$155 per person per day (bed A$60, food A$50, sights A$30, transport A$15), plus domestic flights or long-distance buses.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | A$60 | A$130 | A$280 |
| Food & drink | A$50 | A$90 | A$160 |
| Sights & tickets | A$30 | A$80 | A$180 |
| Local transport | A$15 | A$25 | A$60 |
| Per person, per day | A$155 | A$325 | A$680 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Australia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk in Sydney, about 6 km
- The Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair view of the Opera House and Bridge
- Walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge footpath
- The Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Echo Point in the Blue Mountains
- The free ranger-led Mala walk at Uluru (with the park pass)
- Melbourne's free CBD tram zone and laneway street art
Cheap eats
- Fish and chips on the Manly Corso: about A$15-20
- Meat pie from a bakery: about A$6-8
- Thai or Vietnamese in Newtown or Chinatown: mains from about A$18-25
- Pub 'parma' or schnitzel night specials: often A$15-25
- Sausage sizzle at a supermarket or community event: a few dollars
Where to sleep for less
Hostels are the backbone of budget travel: Kings Cross and Central in Sydney, the Cairns centre near the Esplanade, and central Melbourne. Dorm beds run roughly A$35-60, and budget doubles A$90-160. At Uluru, the campground and hostel-style lodge at Ayers Rock Resort are the cheapest options.
Getting around cheaply
In cities, use public transport with a contactless card (Sydney's Opal caps fares daily). Between cities, budget airlines such as Jetstar are often cheaper than long-distance buses for big distances; Greyhound coaches suit the east coast. From Sydney Airport, the train is quick but includes a station fee; a bus to a nearby station can save money.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk the Royal Botanic Garden and the harbour foreshore (free)
- Lunch: bakery meat pie and coffee (about A$12)
- Afternoon: Bondi to Coogee coastal walk and a swim between the flags (bus fare only)
- Evening: ferry to Manly for sunset and fish and chips (about A$25 including ferry)
- Total: about A$155 including a hostel bed
More ways to save
- Travel in shoulder season (spring or autumn) for better hostel prices and fewer crowds.
- Look for relocation deals on campervans and rental cars, sometimes A$1-5 a day plus fuel.
- Buy a reusable water bottle; free refill taps are common in cities and parks.
- Pick one big paid experience per region (reef trip, Uluru, Blue Mountains) rather than many small ones.
- Check hostel free breakfasts and pub meal deals before eating out.
- Use Sunday Opal fare caps in Sydney for long ferry and train trips.
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Common questions
Can you backpack Australia cheaply?
Reasonably, at about A$155 a day with hostels and self-catering. Working holiday visas let many young travellers earn money along the way.
What is the cheapest way to travel between cities?
For long distances, budget flights booked ahead are often cheapest; on the east coast, coaches and campervan relocations are good alternatives.
Are national parks free in Australia?
Many are, but some charge entry, such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta at about A$38 per adult for 3 days.