Transport
Getting Around Australia: Flights, Trains & Road Trips
Distances are huge. Compare domestic flights, long-distance trains, campervans and city transport to plan a realistic route.
Budget guide
Money & Budget Tips for Travelling in Australia
Australia is not a cheap destination, but it is a transparent one: prices include tax, tipping is optional and cards work everywhere.
- 6 min read
- Budget calculator
Money basics
The currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, written $), divided into 100 cents. Notes are colourful, durable polymer in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations; coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2. There are no 1c or 2c coins, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents – card payments are charged to the exact cent.
Cards and tap-to-pay
Debit and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, and contactless payment is the norm – even for a $4 coffee. American Express is less widely taken. Some businesses add a card surcharge of around 1–2%, which must be displayed.
Tipping
Not expected. Australia has a high minimum wage, so prices already reflect fair pay. In sit-down restaurants, about 10% for great service is appreciated but optional. Many cafés and restaurants charge a 10–15% surcharge on public holidays (and some on Sundays) instead.
GST is included
A 10% Goods and Services Tax applies to most goods and services, and by law it is already included in the displayed price. What you see on the shelf or menu is what you pay, apart from any card or holiday surcharge.
Avoid hidden fees: use a card without foreign transaction fees, and when a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose AUD. The "convenience" conversion rate is usually much worse. Bank-owned ATMs may also charge a withdrawal fee for foreign cards.
Shop tax-free
The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)
Claim back the GST on goods you take home.
Spend AUD 300 or more with one business
The total (including GST) can be made up of several purchases from the same business, as long as it has one ABN. Ask for an original tax invoice showing the ABN.
Buy within 60 days of departure
Purchases must be made in the 60 days before you leave Australia. Services, accommodation and goods consumed in Australia (such as food) are not eligible.
Claim at the airport
Go to the TRS facility after passport control in the international departure area with your passport, boarding pass, invoices and the goods (carry them as hand luggage where possible). Arrive early – claims close shortly before departure. The TRS app lets you pre-enter details to speed things up.
Wine bought under the scheme can also attract a refund of the Wine Equalisation Tax. Conditions are set by the Australian Border Force – check the current rules before you travel.
What things typically cost
Prices in Sydney and Melbourne are similar to London or New York; regional towns are a little cheaper, while remote outback and island resorts cost more because everything is trucked or shipped in. Typical prices in 2026, in Australian dollars:
| Item | Typical price (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Flat white or cappuccino | $5 – $6.50 |
| Café breakfast | $20 – $30 |
| Pub meal or casual dinner main | $25 – $40 |
| Three courses, mid-range restaurant | $80 – $120 per person |
| Pint of beer in a pub | $12 – $15 |
| Hostel dorm bed | $35 – $65 |
| Mid-range city hotel (double room) | $180 – $300 |
| Single public-transport trip | $3 – $6 |
| Small hire car per day | $60 – $110 |
| Petrol per litre (cities / remote) | $1.80 – $2.20 / up to $3+ |
Indicative ranges only; prices vary by city, season and venue.
Per person, per day
Sample daily budgets by travel style
Rough figures per person when two people share a room, before flights and tours.
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (share of a room) | $60 – hostel private room, motel or holiday-park cabin | $120 – 3.5–4-star hotel | $300+ – 5-star hotel or lodge |
| Food and drink | $45 – supermarket, bakeries, one cheap meal out | $90 – café breakfast, lunch and dinner out | $200 – fine dining and wine |
| Local transport | $15 – public transport with daily caps | $35 – transport plus the odd taxi or rideshare | $80 – private transfers |
| Sights and activities | $25 – free walks, beaches, galleries | $35 – museums, park fees, a ferry ride | $100+ – private guides, scenic flights |
| Typical total | ≈ $145 | ≈ $280 | ≈ $680+ |
Budget for the big-ticket experiences
The headline experiences are where costs add up. A full-day outer Great Barrier Reef trip from Cairns or Port Douglas typically costs $250–$350 per adult, a scenic helicopter flight from a few hundred dollars upwards, and entry to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is around $38 for a three-day pass. Domestic flights between capitals usually range from $100 to $300 one way in economy, depending on how early you book. Including these in a packaged tour makes your total spend predictable from the start.
Interactive
Daily budget calculator
A quick estimate of on-the-ground costs: accommodation, food, local transport and modest activities.
Estimate my spend
–estimated total (AUD)
–approx. in USD
This is an estimate, not a quote. It excludes international and domestic flights and packaged tours, and assumes two travellers share a room. USD figures use a sample rate of 1 AUD = 0.65 USD – check a live rate before you budget.
Money-saving tips that actually work
- Travel in the shoulder seasons (February–March, October–November) for lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds.
- Book domestic flights early and compare fares with bags included – a cheap base fare plus luggage is not always cheaper.
- Drink the tap water. It is safe everywhere in the cities and free refill stations are common.
- Eat like a local: pub "specials" nights, food courts, farmers' markets and bakeries are excellent value. Many restaurants are BYO (bring your own wine) for a small corkage fee.
- Use free city transport – Melbourne's Free Tram Zone and Perth's CAT buses – and the daily fare caps on public transport.
- Cook some meals: holiday parks and many apartments have free communal barbecues and kitchens.
- Many of the best sights are free: beaches, coastal walks, botanic gardens and state galleries. National park passes cost far less than a single tour.
- Bundle accommodation, transfers and activities in a package – it often costs less than booking each element separately.
Frequently asked questions
Rarely. Australia is one of the most cashless countries in the world – contactless cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, from cafés to market stalls. Carry a small amount of cash for remote areas, some country markets and as a backup.
Tipping is not expected, because hospitality staff are paid a proper wage. In restaurants, leaving around 10% for great service is a kind gesture but entirely optional. Rounding up a taxi fare is common; tipping in cafés and pubs is not.
Through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). If you spend AUD 300 or more (including GST) with one business within 60 days of departure, you can claim the GST back at the TRS facility in the international airport departure area. Bring your passport, boarding pass, original tax invoices and the goods.
Excluding international flights and tours, a couple on a mid-range budget should allow roughly AUD 500–600 per day for a comfortable hotel, meals out, local transport and a few activities. Backpackers can manage on much less; luxury travel easily costs several times more. Use the calculator on this page for an estimate.
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