How much does a trip to Australia actually cost? Two working women from Korea (my friend and me), 4 regions, 16 nights and 17 days: here’s exactly what I spent, category by category, so you can estimate your own budget.
Short answer: I spent about ₩5.96 million per person (about A$6,900 or US$4,300) for 16 nights, including international flights, 8 flights in total, 4-star-ish hotels, a rental car in Tasmania and plenty of tours.
Trip at a glance
- Dates: 22 September to 8 October 2023 (16 nights, 17 days)
- Planning: about 4 months ahead (from late May 2023). How early you book makes a big difference to prices.
- Route: Melbourne → Tasmania → Sydney → Cairns
- Exchange rate at the time: A$1 = ₩867
- Travel style: mid-range. Not stingy, not splurging: 4-star hotels where possible!
- Per person total: ₩5,959,659 (≈ A$6,870 / US$4,260)
I tracked everything in Korean won. AUD figures are converted at my trip rate (A$1 = ₩867) and USD at roughly US$1 = ₩1,400, rounded. Use them as estimates.
Total cost by category (per person)
| Category | KRW | ≈ AUD | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Flights | 1,581,377 | A$1,824 | 27% |
| 2. Accommodation | 1,073,272 | A$1,238 | 18% |
| 3. Food & snacks | 737,194 | A$850 | 12% |
| 4. Transport & fuel | 513,262 | A$592 | 9% |
| 5. Tours & activities | 1,220,684 | A$1,408 | 20% |
| 6. Shopping | 678,543 | A$783 | 11% |
| 7. Other (visa, SIM, insurance, medicine) | 155,327 | A$179 | 3% |
| Total | 5,959,659 | A$6,874 | 100% |
In this guide
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Food and groceries
- Transport, taxis and car rental
- Tours and activities
- Shopping
- Other costs
- FAQ
1. Flights: A$1,824 per person
Flights set the scale of your whole budget, so finding cheap ones matters most. Because you’ll likely fly between cities within Australia, I focused hard on getting domestic flights cheaply. Everything was paid 3-4 months before the trip (booked May 2023 for a September departure).
International: Seoul to Australia
My rule: the more stopovers, the cheaper. I flew Seoul → Ho Chi Minh City → Melbourne, and Sydney → Ho Chi Minh City → Seoul, for ₩880,000 (≈ A$1,015) round trip. I compared multi-city routes and booked on Trip.com. Your long-haul fare will obviously depend on where you’re flying from.
Domestic flights within Australia
My rules here: “right now is the cheapest it will ever be” and “there’s always a cheaper route.”
- Melbourne → Launceston (Tasmania), one way: ₩100,000 (≈ A$115)
- Hobart → Sydney, one way: ₩170,000 (≈ A$196)
- Sydney → Cairns → Sydney, round trip: ₩420,000 (≈ A$484)
In total: international ₩880,000 + domestic ₩700,000 per person. That’s 8 flights in 17 days!
2. Accommodation: A$1,238 per person
Just like flights, book early. It matters even more for accommodation than for flights. Also, stack every discount coupon you can across platforms, and search the same dates on several sites. I usually compare Airbnb, Trip.com, Agoda and Hotels.com. (More on this in my tips for saving on accommodation.)
What I paid per night (room for two)
| City | Stay | Nights | Per night (room) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | The Grace Hotel (4-star) | 3 | ₩190,000 (≈ A$219) |
| Sydney | Travelodge Hotel Sydney Airport (4-star) | 1 | ₩140,000 (≈ A$161) |
| Cairns | Coral Tree Inn (4-star) | 4 | ₩130,000 (≈ A$150) |
| Melbourne | Mercure Welcome Melbourne (3-star) | 3 | ₩110,000 (≈ A$127) |
| Tasmania | Tiny Escapes Cradle Valley (private cabin) | 1 | ₩330,000 (≈ A$381) |
| Tasmania | Airbnb in Sandy Bay | 2 | ₩130,000 (≈ A$150) |
| Tasmania | Beachfront Bicheno (3-star) | 1 | ₩20,000 (≈ A$23), deal price |
That Bicheno price was thanks to a Hotels.com reward (stay 10 nights, get 1 free). One night was spent on a plane, so 15 nights in total cost ₩2.2 million for two: ₩1.1 million (≈ A$1,269) per person, or about ₩73,000 (≈ A$84) per person per night. That’s about the same as hotel prices in Korea. A great result!
Estimate yours: outside peak season (late September to October), a double room at a 3-4 star hotel cost 110,000-₩190,000 (≈ A$127-219) per night. Budget about A$138 per night for 3-star or about A$185 for 4-star, then multiply by your nights.
Curious about the Melbourne hotel? Read my honest Mercure Welcome Melbourne review.
3. Food and groceries: A$850 per person
You’ve probably heard Australia is expensive. But prices in Korea have risen so much lately that it didn’t feel that pricey to me. Sydney and Melbourne were pricier, while Tasmania and Cairns were relatively cheap.
| Meal | Per person |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (yogurt or a sandwich from a convenience store) | about A$10 |
| Lunch, regular place | ≈ A$14-29 |
| Lunch, nicer place | ≈ A$29-38 |
| Dinner, regular place | ≈ A$14-40 |
| Dinner, nicer place | ≈ A$40-58 |
Food at the Cairns night market was cheap, while Sydney and Melbourne were on the expensive end.
Supermarket prices
Groceries felt similar to Korea. I mostly bought yogurt, snacks and fruit, and almost never cooked. Dairy is really cheap, so eat lots of it! A few examples (converted from KRW at my trip rate):
- Leek: ≈ A$2.30
- Milk, 3 liters: ≈ A$2.90
- Yogurt, 4-pack: ≈ A$2; large tub: ≈ A$5.80
- Prawns: ≈ A$30 per kg
- Vegemite: ≈ A$6.90
- Chocolate: ≈ A$4.60; cookies: ≈ A$2.80
Other everyday prices
- Water: A$4.50
- Soft drink: A$7
- Gelato or ice cream: A$8
- Bread or churros: A$7-10
Australia doesn’t really have a tipping culture. Occasionally a fancier restaurant offered a tip option when paying, but I didn’t tip.
My food total: meals ₩670,000 + snacks ₩70,000 for 16 days, about 40,000-₩50,000 (≈ A$46-58) per day. Adjust for your habits: we had supermarket yogurt for breakfast, we don’t drink coffee at all, and we eat small-to-medium portions. Add more if you eat breakfast out, need daily coffee or eat a lot.
4. Transport, taxis and car rental: A$592 per person
We were on foot (public transport, taxis and airport buses) for 12 days and had a rental car for 4 days in Tasmania. This category varies hugely depending on your cities and whether you rent a car, so treat it as a rough guide.
Airport buses
- Home to Incheon Airport, round trip: ₩34,000
- Melbourne Airport to the city (SkyBus), round trip: ₩31,000 (≈ A$36)
Taxis and rideshare
We usually took a taxi between the airport and our hotel because of our suitcases, and whenever there was no other option or we needed to save time.
- Sydney Airport ↔ hotel: ≈ A$51 there, ≈ A$44 back
- Cairns Airport ↔ hotel: ≈ A$23 there, ≈ A$17 back
- Featherdale Wildlife Park → Lincoln’s Rock (Blue Mountains): ≈ A$99
- Lincoln’s Rock → Three Sisters: ≈ A$40
- Six blocks across Melbourne CBD: ≈ A$12
We used DiDi and Uber. Download both and compare fares every time: DiDi was usually cheaper, but in some places Uber was. Use first-ride discounts if you’re a new user, and remember fares change by time of day.
Public transport in Sydney
We only used public transport in Sydney. You just tap a contactless card on and off and get charged afterward. It works on trams, trains, buses and ferries, and I recommend trying them all. Definitely take the ferry, ideally three times: by day, at sunset and after dark. We took about 10 rides over 3 days for ₩18,000 (≈ A$21). (See my Sydney Opera House photo spots guide for the best ferry views.)
Car rental, fuel and parking in Tasmania
- Rental car: ₩450,000 (≈ A$519) for 4 days, compact hatchback (an MG3), booked 3 months ahead on RentalCars. Book a rental car as early as you can.
- Fuel: ₩140,000 (≈ A$161) for 4 days of driving about 3 hours a day
- Parking: about A$5 per hour, but there are quite a few free spots, so look for those first
More on renting and driving: Tasmania car rental guide and driving in Australia tips.
5. Tours and activities: A$1,408 per person
Here it is, the big one. Tours in Australia are expensive. But I get why people take them: so many of the most beautiful places are hard to reach without a car. Bottom line: I spent ₩1.2 million on tours alone.
| Region | Tour or activity | Price (KRW) | ≈ AUD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 2-day Great Ocean Road + Puffing Billy + Phillip Island tour | 280,000 | A$323 |
| Melbourne | Option: Great Ocean Road helicopter ride (highly recommended) | 140,000 | A$161 |
| Melbourne | Option: winery tasting | 18,000 | A$21 |
| Melbourne | Option: Maru Koala & Animal Park entry | 43,000 | A$50 |
| Tasmania | National parks pass (1 vehicle) | 77,000 | A$89 |
| Tasmania | Tasman Island cruise | 130,000 | A$150 |
| Cairns | Great Barrier Reef, Passions of Paradise (highly recommended) | 260,000 | A$300 |
| Cairns | Green Island return boat + snorkel gear + lunch buffet | 120,000 | A$138 |
| Cairns | Fitzroy Island return boat + snorkel gear | 170,000 | A$196 |
| Sydney | Featherdale Wildlife Park entry (highly recommended) | 39,000 | A$45 |
Most people visit Featherdale on a day tour combined with the Blue Mountains, but the tours were full so we went on our own. Always book tours in advance. Leave it until a few days before and they may be sold out. (Read about our Featherdale visit and Maru Koala & Animal Park.)
6. Shopping: A$783 per person
This one depends entirely on the person. I’m a serious shopper and spent ₩670,000, while my friend spent ₩220,000. If I like a tea, I want every flavor. If I like a cookie, I buy the whole line. That said, Australia doesn’t have many luxury brands, so even heavy shopping is mostly vitamins, snacks, groceries and souvenirs.
| Item | Price (KRW) | ≈ AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Heat rub x2 | 40,000 | A$46 |
| About 10 kinds of vitamins and supplements, papaw cream x2, mouth ulcer patches | about 300,000 | A$346 |
| Tasmanian honey x2 | 4,000 | A$5 |
| Cookies, tea, chocolate and snacks | 100,000 | A$115 |
| T2 tea set from a T2 store | 20,000 | A$23 |
| Jerky x3 at the airport | 30,000 | A$35 |
| Tasmania road sign souvenir | 10,000 | A$12 |
| Wombat postcard from Tasmania | 5,000 | A$6 |
| Koala socks x2 | 20,000 | A$23 |
| Tasmanian goat milk soap x7 | 18,000 | A$21 |
| Quokka T-shirt from Featherdale | 22,000 | A$25 |
| Koala plush from the airport | 17,000 | A$20 |
Use these prices to plan your own shopping list. Reviews of everything: 17 Australia souvenirs I bought.
7. Other costs: A$179 per person
- Visa: A$20 (₩17,000)
- Travel insurance: ₩20,000
- Basic medicine: ₩35,000; cold medicine: ₩25,000
- Roaming during 2 days of layovers in Vietnam: ₩14,000
- Australian SIM card for 2 weeks: ₩20,000
- ATM withdrawal fees (a silly mistake): ₩15,000
- Not included: travel gear and clothes I bought before the trip
So, how much did 16 nights in Australia cost?
Adding it all up, I spent about ₩6 million (≈ A$6,900 / US$4,300) per person for 16 nights and 17 days. Is that a good deal? I think so, considering 8 flights, a rental car and lots of tours. I hope this helps you estimate your own budget!
FAQ
How much does a 2-week trip to Australia cost?
My 16-night trip across Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney and Cairns cost about A$6,900 (US$4,300) per person, including international flights from Seoul. Flights (27%) and tours (20%) were the biggest costs.
How much should I budget per day for food in Australia?
I spent about A$46-58 per day, with supermarket yogurt for breakfast and no coffee. Regular lunches were around A$14-29 and dinners A$14-40 per person.
How much are hotels in Australia?
Outside peak season (late September-October), a double room in a 3-4 star hotel cost me about A$127-219 per night. Including one splurge cabin and one deal, I averaged about A$84 per person per night.
Do you tip in Australia?
Generally no. A few fancier restaurants offered a tip option at payment, but I didn’t tip.
More Australia guides
Happy planning, and may your budget stretch further than mine!
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