How much does a trip around Australia actually cost? This calculator turns that question into a number you can plan around. Pick your destination, choose a travel style, set your trip length and group size, and you will get a per-day figure, a trip total and a per-person share — all in Australian dollars. Every daily cost can be edited, so once you have real quotes for a room, a tour or a hire car, drop them in and watch the totals update.
Estimates for planning only — based on typical traveller costs, updated October 2026. Prices vary by season, town and how far ahead you book; treat the result as a solid starting budget, not a quote.
That’s about $245 per person per day.
| Category | Per day | Trip total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $185 | $1,295 |
| Food & drink | $144 | $1,008 |
| Local transport | $60 | $420 |
| Activities & tours | $100 | $700 |
Breakdown per-day figures are for the whole group. Accommodation is charged per night for the group; food, transport and activities are multiplied by the number of travellers.
How to Read Your Estimate
The maths is deliberately simple, because trip budgets should be easy to argue with:
- Accommodation is per night, for the whole group. A room, cabin or campsite is paid once, however many people share it.
- Food, transport and activities are per person, per day. Those figures multiply by the number of travellers.
- Per person, accommodation shared splits the group total evenly, so you can see what each traveller needs to set aside.
- Flights are not included. Fares to Australia — and between states — swing too much by season and departure city to hide inside a daily rate. Budget for them on top.
If a figure looks wrong for your trip, it probably is — a festival weekend in Sydney or a reef tour out of Cairns will bend any average. Edit the daily costs to match the prices you are actually seeing, and the estimate becomes your estimate.
Budget Notes by State
New South Wales is the priciest all-rounder: Sydney accommodation lifts every tier, though regional towns are kinder. Start with our New South Wales travel guide for itineraries and the flagship Sydney guide.
Queensland sits a little lower for rooms and food, but the activities line works harder — reef trips, island ferries and theme parks add up fast. Our Queensland travel guide breaks down where those costs land.
Everywhere else: South Australia and Tasmania are the gentlest on accommodation; the Northern Territory charges more for activities because the big sights involve long distances and guided tours; and if your trip crosses borders, the multi-state setting builds in extra transport for fuel and longer driving days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a trip to Australia cost per day?
It depends on the state and how you travel. On a budget, plan on roughly $145–$190 a day travelling solo, with budget rooms or hostels, some self-catered meals and mostly free sights. Mid-range travellers sharing a room usually land near $240–$260 per person per day, and comfort trips run $400 or more per person per day once tours and nicer hotels are in the mix. The calculator above starts from these ranges — adjust the daily figures to match the quotes you are actually seeing.
How much money do I need for 2 weeks in Australia?
For two people travelling mid-range in New South Wales, two weeks comes to about $6,850 on the ground — 14 days at roughly $489 a day for the pair. A budget pair can bring that closer to $3,600, while a comfort trip for two can reach $12,600. International flights to Australia sit on top of these figures.
What is a realistic backpacking budget for Australia?
The Budget setting is built for backpackers: hostel beds or budget rooms, cooking some of your own meals, public transport and free or cheap activities. Across the states that works out to roughly $145–$190 a day solo, or around $220–$280 a day for two people sharing costs. Long road trips push transport costs up — the multi-state setting allows extra for fuel.
Does this calculator include flights?
No. The estimate covers on-the-ground costs only: accommodation, food and drink, local transport, and activities and tours. Flights to Australia — and domestic flights between states — vary too much by season and departure city to fold into a daily rate, so budget for them separately.
Why is accommodation charged per night for the whole group?
Because a hotel room, cabin or powered site is usually paid once, no matter how many people share it. Food, transport and activities are bought per person, so those multiply by the number of travellers. The per-person total splits the shared accommodation across your group, which is why travelling with a partner or friends brings the per-person figure down.
Plan the Trip Behind the Numbers
A budget only matters once there is a route attached to it. Work through our New South Wales and Queensland guides to turn these figures into days, drives and bookings — or browse all destination guides if your trip is still taking shape.