Real numbers, not vague guesses: actual prices in Australian dollars (AUD) and US dollars, a category-by-category breakdown, a two-week budget worked out line by line, real tour examples and tricks to spend less. With links to the sites we actually use to book. And, first of all, which visa you need.
Australia has a reputation for being expensive, and not without reason: the long-haul flight and the domestic flights eat up a large slice of the budget. But with the right choices you can travel for far less than most people imagine. In this guide you'll find real 2026 prices (in AUD, with an approximate US$ equivalent) and a two-week example worked out item by item. Let's start with the expense you can't skip: the visa.
💱 Reference exchange rate used: 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 US$ (that is, 1 US$ ≈ 1.53 AUD). It fluctuates; check it before you travel.
Yes, everyone needs authorisation before flying, and the cost depends on your passport:
Choose based on the passport you're travelling on. The grant always depends on the Australian Government.
Includes return international flights, domestic flights, accommodation, food and a few tours. Excludes shopping and treats.
From Europe there are no direct flights: there's always one or two stopovers (Doha with Qatar, Dubai with Emirates, Singapore with Singapore Airlines, and so on). Return prices for 2026:
| Season | Return price (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Deals / shoulder season (May, Sep) | ~US$970–1,190 (≈ 1,500–1,850 AUD) |
| Normal season | ~US$1,190–1,510 |
| High season (Dec–Jan, Easter) | US$1,620–2,050 or more |
How to find the best prices: compare on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Momondo; set up price alerts, be flexible with your dates (±3 days) and book 2–4 months ahead. Flying in May or September is usually the cheapest.
The distances force you to fly within the country (Sydney–Uluru, Sydney–Cairns, etc.). Airlines: Qantas, Virgin Australia and the low-cost carriers Jetstar and Rex. Real 2026 examples:
| Route | Price per leg (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Sydney → Uluru (Ayers Rock) | from ~96 AUD (booked ahead) up to ~200–260 AUD |
| Sydney → Cairns | ~120–250 AUD |
| Melbourne → Sydney | from ~60–120 AUD |
✈️ Budget US$270–540 per person for 2–3 domestic flights. Book early with the low-cost carriers and travel with hand luggage only to save.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (flat white) | 4–5.50 AUD |
| Breakfast / brunch at a café | 15–25 AUD |
| Budget meal (food court, meat pie, sushi) | 12–22 AUD |
| Dinner at a mid-range restaurant | 30–55 AUD |
| Beer at a bar / pint | 8–14 AUD |
| Supermarket shop (per day, self-catering) | 12–18 AUD |
Tip: cook at the hostel and shop at Coles or Woolworths; look for BYO restaurants (bring your own wine) and the lunchtime specials. Tap water is drinkable, so save on bottled water.
| Experience | Price per person (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef, full day (snorkelling) from Cairns | 180–360 AUD (diving +80–160 AUD) |
| Uluru: guided sunrise walk | ~105–209 AUD |
| Uluru: Field of Light (light installation) | ~50 AUD |
| Whitsundays: 2-day / 2-night sailing | ~379–499 AUD |
| Great Ocean Road: day tour from Melbourne | ~120–180 AUD |
Book and compare activities on platforms like GetYourGuide or Viator, or directly with local operators. Budget US$320–860 for tours depending on how many you do.
Per-person budget for a Sydney → Uluru → Cairns/Whitsundays route, mixing hostels/budget hotels and cooking often:
| Item | Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Return international flight (shoulder season) | US$1,130 |
| 2 domestic flights (Sydney–Uluru, –Cairns) | ≈ 350 AUD → US$225 |
| Accommodation, 13 nights (hostel/hotel mix, ~70 AUD/night) | ≈ 910 AUD → US$590 |
| Food, 14 days (~45 AUD/day cooking + eating out) | ≈ 630 AUD → US$410 |
| Urban transport + transfers (~15 AUD/day) | ≈ 210 AUD → US$135 |
| Tours (reef + Uluru sunrise + extra day) | ≈ 550 AUD → US$355 |
| Travel insurance (14 days) | US$70 |
| Visa (eVisitor 651, European) | US$0 |
| TOTAL per person | ≈ US$2,915 |
Adjust upward (hotels, more tours) or downward (more hostel/campervan, always self-catering). Use it as a template to work out your own.
👉 Related: when to travel (and when it's cheapest) →
Confirm which one applies to you (ETA 601, eVisitor 651 or Visa 600) and get it right first time. We walk you through it step by step.
🎓 Choose and prepare your visaThe grant of any visa depends solely on the Department of Home Affairs.
From Europe, ~US$2,700–3,450 backpacker style and ~US$4,100–5,200 mid-range per person, with flights included.
On the ground: backpacker 70–110 AUD/day, mid-range 200–320 AUD/day, comfortable from 450 AUD/day.
Between US$970 and US$1,730 return depending on the season and how far ahead you book. May and September are usually cheapest.
A full day of snorkelling from Cairns: 180–360 AUD; scuba diving adds 80–160 AUD.
The eVisitor 651 (Europeans) is free; the ETA 601 has a small charge; the 600, a government fee (~AUD 200). See which one is yours.
