Top 10 Cheapest Places To Travel In Australia

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Australia can be surprisingly affordable if you pick the right spots. Our list of the Top 10 Cheapest Places to Travel in Australia shows daily budgets ranging from A$75 to A$107 that’s roughly ₦77,250 to ₦110,210 a day at today’s mid‑market rate of ₦1,030 per A$1.

You’ll find lively beach towns like Cairns and the Gold Coast at the low end, and friendly cities like Canberra and Hobart at the higher end. Most of these places offer budget hostels for A$25–30, cheap eats for A$15–25, and public transit for A$3–5 per ride. Let’s get to it!

Top 10 Cheapest Places to Travel in Australia

1. Cairns

Cairns tops the list at about AU $75 per day for budget travelers. This includes simple lodgings, meals, local buses and entry to basic tours. You arrive in a laid‑back tropical city known for its free Esplanade Lagoon, public playgrounds and fitness classes—great ways to cool off without spending extra.

Hostels here run as low as AU $15 to $27 per night on dorm beds, so you can tuck away savings for reef trips. The nightly markets and boardwalk strolls along the Esplanade cost zero entry, letting you soak up the vibe without opening your wallet.

2. Gold Coast

On the Gold Coast, plan for around AU $78 per day as a budget traveler. That covers dorm beds, cheap eats, public transit and modest attractions. This city scores in the top 25% for affordability in the Pacific, offering endless surf beaches, vibrant laneways and free seaside promenades.

Check out Surfers Paradise Beach any time—you won’t pay to dip your toes in the sand. Street‑food stalls along Cavill Avenue dish out local bites for about AU $10–12, perfect fuel before a sunset stroll.

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3. Brisbane

Brisbane comes in at about AU $81 per day and is one of the cheapes place to travel in Australia. You get hostel dorms, simple meals, the CityCycle tram and a bit for entry fees. Don’t miss South Bank Parklands, Australia’s only inner‑city beach with free admission, plus art installations and lagoon swims at no cost.

Hostels average AU $40–$50 per night, leaving you cash for coffee and museum visits. A budget café meal and a tram ride across town will hover under AU $10 each, so you can explore without a pinch.

4. Adelaide

In Adelaide, budget travelers spend around AU $86 per day. This covers basic lodging, meals, buses and entry to museums or wine regions. With entertainment costs under AU $13 a day, you can enjoy the fringe festival vibes, free art walks and park picnics on the cheap.

Hostel dorm beds start at AU $15–$27 per night, making Adelaide a solid pick if you’re counting coins. Don’t miss grabbing a handmade pie for about AU $7 at corner bakeries—it’s a local favorite.

5. Sunshine Coast

Expect to spend roughly AU $88 per day on the Sunshine Coast as a budget traveler. That includes hostels, simple meals, hop‑on buses and kayak rentals. Visit Noosa National Park without paying entry, and use the coastal Point Arkwright Trail for free ocean views—perfect for snapping memories without a ticket fee.

Meals and stays fit into your AU $88 budget, which covers dorm beds, beachside café lunches and local buses. Pack a reusable bottle and fill up at free taps—Hydration on the go without extra spend.

6. Darwin

Darwin runs about AU $92 per day for budget travelers. That covers hostels, market meals, minibuses and modest entry fees. Head to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets on Thursday or Sunday evenings—entry is free, and stalls start at under AU $5 for snacks. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory also offers free admission to explore Aboriginal art and natural history.

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Plan for dorm beds at AU $58 per night on average, then sample budget bites and street eats. Taxis from the city center to Mindil Beach start at about AU $10, keeping nightlife trips wallet‑friendly.

7. Perth

Perth lands at about AU $101 per day for budget travelers. You’ll get hostel dorms, meals, CAT buses and a little for entry fees. One major plus: Kings Park and Botanic Garden is free to enter, offering 400 ha of gardens, city views and treetop walkways at no cost.

Bunk in a hostel dorm for around AU $30 per night, then hop on the free Blue CAT bus to explore the city. Fuel up with a café flat white for under AU $5, then explore local markets and beaches rental‑free.

8. Melbourne

Melbourne costs about AU $105 per day for budget travelers. That covers dorm beds, meals, trams and basic tickets. Ride the free City Circle Tram, stroll the laneways, and visit NGV International with its free galleries—Melbourne’s best sights without an entry fee.

Hostels start at AU $35 per night, leaving room for coffee runs ($4‑$5) and budget bites like kebabs for AU $10–15. A tram ride across town costs under AU $9, so you can zip between attractions affordably.

9. Canberra

In Canberra, budget travelers plan on around AU $106 per day. That includes hostels, meals, buses and museum admissions. Visit the National Gallery of Australia and Australian War Memorial, both offer free entry, so you can learn history at zero cost.

Hostels average AU $56 per night, then grab a takeaway pie and coffee combo for AU $8–12 at local cafés. Public buses cost about AU $16 for a day pass, making it easy to hop around the capital.

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10. Hobart

Hobart comes in at about AU $107 per day for budget travelers. That covers hostels, meals, ferries and local attractions. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery grants free general admission, plus you’ll find free Tasmanian heritage walks and Salamanca Markets to explore at no charge.

Hostels start from AU $20 per night, then fuel up on sandwiches for AU $10–15 at waterfront cafés. Don’t miss joining a free guided tour at TMAG or checking out the dozen other free museums in town.

Conclusion

Travelling Australia on a budget is entirely doable when you lean into off-peak seasons, budget accommodations, and the wealth of free natural attractions that span the country from coastal hikes to wildlife-rich reserves.

Hostels and backpacker lodges often start as low as AUD 20–25 per night, especially outside major cities, while breathtaking experiences like the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk or the blowhole at Kiama cost nothing but a bit of walking shoes.

By booking midweek stays, using budget carriers such as Bonza or Jetstar on small routes, and packing picnic lunches from local markets, you’ll stretch every dollar further so you can spend less on logistics and more on the memories you’ll make.