Short answer: budget travel for 4 weeks in Australia costs around AUD $4,500–$5,500 (£2,300–£2,800) per person; mid-range travel AUD $7,500–$10,000 (£3,800–£5,100); premium travel AUD $15,000+ (£7,700+). These figures exclude international flights to Australia, which add £900–£1,500 from the UK depending on month and booking date.
Tourism Research Australia’s annual visitor expenditure data and aggregated booking platform pricing form the basis for these ranges. Here’s the detailed breakdown.
Budget Traveller (AUD $4,500–$5,500 for 4 weeks)
The hostel-and-public-transport profile.
Accommodation: AUD $1,400–$1,800
- 28 nights at $50–$65/night (dorm beds in major cities, occasional private room)
- Hostels in Sydney (YHA Bondi, Wake Up!), Melbourne (Space Hotel, United Backpackers), Cairns (Gilligan’s), Byron Bay
Food: AUD $1,000–$1,200
- $35–$45/day on cheap eats — pho on Victoria Street ($14), supermarket lunches, occasional sit-down meal
- Self-catering breakfasts and some dinners
Transport: AUD $800–$1,000
- Domestic flights: 2-3 budget flights (Jetstar/Virgin Australia) Sydney-Cairns, Sydney-Melbourne — $250–$400
- Public transport in cities: Myki/Opal cards $50/week
- Coach travel: Greyhound or Premier Motor Service for inter-city — $200–$400
Activities: AUD $700–$1,000
- Great Barrier Reef day tour: $200–$280
- Great Ocean Road coach tour: $130–$180
- Sydney Bridge Climb (cheaper Bridge Walk option): $40
- Free attractions (NGV, beaches, harbour walks): no cost
Beverages and miscellaneous: AUD $600–$700
- A pint at a normal Melbourne pub: $12–$14
- Coffee at a specialty café: $5–$6
- Souvenirs and incidentals
Mid-Range Traveller (AUD $7,500–$10,000)
The mid-range hotel and a hire car for some legs.
Accommodation: AUD $3,500–$4,500
- 28 nights at $125–$160/night (mid-range hotel rooms or Airbnb in major cities)
- 3-star hotel chains (Mercure, Holiday Inn) or quality Airbnb apartments
Food: AUD $1,800–$2,200
- $65–$80/day — restaurants for dinner, quality cafés for breakfast and lunch
- Mix of casual and mid-range dining
Transport: AUD $1,200–$1,800
- Domestic flights: 3-4 flights with full-service carrier (Qantas/Virgin) — $400–$600
- Hire car for 7-10 days: $600–$900
- Public transport in cities: $50/week
Activities: AUD $1,000–$1,500
- Great Barrier Reef premium tour or overnight: $400–$600
- Great Ocean Road overnight self-drive: included in hire car costs
- Sydney Opera House tour and theatre performance: $200
- AFL or cricket match tickets: $80–$200
Beverages and miscellaneous: AUD $800–$1,000
- Restaurant wines, cocktails, mid-range café spending
Premium Traveller (AUD $15,000+)
The 5-star hotel and private tour profile.
Accommodation: AUD $8,000–$12,000
- 28 nights at $300–$450/night (5-star hotels — Park Hyatt Sydney, Crown Towers Melbourne, Cape Lodge Margaret River)
- Some luxury lodge stays (Lizard Island, Saffire Freycinet)
Food: AUD $3,000–$4,500
- $100–$160/day — fine dining, hotel restaurants, premium produce
- Multi-course tasting menus at top-tier restaurants ($200–$300 per person)
Transport: AUD $2,000–$3,500
- Business-class domestic flights: $1,000–$1,500
- Premium hire car or chauffeur services
- Private transfers
Activities: AUD $2,500–$5,000
- Helicopter Great Ocean Road tour: $250–$500
- Private guided tours at Uluru
- Premium reef tour with overnight pontoon stay
- Theatre and opera tickets at top tier
Beverages: AUD $1,500–$2,500
- Premium wine selections, fine spirits, cocktail bars
Daily Cost Comparisons
Per-day average costs (excluding international flights):
- Budget: AUD $160–$200/day (£82–£102)
- Mid-range: AUD $270–$360/day (£138–£184)
- Premium: AUD $530+/day (£270+)
For UK calibration: a mid-range Australian day is roughly equivalent to a mid-range London day. Sydney is 10–15% more expensive than Melbourne; Perth is similar to Sydney; Adelaide and Hobart are 15–20% cheaper than Sydney.
Cost Variables
Several factors swing the budget significantly:
- Time of year — December-January peak adds 30–50% to accommodation; May-September off-peak reduces 20–30%
- Cities visited — Sydney is most expensive; Adelaide/Hobart cheapest
- Domestic flight bookings — booking 3+ months ahead saves 40–60% over walk-up fares
- Hire car vs public transport — saves money in cities, costs money in regional touring
- Restaurant choice — eating where locals eat (Vietnamese on Victoria Street, Greek in Oakleigh) saves 50% over tourist-precinct dining
What Travel Insurance Adds
Travel insurance for 4 weeks in Australia from the UK costs:
- Budget cover (basic medical and cancellation): £40–£80
- Standard cover (medical, cancellation, baggage, activities): £80–£150
- Premium cover (high medical limits, full cancellation, all activities): £150–£300
UK travellers benefit from the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (free emergency hospital treatment) but still need insurance for repatriation, ambulance (chargeable in most states), trip disruption, and non-emergency medical care. See do Brits get free healthcare in Australia.
What This Means for You
For a UK couple’s 4-week Australia trip on a mid-range budget:
- AUD $15,000–$20,000 for 4 weeks (£7,700–£10,200 for the couple)
- Plus UK return flights £1,800–£3,000 for the couple
- Plus travel insurance £150–£300
- Total: around £10,000–£13,500 for two people, four weeks
For a 4-week solo backpacker trip:
- AUD $5,000–$6,000 (£2,500–£3,000) plus £900–£1,500 flights
- Total: around £3,500–£4,500
Tourism Research Australia’s “International Visitors in Australia” annual report and aggregated Hotels.com, Skyscanner and Trip.com pricing data are the sources for the ranges quoted.
For more, see what is the cheapest month to go to Australia and Melbourne vs London cost of living.