The Cost of a Trip to Sydney
Typically, the daily expenses for a trip to Sydney for one person fall between $98 and $901, while for two people, it can range from $196 to $1,802. These price ranges are based on the average daily cost of $281 (AU$421) which is calculated from the expenses of previous travelers. These numbers include expenses for food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation. Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on your overall travel style, level of luxury, and the activities you choose. If you book standard hotels, eat at typical restaurants, and take in the main attractions, your budget should stay close to this average cost. Below, we provide a breakdown of travel expenses by category, as well as a general price range for accommodation and activities for your visit. Please bear in mind that individual attractions and hotels may vary in price, although they generally adhere to the price ranges discussed in this article.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Sydney?
If you're considering an independent trip to Sydney, it's helpful to have an idea of the amount of money you'll need. For budget travelers, planning to spend around $98 (AU$147) per day should cover your essential expenses, including affordable accommodations like hostels and budget hotels, cost-effective meal options, local transportation, and affordable activities. For those with a mid-range budget, allocating around $281 (AU$421) per day would allow for more comfortable hotels, dining at typical restaurants, and exploring a range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should anticipate a daily budget of $901 (AU$1,351), which would encompass higher-end accommodations, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in private tour options. It's worth noting that these price ranges are based on extensive travel cost data for Sydney from fellow travelers, as well as insights from travel companies regarding hotel and tour prices. For further details on travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for Sydney.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $36 | $105 | $339 |
| Local Transportation1 | $6 | $15 | $44 |
| Food2 | $17 | $46 | $126 |
| Water2 | $1 | $3 | $7 |
| Entertainment1 | $12 | $32 | $90 |
| Souvenirs1 | $31 | $80 | $213 |
| Communication2 | $12 | $33 | $91 |
| Living Expenses2 | $18 | $48 | $140 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | $70 | $157 | $287 |
| Alcohol2 | $6 | $15 | $38 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $340 | $1,035 | $3,619 |
How much does a weekend trip to Sydney cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $843 per person on a three-day trip to Sydney. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia
How much does a five day trip to Sydney cost?
With five days in Sydney, you can expect to spend about $1,405 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Sydney cost?
Most visitors spend between $685 and $6,308 for a one week trip to Sydney, with the average being $1,967. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Sydney. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Sydney
With more than 60 hostels in Sydney, the average price is $27 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $1 and the most expensive is $52. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Sydney here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Sydney.
- $29 for a dorm bed at Wake Up! Sydney Central in Sydney
- $27 for a dorm bed at Nomads Sydney in Sydney
- $27 for a dorm bed at Wake Up! Bondi Beach in Sydney
Hotel Prices in Sydney
The average price for a hotel room in Sydney is $96 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Sydney here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Sydney
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 74 | $169 |
| 4 stars | 137 | $111 |
| 3 stars | 113 | $84 |
| 2 stars | 56 | $51 |
| 1 star | 3 | $85 |
| No rating | 2 | $104 |
Sydney, Australia
Should you do a tour in Sydney?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Sydney and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $5 for the Spirits of Sydney - Self Guided Ghost Tour of the Rocks Area to $885 for the Sydney: Private City Exploration with Bondi Beach Tour.
- Royal National Park Private Tour:$259
- Drag Queen Walking Tour through Sydney's LGBT District :$51
- The 3 Bridges Harley Tour - see the main iconic bridges of Sydney on a Harley:$95
- 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour:$221
- Sydney Half Day Private Tour:$289
- Vivid 90-Minute Sydney Harbour Intimate Catamaran Cruise with Canapes:$47
- Sydney Harbour Secrets Boat Tour with Lunch:$197
- The Top Ten Hidden Harbour Beaches Tour with Jen:$68
More for Sydney
If you're planning a trip to Sydney, Australia, check out these other informative travel guides.
How much does a trip to Australia cost?Is Australia Expensive?Is Sydney Expensive?Is Sydney Worth Visting?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
