Which place is cheaper, New South Wales or South Australia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit South Australia or New South Wales?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit South Australia or New South Wales? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: South Australia or New South Wales?
South Australia
Millions of travelers are attracted to Australia for a variety of reasons. Sure there are adventures waiting around ever Aussie corner, but sometimes you just want to sit back and relax. That's when it's time to visit South Australia.
Nestled between Western Australia and Queensland, this state is home to 1.6 million people. Even with that many people, however, it's still less than 10 percent of the entire country's population. With less tourists, infamous wine, delectable produce and an untouched environment, Southern Australia is the perfect spot to kickback in the outback.
New South Wales
In the south of Australia is a place full of every and any tourist activity you can dream of. With Sydney under its belt, New South Wales is the center of Australian culture and tourism.
Just south of Queensland and north of Victoria, the state of New South Wales is home to approximately 6.7 million people. It is easily the continent's most populous state. This region is the core of the British colonialism of 1788. Its capital, Sydney, is the oldest and largest city in the state. Today, it is home to shopping, art, entertainment, history, beaches, and plenty of adventures.
When planning a trip to the land down under, remember that their seasons are just opposite of ours. So if you want to go for Christmas, throw that bathing suit in your bag.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
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South Australia Prices
Australia PricesNew South Wales Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Australia $160New South Wales $176
The average daily cost (per person) in South Australia is $160, while the average daily cost in New South Wales is $176. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for South Australia and New South Wales in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Australia $63New South Wales $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Australia $126New South Wales $160
Compare Hotels in South Australia and New South Wales
Looking for a hotel in South Australia or New South Wales? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.South Australia $18New South Wales $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New South Wales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in New South Wales:
- Airport Transfer from Sydney Airport to Hotels: $295
- Private Transfer from Sydney Hotels to Airport: $255
- Private Transfer from Sydney City Hotels to Newcastle Cruise Port: $252
- Private Transfer - Sydney Airport (SYD) to Newcastle Cruise Port: $252
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney CBD/Downtown to Sydney Airport 1-11 people: $242
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD/Downtown 1-11 people: $242
- Featherdale Wildlife Park with Exclusive Private Transfers: $234
- Luxury Mini Bus - Sydney Airport Transfers: $218
- Sydney Airport Transfers: $175
- Sydney Airport Private Car Departure Transfer: $165
- Newcastle Airport to Newcastle - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $148
- Private Transfer FROM Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD 1 to 5 people: $148
Is it cheaper to fly into South Australia or New South Wales?
Prices for flights to both New South Wales and South Australia change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySouth Australia $50New South Wales $68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New South Wales
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in New South Wales.
- Bangalow Native Bush Food Tour: $50
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $50
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $54
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $60
- Norfolk Island Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $63
- Progressive Dinner to Island Homes: $63
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
- Taste of Sydney Fish Market Food Tour: $64
- Commandants Dinner & Show: $65
- Ghost Tour & Dinner Norfolk Island: $65
- Who Killed the Surveyor Mystery Dinner: $65
- 4-hour Vivid Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise Shared Experience: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Australia $14New South Wales $29
Tours and Activities in South Australia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for South Australia.
- Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour: $19
- Guided Koala Walk and Bushfire ecology tour: $27
- Yalumba Cooperage Tour: $34
- Shared Wine Taste Experience The Dead Arm Distinction: $37
- 2-Hour Kayaking Experience in Barossa Valley: $37
- Rock Climb and Ropes Shared Experience: $38
- Adelaide Twilight Cruise from Glenelg: $38
- Guided Gin Tasting Experience at Never Never Distilling Co.: $39
- Oyster Adventure in Coffin Bay (Coffin Bay Pick Up): $40
- EcoVine Explorer Vineyard E-Cart Tours: $43
- Private Château Tour and Tasting in Australia: $43
- Ultimate Adelaide Walking Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in New South Wales
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for New South Wales are as follows:
- 3- Hour Wine and Harvest the Hunter Horse Tour in Pokolbin: $93
- Blue Mountains Day Tour with Wildlife and Scenic World: $101
- Byron Bay: Tandem Skydive Experience : $280
- Shared Newcastle Harbor Cruise: $43
- Sunrise Serenity Kayak Tour of Sydney Harbour: $104
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Adventure: $113
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour From Sydney: $117
- 2 Hours Running Tour in Sydney: $99
- 3 Hours Elvis Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $53
- 3-Hour Hunter Valley Scenic Helicopter Tour Including 3-Course Lunch from Cessnock: $270
- 3-Hour Kayak and Snorkeling Experience in Batemans Bay: $106
- 45-Minute Sydney Harbour Adventure Jet Boat Ride: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Australia $22New South Wales $14
Sample the Local Flavors in South Australia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in South Australia:
- Exquisite Unique Wine Tasting Experience: $20
- Gourmet Grazing Platter & Wine Tasting Experience for 2: $48
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $60
- Luke's McLaren Vale Wine Tour: $83
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $91
- Barossa Wine Tasting shared tours: $110
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $111
- Adelaide Hills: Self-guided E-Bike wine tour with Lunch: $116
- Barossa Premium Wine Tasting Tour & lunch Departs 7 days a week : $120
- Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting & Maggie Beers Farm Join Us: $120
- Adelaide Scenic E-Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $126
- McLaren Vale Small Group Wine Tour: $130
Sample the Local Flavors in New South Wales
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in New South Wales:
- Cael’s Gate Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley: $6.66
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Seated Wine Tasting : $10
- Boutique Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $11
- Newcastle Bar Crawl Experience: $15
- Wollongong Bar Crawl Go Out with a Gong: $15
- Tulloch Wines - Wine Tasting paired with Local Handmade Chocolates: $23
- Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Pokolbin: $26
- Wonnarua Sparkling Wine Tasting: $30
- Ivanhoe Wines: Trip Advisor Premium Wine Tasting: $30
- Tintilla Estate: Wine Tasting with a Meat and Cheese Platter: $33
- Tulloch Wines- Mystery Wine Tasting Experience with Local Cheese and Charcuterie: $35
- Tulloch Wines Hunter Heroes Wine Tasting with Local Cheese & Charcuterie Board: $35
When comparing the travel costs between South Australia and New South Wales, we can see that New South Wales is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is South Australia Expensive? and Is New South Wales Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, South Australia or New South Wales?
New South Wales has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of South Australia. When comparing the sizes of South Australia and New South Wales, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.