Which place is cheaper, Northern Territory 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 Northern Territory?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit South Australia or Northern Territory? 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 Northern Territory?
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.
Northern Territory
For the chance to see nature at its grandest, put Australia's Northern Territory at the top of your list. The federal territory covering much of central Australia is what most people picture when they imagine an adventure n Australia. It's the real outback.
While this state contains some of the most breathtaking flora and fauna, it's also home to a rather posh capital. The city of Darwin is tropical, small and quite diverse. There are at least 50 different nationalities making up Darwin's 110,000 population.
With the largest Aboriginal population, this region is perfect for immersing yourself in the 40,000-year-old culture. Visit one of their villages and witness their expert skills at basket weaving, spear fishing and story telling.
When making the decision to travel to Australia, keep in mind that their seasons are the opposite of North America. While the climate tends to stay pretty mild all yearlong, don't be surprised to see that they are experiencing their wintertime when we are ready to lay by the pool all day.
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 PricesNorthern Territory Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySouth Australia $160Northern Territory $4,376
The average daily cost (per person) in South Australia is $160, while the average daily cost in Northern Territory is $4,376. 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 Northern Territory in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSouth Australia $63Northern Territory $2,487
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSouth Australia $126Northern Territory $
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Compare Hotels in South Australia and Northern Territory
Looking for a hotel in South Australia or Northern Territory? 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 $18Northern Territory $694
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Northern Territory
Also for Northern Territory, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
- Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) Coach Transfer: $171
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) to Alice Springs Coach Transfer: $171
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Arrival Private Transfer: $101
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $87
- Private Transfer from Darwin Airport (DRW) to Darwin Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin city hotels: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into South Australia or Northern Territory?
Prices for flights to both Northern Territory 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 $50Northern Territory $893
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Northern Territory
For Northern Territory, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $104
- From Ayers Rock Resort: Uluru Sunset Barbecue Dinner: $107
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $113
- Cape Adieu Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise: $113
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Base and Sunset Half-Day Trip with Opt Outback BBQ Dinner: $134
- Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge 3.5-Hour Sunset Dinner Boat Tour: $173
- Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset + Outback Barbecue Dinner & Star Talk : $197
- Uluru Experience with BBQ Dinner: $219
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $246
- Mt Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock Resort inc Dinner: $258
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.South Australia $14Northern Territory $811
Tours and Activities in South Australia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for South Australia.
- 1 Day Aboriginal Cultural Tour of Port Lincoln: $210
- 2-Hour Kayaking Experience in Barossa Valley: $37
- 90 Minute Port River Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: $59
- Adelaide City Highlights via Hahndorf Half-Day Tour: $107
- Adelaide City Highlights- Hahndorf and Mt. Lofty Half-Day Tour: $87
- Adelaide City and Hahndorf Full Day Tour: $127
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours to Hahndorf & Hills Wildlife Wonders: $245
- Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and Ships Graveyard Kayak Tour: $52
- Adelaide Hills Cleland Wildlife Park and Hahndorf Minibus Tour: $128
- Adelaide Hills Tour with River Murray Lunch Cruise: $127
- Adelaide Hills and Hahndorf - Half Day Private Tour: $164
- Adelaide Hills and Hahndorf Half-Day Tour from Adelaide: $66
Tours and Activities in Northern Territory
For Northern Territory, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Corroboree Billabong Wetland Experience including 2.5 hour cruise + lunch: $151
- 1 Day Litchfield Waterfalls Tour: $107
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $37
- Aboriginal Homelands Experience: $261
- Adelaide River Cruises - Jumping Crocodile Experience: $40
- Afternoon Kata Tjuta Small Group Tour: $117
- Alice Springs Airport to West MacDonnell Half-Day Tour : $107
- Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $27
- Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $28
- Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $120
- Alice Town And Country Half Day Sunset Tour - Small Group: $127
- Arnhem Land Yingana Injalak Hill Full Day Tour from Darwin: $232
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySouth Australia $22Northern Territory $406
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: $115
- 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between South Australia and Northern Territory, we can see that Northern Territory is more expensive. And not only is South Australia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to South Australia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in South Australia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Northern Territory would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Northern Territory than you might in South Australia.
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 Northern Territory Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, South Australia or Northern Territory?
South Australia has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Northern Territory. When comparing the sizes of South Australia and Northern Territory, 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.