Which place is cheaper, New South Wales or Western 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 Western Australia or New South Wales?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Western Australia and New South Wales can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Western Australia or New South Wales?
Western Australia
The vast expanses of Australia's largest state are meant for those looking to find a place in the world that's been virtually untouched by man. Western Australia is essentially the entire western third of the continent with most everyone living in the southwest near Perth.
As the capital of this state, Perth is the most isolated large city in the world. With 2 million people living in and around Perth, this city sits in the middle of nowhere. There are less than 500,000 people living outside of the city creating that untouched atmosphere for the traveler looking to truly get away.
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 2-Week Tours in Australia, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Western Australia Prices
Australia PricesNew South Wales Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWestern Australia $135New South Wales $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Western Australia is $135, 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 Western Australia and New South Wales in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWestern Australia $67New South Wales $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWestern Australia $134New South Wales $160
Compare Hotels in Western Australia and New South Wales
Looking for a hotel in Western 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.Western Australia $25New South Wales $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Western Australia
Also for Western Australia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Exmouth Cruise Port to Exmouth city hotels: $66
- Private Transfer from Exmouth City Hotels to Exmouth Cruise Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth Airport(PER): $74
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth city hotels: $74
- Private Transfer from Perth Airport(PER) to Fremantle Cruise Port: $75
- Departure Transfer: Perth to Perth Airport PER by Business Car: $79
- Perth city to Perth Airport (PER) - Departure Private Transfer: $89
- Private Transfer from Exmouth Port to Learmonth Airport (LEA): $115
- Guided Paspaley Pearl Farm Tour with Return Transfers: $142
- Perth Airport (PER) to Perth city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $178
- Ballooning in the Avon Valley plus Transfer from Perth, breakfast: $282
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New South Wales
Some specific examples of transportation prices in New South Wales:
- Transfer from White Bay Cruise Terminal to Sydney Airport: $27
- Sydney's Best Airport Arrival Transfers - Airport to CBD : $84
- Sydney to Sydney Airport (SYD) - Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $30
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport: Shared Transfer to Sydney CBD: $22
- Sydney Arrival Transfer: Airport to City or Overseas Passenger Terminal: $25
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD shared ride seat in vehicle shuttle transfer: $13
- Sydney Airport Transfers: $175
- Sydney Airport Private Luxury Transfers: $74
- Sydney Airport Private Car Departure Transfer: $165
- Sydney Airport (SYD) to Sydney hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Western Australia or New South Wales?
Prices for flights to both New South Wales and Western 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 dayWestern Australia $47New South Wales $68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Western Australia
For Western Australia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Swan River Dinner Cruise: $101
- Margaret River Small-Group Full-Day Wine & Food Tour: $116
- Pinnacles Sunset Stargazing Dinner Experience Small Group Tour: $124
- Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $167
- The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $176
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.Western Australia $13New South Wales $29
Tours and Activities in Western Australia
For Western Australia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Perth Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.72
- Perth Historic Downtown Smartphone Guided GPS Audio Walking Tour : $9.75
- Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour: $11
- Quest Experience in Cottesloe Beach Perth Pirates by the Sea : $12
- Explore Albany: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour: $15
- Mammoth Cave Self-guided Audio Tour (Located in Western Australia): $17
- Lake Cave Fully Guided Tour: $17
- Jewel Cave Fully-guided Tour (Located in Western Australia): $17
- The Perth Mint Gold Tour: $17
- National Anzac Centre General Entry Ticket: $17
- Private Classical Wine and Cheese Pairing Experience: $17
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 dayWestern Australia $7.25New South Wales $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Western Australia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Western Australia:
- Premium Temper Temper Chocolate & Red Wine Tasting: $20
- Private Wine Tasting in Barrel Hall: $27
- Private Barrel Hall Wine Tasting in the Margaret River Region: $34
- Small-Group Wine Tour in Margaret River: $37
- Savour Voyager Wine Tasting: $43
- Back Vintage Wine Tasting: $43
- Swan Valley Wine Tour - Half Day Afternoon: $70
- Perth: Swan Valley Half-Day Wine Tour - Small Group Experience: $70
- Swan Valley Half Day Wine Tour from Perth: $70
- Sunset Wine Tasting Experience at Passel Estate: $79
- Discover Voyager Tour and Wine Tasting: $87
- Broome Trio Afternoon Adventure: Brewery, Museum & Crocodile Park: $87
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Western Australia and New South Wales, we can see that New South Wales is more expensive. And not only is Western Australia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Western Australia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Western 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 New South Wales would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New South Wales than you might in Western Australia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Western Australia Expensive? and Is New South Wales Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Western Australia or New South Wales?
New South Wales has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Western Australia. When comparing the sizes of Western 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.