If you can’t find a bargain in Australia, you’re not looking in the right places!
Having travelled for a few years now and speaking to a lot of backpackers and tourists, I hear quite often…
“It’s so expensive to travel to Australia!”
“We could never afford that. New Zealand is a better option for us.”
There is a perception amongst a lot of overseas travellers that Australia is extremely hard to reach, let alone be able to afford to live and travel, even for a short amount of time.
Image by Pexels
Firstly, it is true our Kiwi friends are much easier to access these days and your currency will probably go a bit further than here.
Secondly, it can be true if you spend your time eating and staying in expensive areas too often.
In terms of reaching Australia it has never been easier or cheaper to arrive at our terminals with multiple daily flights from the US, China, Singapore and the Middle East.
Adelaide too is now more connected with the likes of Emirates, Singapore and Qatar Airlines setting up in our international airport making direct connection routes accessible from all major cities around the world.
Expect to pay around $1500AU ($1000US or 1000€) for a return flight, much better than the $2800 we used to pay in 2010.
In some countries the wages vary, saving enough money to buy a ticket can be more difficult, but once you have your return ticket it is easily possible to live from $2000AU per month once here (per person).
Accommodation costs will depend on your choice of where you stay, of course. This is based on $200 a week for accommodation, $150 a week to eat and for shopping, leaving $100 a week for leisure, transport or fuel.
Meaning a 1 month trip to Australia could be as little as $3500AU (2000€).
That’s conservative but all aspects are flexible. You might find a room for much cheaper, but have more to spend on leisure.
As is the case everywhere though, there is always a cheaper option for you if you have the time to research places offering discounts and you are prepared to sometimes buy and carry larger amounts at once (in bulk).
Large supermarket chains are overall cheaper in SA than the eastern states, and we are fortunate to have a large fruit and vegetable industry meaning less interstate transport of your produce. Only tropical varieties generally come in from NSW and Queensland with an added transport cost.
We have many food markets where you can find excellent quality produce for a very reasonable price. And they might even throw in a free item or two!
Our favourite places to buy quality food at reasonable prices are the Barossa Valley Farmers Market and the Willunga Farmers Market. Both have a large range of products and it’s mostly local.
For a full list of regular markets in SA click here.
There is also a large range of produce available at small stalls along the road, including things like vegetables and eggs.
Roadside stalls are all around SA – Image by aTripinside
There again you will find cheap accommodation deals by asking locals about places to stay that you may not find on the internet.
Non expensive car and bicycle repairs or tyres, camping equipment, well priced clothing and things like souvenirs are readily available if you look in the right places.
And leisure activities like fishing, bush walks and surfing are completely free! Someones always got a spare board for you to paddle out on.
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