What Is The Cost Of Getting Around In Australia?

Taken from an article written by Swati Iyer for Instarem

How Much Does Public Transport Cost In Australia?

Many cities in Australia have reliable and efficient public transport services. As a whole, Australia’s people and its economy are highly reliant on its well-developed road network. Canberra, Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart all offer well-connected bus services with discounts for card-holders and other categories of travellers (such as students or pensioners).

Details about the bus services in these cities and corresponding fares are provided below:

• Canberra – Discounts available with MyWay card and some passengers eligible for free travel
  • MyWay adult card: Peak single trip AUD 3.14
  • Cash price: AUD 4.90

• Sydney – Discounts available with Opal card. It can be used on ferry, train, light rail and bus in Sydney and other parts of New South Wales.
  • Adult Opal card:
    • Single train fare: AUD 3.54-8.69
    • Single bus fare: AUD 2.2-4.71
    • Single ferry fare: AUD 6.01-7.5
    • Light rail fare: AUD 2.2-3.66
  • Cash price:
    • Single train ticket: AUD 4.4-10.6
    • Single bus ticket: AUD 2.8-5.8
    • Single ferry ticket: AUD 7.4-9.2
    • Light rail ticket: AUD 2.8-4.4

• Darwin (and other parts of Northern Territory) –
  • Discounted fares offered to holders of specific concession cards (veterans, seniors, pensioners, students). Flexi Trip and weekly tap and ride cards also available
  • Cash price:
    • A single ticket with unlimited bus travel: AUD 3
    • A daily ticket with unlimited bus travel: AUD 7

• Adelaide – Concessions are given to seniors, students, pensioners and visually impaired travellers. Children under 5 travel free.
  • Regular MetroCard:
    • Single peak trip: AUD 3.7
    • Single off-peak trip: AUD 2.03
  • Cash price:
    • Peak single trip metro ticket: AUD 5.5
    • Off-peak single trip metro ticket: AUD 3.6

• Hobart – Concessions are given to students. Children under 5 travel free.
  • Adult GreenCard:
    • Single trip: AUD 2.72-5.6
  • Cash price:
    • Single trip ticket: AUD 3.4-7

• Melbourne – Concessions are given to students
  • Myki pass:
    • 7-day pass: AUD 29.4-43
    • 28-365-day pass: AUD (3.52-5.18) * (# of days)
  • Cash price:
    • Myki money: 2-hour fare: AUD 2.94-4.3
    • Daily fare: AUD 5.88-8.6

• Perth – Travellers using a SmartRider card must ask the bus driver if they are eligible for 10% or 20% concession.  Concessions are given to seniors, students, pensioners and visually impaired travellers.  Children under 4 travel free.
  • SmartRider cards:
    • Standard adult single fare: AUD 1.76-11.52
  • Cash price:
    • Standard adult single ticket: AUD 2.2-12.8
    • DayRider & Family Rider tickets: AUD 12.8

In general, travellers who use concession cards on Australia’s public transport can save a lot on their transportation expenses.

Other public transport services are also available in these major cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth have suburban train lines. Sydney also operates ferries and a light-rail line. Melbourne and Adelaide have intra-city trams. Like Sydney, Brisbane also has a ferry system. There are also taxi services in all cities and major towns.

Four major airlines operate for domestic travel within Australia: Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Tigerair. Prices vary by distance and season.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Car In Australia?

If you plan to buy your own vehicle, Australia offers prices that are fairly competitive with other developed countries, especially for small, economy cars. A Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 Hatch or Ford Fiesta would cost between AUD 22,000 and AUD 23,000 on average.

SUVs are also decently priced. A Hyundai ix35 would cost roughly AUD 32,000, probably a bit more expensive than the USA but cheaper than the UK or Germany.

High-end cars such as a Mercedes Benz E Class or a Porsche 911 Cabriolet are much more expensive in Australia than in the USA, South Africa, UK or Germany. In Australia, the Mercedes has a price tag of almost AUD 100,000 compared to AUD 60,000 in the USA (converted from USD) and AUD 62,000 in South Africa. The Porsche, which costs about AUD 140,000 in the USA, will cost you more than double that amount if you buy it in Australia.

Most cars and trucks in Australia use either petrol or diesel. Among petrol-fuelled vehicles, 91 RON (regular unleaded) is the most popular fuel type.  Here is a quick overview of the commonly used fuels and their prices in major Australian cities:

Price of unleaded fuel (in cents per litre):

• Sydney
  • Unleaded – 148.9 – 165
  • Diesel – 145.9 – 161
• Melbourne
  • Unleaded – 154.9 – 170
  • Diesel – 153.9 – 169
• Brisbane
  • Unleaded – 141.9 – 157
  • Diesel – 153.9 – 169
• Perth
  • Unleaded – 146.9 – 162
  • Diesel – 152.9 – 168
• Adelaide
  • Unleaded – 140.9 – 156
  • Diesel – 149.9 – 165
• Canberra
  • Unleaded – 155.9 – 171
  • Diesel – 157.9 – 173
• Hobart
  • Unleaded – 155.9 – 175
  • Diesel – 164.9 – 180
• Darwin
  • Unleaded – 155.9 – 171
  • Diesel – 155.9 – 171