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How much is a trip to America from Australia?
Find out how much a trip to America from Australia costs in AUD, from flights out of Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth to daily expenses and hidden costs.
A trip to America from Australia typically costs between AUD $4,000 and $12,000+ per person for two weeks, depending on your travel style. With the Australian dollar sitting at around USD $0.70, every US price tag adds up quickly, so knowing what to budget before you book makes a real difference.
This guide breaks down every major cost in AUD, from flights out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth through to food, transport, and activities, so you can plan your US trip with confidence.
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How much does a trip to America from Australia cost?
Here’s a quick snapshot of what a two-week solo trip to the USA costs across three travel styles. These figures include flights, accommodation, food, transport, and activities, but not travel insurance or the ESTA fee.
| Travel style | Estimated 2-week cost per person (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Budget | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| Mid-range | $6,500 – $10,000 |
| Comfortable | $11,000 – $17,000+ |
Where and when you travel within the USA matters a lot. Two weeks in New York and San Francisco will cost considerably more than a road trip through national parks or a loop through the southern states.
Flight and accommodation costs will spike if you travel during Christmas or the June–July summer period, which overlaps with both the US summer and Australian school holidays.
Flight costs from Australia to the USA
Flights are the single biggest expense in any trip to America from Australia, and the city you depart from affects the price more than most people expect. Here’s a rough estimation of the return flight ticket prices:
| Route | Low season | Peak season |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney (SYD) → Los Angeles (LAX) | $1,000 – $1,400 | $1,500-2,200 |
| Melbourne (MEL) → Los Angeles (LAX) | $1,200 – $1,500 | $1,600 – $2,600 |
| Brisbane (BNE) → Los Angeles (LAX) | $1,200 – $1,500 | $1,600 – $2,500 |
| Perth (PER) → Los Angeles (LAX) | $1,700 – $2,200 | $2,300 – $3,000 |
| Sydney/Melbourne → New York (JFK) | $1,500 – $2,000 | $2,200 – $3,200 |
| Sydney/Melbourne → San Francisco (SFO) | $1,400 – $2,200 | $2,300 – $3,300 |
| Sydney/Melbourne → Dallas (DFW) | $1,500 – $2,300 | $2,400 – $3,300 |
Cheaper months to fly are typically February to April and September to October, when demand drops, and airlines discount heavily. Peak pricing kicks in from mid-June through August (US summer, which lines up with Australian school holidays) and again from mid-December through January.
If you’re travelling during the middle of the year, researching the best places to visit in August USA can help you decide whether the higher prices are worth it for your preferred destinations.
A white aircraft flying above clouds with a cityscape and green landscape.Accommodation costs in the USA
Nightly accommodation costs vary enormously across the USA. New York City and San Francisco sit at the expensive end; cities like Austin, New Orleans, or anywhere outside the major metro centres offer noticeably better value.
Here’s a rough guide to nightly rates per room:
| Tier | Type | Nightly cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostel dorm, budget motel | $110 – $150 |
| Mid-range | 3-star hotel, Airbnb | $170 – $300 |
| Comfortable | City-centre hotel, quality Airbnb | $350 – $800+ |
A few things worth knowing: Airbnb is widely used across the USA and can offer strong value, particularly for groups or longer stays. Chain motels like Motel 6 or Super 8 fill the gap between hostels and hotels in regional areas, useful if you’re road-tripping.
Hotel prices in NYC and San Francisco regularly exceed $400 per night for a standard room in a central location, so it’s worth building that into your expectations early.
Food and tipping costs in the USA
Daily food costs depend heavily on how you eat, but Australian visitors often find US portion sizes generous and fast food cheaper than back home. However, keep in mind that tipping is customary in the US, which adds to the total cost. At restaurants, expect to tip 18–25% on top of the bill before tax. At bars, around 15–20% on a tab is standard.
Rough daily food budgets per person:
| Tier | What it covers | Daily estimate (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Supermarkets, fast food, food trucks | $45 – $65 |
| Mid-range | Casual restaurants, cafés, the odd splurge | $80 – $150 |
| Comfortable | Sit-down restaurants, fine dining occasionally | $175 – $250+ |
Transport costs within the USA
Getting around the USA is a significant part of the overall trip to America from Australia, especially if you rent a car. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main options:
| Transport type | Estimated cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Domestic one-way flight (budget carrier) | $85 – $250 |
| Car hire (per day, standard car) | $65 – $130 |
| Uber/Lyft (5km city ride) | $10 – $30 |
| NYC subway (single ride) | $4 – $5 |
| NYC unlimited weekly MetroCard | ~$49 |
A few things worth knowing as an Australian traveller:
- Your Australian driver’s licence is accepted across all 50 states. The international driving permit is not strictly required, but it is recommended to carry it with you.
- Drivers under 25 face a surcharge of roughly $25–$45 per day on most rental cars, factor this in if you’re planning a road trip.
- Los Angeles and some major cities have limited public transport. Unlike New York or Chicago, most cities can be very car-dependent, so budget for rideshare or a hire car if you’re spending time there.
Attraction and experience costs in the USA
Activities and experiences are where a US trip can quietly blow a budget, particularly if you’re planning to visit theme parks, catch a Broadway show, or take in a major sporting event.
It’s worth setting a separate experiences allowance, so these costs don’t derail the rest of your budget.
Here are rough AUD entry prices for popular Aussie bucket-list activities:
| Experience | Approx. cost (AUD per person) |
|---|---|
| Disneyland (Anaheim) | $155 – $215 |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | $155 – $215 |
| Disney World (Orlando) | $155 – $215+ |
| Broadway show (New York) | $100 – $215 |
| MLB baseball game | $30 – $115 |
| NBA basketball game | $60 – $300+ |
| Grand Canyon entry | $45 (per vehicle) |
| America the Beautiful Pass | $115 (covers 2,000+ federal sites for 12 months) |
If national parks are on your list, the America the Beautiful Annual Pass is exceptional value at around $115. It covers entry for your vehicle at over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, and Yosemite. If you’re visiting two or more parks, it pays for itself immediately.
For theme parks, booking online in advance is almost always cheaper than buying at the gate. Multi-day tickets also reduce the per-day cost significantly.
Other costs to factor in before you go
These are the costs Australians most commonly overlook when calculating the cost of a trip to America from Australia:
- ESTA visa waiver: Around $57 per person. All Australian passport holders need an ESTA before travelling to the USA for under 90 days. Valid for two years once approved, so check if yours is still current before booking.
- Travel insurance: $150–$350 per person for 1-2 weeks travel time. US medical costs are among the highest in the world, so make sure your policy explicitly covers the USA.
- Checked baggage fees: $50–$85 per bag per flight. Most US budget carriers like Spirit, charge separately for checked bags, and sometimes carry-ons too. A well-planned what to pack USA checklist can help you travel lighter and avoid paying for extra luggage.
- Staying connected: The cost varies. Roaming in the US rates add up quickly over two weeks. Many travellers compare a prepaid SIM card USA option with an eSIM before departure, depending on their phone and travel style. Holafly offers travel eSIM for the USA, which lets you activate a local US data plan instantly, no SIM swap or airport store needed.
2-week USA trip cost examples from Australia
Here’s how everything adds up for a solo traveller on a two-week trip to America from Australia.
| Cost category | Budget (AUD) | Mid-range (AUD) | Comfortable (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights (from east coast) | $1,200 | $1,800 | $2,500 |
| Accommodation (14 nights) | $1,540 | $3,220 | $7,700 |
| Food and drink | $630 | $1,330 | $2,450 |
| Transport (domestic) | $350 | $700 | $1,100 |
| Activities and experiences | $350 | $850 | $1,700 |
| ESTA | $57 | $57 | $57 |
| Travel insurance | $150 | $220 | $350 |
| Baggage fees and miscellaneous | $150 | $250 | $400 |
| Estimated total | ~$4,427 | ~$8,427 | ~$16,257 |
These are rough estimates for a solo traveller. A couple travelling together will generally spend less per person on accommodation.
Money-saving tips for Australians visiting the USA
A few strategic choices can largely reduce the overall cost of the trip to America from Australia without cutting what matters.
- Travel in shoulder season. February to April and September to October offer the best combination of lower fares, cheaper accommodation, and thinner crowds. Avoid mid-December to January if budget is a priority, Aussie summer holidays and US festive travel push prices up significantly.
- Compare entry cities. Flying into Los Angeles is often cheaper from Australia than New York. If your itinerary is flexible, compare fares across entry points and consider building your trip from the cheapest arrival city.
- Book domestic flights early. US domestic fares on budget carriers can be very cheap if booked months ahead.
- Use public transport when you can. The subway systems in the big cities, such as NYC or Chicago, usually cover almost everywhere tourists want to go. An unlimited
- weekly pass saves money compared to rideshare, especially for multiple trips per day.
- Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card. Standard Australian bank cards charge 2–3% on every overseas purchase but some travel cards waive the fee. On a $10,000 trip, that’s $200–$300 saved.
- Pick accommodation with a kitchen or breakfast included. Cooking some meals or skipping a paid breakfast reduces daily food spend noticeably over a two-week trip.
- Book theme parks online and in advance. Gate prices are consistently higher. Look for multi-day tickets if you plan to visit a park more than once.
Stay connected in the USA with Holafly
Roaming charges are one of the easier US costs to cut before you leave. A Holafly eSIM for the USA means you land with unlimited data already running — up to 5G speeds, 24/7 customer support on hand, and no daily carrier fees adding to your bill. One fixed price before you fly, nothing to set up at the airport.
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