Quick answer: Sydney runs about EUR 130 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: October-November and March-April - warm, less humid and outside the summer school-holiday crowds.
What things actually cost
| flat white | 3 EUR |
| meat pie | 4 EUR |
| ferry to Manly | 5 EUR |
| schooner of beer at a pub | 5.50 EUR |
| Opal daily transport cap | 11 EUR |
| Opera House guided tour | 26 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Flat white at a Surry Hills cafeabout 3 EUR
- Meat pie from Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Woolloomoolooabout 4-5 EUR
- Fish and chips on the beachfront at Manlyabout 12 EUR
- Dumplings in Chinatown around Dixon Streetabout 8 EUR a plate
- Barramundi and a schooner at a pub bistroabout 20 EUR
Money mistakes to avoid
- Underestimating the sunUV here burns in 15 minutes even on cloudy days; sunscreen is non-negotiable
- Swimming outside the red-and-yellow flagsrips are real; patrolled zones exist for a reason
- Buying tourist transport passesjust tap a contactless card on the Opal network, fares are capped daily
- Staying only around Circular Quaythe character is in Newtown, Surry Hills and the beach suburbs
Transport without the tourist tax
The airport train reaches the center in 15 minutes for about 13 EUR (the station access fee is most of it). Around town, tap a contactless bank card on trains, buses and ferries - the Opal daily cap is about 11 EUR, and the Manly ferry doubles as a harbour cruise.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 5-day Sydney itinerary.