How Much Things Cost in the USA

When you're travelling overseas, having an idea of how much everything is going to cost can be really handy. Especially somewhere like the US, where you have to factor tax and tipping into everything you buy. Oh boy! To give you an idea, we've listed some prices for things you need and want on a holiday like transport, food, tours and more.

All the prices we've quoted in this article are in Australian dollars, but you can visit our currency converter to find out what the exchange rate is between the AUD and USD right now!

There are a lot of differences between the US and Australia, in terms of how much things cost. Let's compare the price of some standard things in Australia and the US to give you an idea.

Australia vs US

In this table, we have a comparison of some things you might do in the US. The prices are approximate and include an estimation of tax and tipping, but remember that tax changes from state to state.

Expense	Cost in Australia	Cost in the US
Breakfast with Coffee	$25AUD	$31AUD
1 full week of public transport (myki)	$43AUD for a myki Pass	$42AUD
Full priced Movie ticket	$23AUD	$23AUD
Museum Entry	$28AUD	$35.10AUD
A pint of beer	$9AUD	$13AUD

To find the best way to buy USD, you can read our guide here.

The answer to this question really depends on the type of holiday you're planning in the States. Will you be backpacking and staying in hostels? Will you be living it up at the Plaza in NYC? If you want to do it on a budget, you easily can or you can splurge and go on a luxury holiday.

It all depends on what you're doing, where you're staying and how long you're planning to travel.

Here we have listed an estimate of how much money you'd need, per person, per day depending on your holiday.

Budget holiday: Up to $110AUD

Middle of the range holiday: Up to $300AUD

Luxury holiday: Up to $750AUD

Like flying anywhere in the world, flights between Australia and the US can change depending the time of year. Remember, though that the US is always a popular destination and it's far away so the flights can be a little expensive.

It also depends where in Australia you're flying from.

Generally the average cost of a return flight to Los Angeles (LAX) from Melbourne or Sydney will cost you somewhere between $1,400 and $2,000AUD. But the flight prices can go up to $5,000AUD depending who you fly with.

If you're travelling domestically in the States, there are relatively good deals available if you put in the time to research.

There is a lot of public transport in the US. You can use it to get around cities, and to get between them. But it also depends where you are, for example the Subway system is very popular in New York, but a lot of people opt to drive in Los Angeles.

Public Transport in Major Cities

All major cities have public transport in the States.

City	Type of Transport	Cost Per Ride
New York City	The Subway	$3.70AUD
Dallas	DART	$2.30 - $3.40AUD
Washington, DC	The Metro	$2.50 - $8AUD
Boston	The T (Subway)	$3.00 - $3.70 AUD
Miami	Metrorail	$3.00AUD
LA	Metro Rail	$2.30AUD
Houston	METRORail	$1.70AUD
Philadelphia	SEPTA	$3.40AUD
Chicago	The L (Subway)	$3.00AUD

Taxis and Ride Sharing

Taxis are metered and the costs starts at about $4AUD
Uber and Lyft are popular options in most US states.

Long Distance Buses

There are buses that run between cities. Tickets are generally non-refundable.

Long Distance Trains

Travelling long distance by train can be option, but it's good to know that it's not really a popular mode of transport. This is because sometimes it can be as expensive as flying, and it takes much longer. On top of this, the train network is not as extensive and often trains don't run as frequently.

Amtrak is the largest national passenger railroad company. Tickets range in price from $3.85 to $1,100AUD based on lots of different factors. You can often find better fares, by researching and booking early.

Planes

Often the most popular way to travel domestically in the US. Just remember that security is strict at US airports, so allow plenty of time. And like trains, if you book early and research you should be able to find some good deals. The following links can help you find good airfares.

The US is so diverse, and there is so much to see in all cities. Utilising tours is a great way to meet other travellers and learn about the area you're in. If you're looking to have a completely guided tour, you could consider looking into companies like Intrepid, Topdeck or a Contiki tour. But even on a smaller scale, you can often find walking tours in major cities run by locals! Usually, you can find out about these online or through your hostel. They are free, but usually require you to tip your guide. Only fair, right?

Examples of some other popular tours you might consider in the US. They will all have different prices, depending on the tour inclusions and length.

Grand Canyon Tour from Las Vegas
Tennessee Music Tours from Nashville
Louisiana Plantation or Swamp tours.
Drive to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco

If you're a fully licensed driver in Australia, there are still some things you need to know before trying to rent a car in the US. Generally, you won't be able to do so if you are under the age of 21, and if you're under 25 there is usually a surcharge for being a 'young driver'. The cost of the car you hire, will depend on the type you're after.

And remember you'll be driving on the other side of the road!!

Price of a Rental Car in the USA, per Week:

Budget: $270AUD per week for a budget car that will comfortably fit two people and luggage
Mid-range: $330 – $370AUD for a mid-range car that will easily fit four people and luggage
High-end: $470 – $670AUD for a high end car such as a convertible, large SUV or luxury vehicle

Rental Car Companies

You can really be flexible about how much you spend on accomodation when you get to the United States. If you're keeping it low key and don't want to spend much, there are hostels in most major cities, or you could live it up! Below are some rough guides to how much you can expect to pay.

Accomodation on a budget, like hostels cost about $50 to $110AUD a night.

Mid-range accomodation like a double room in a 3 star hotel will probably cost between $150 and $270AUD a night.

A double luxury hotel room will cost between $250 to $1000AUD per night.

Using the following sites will give you an even better idea of how much the accomodation you're after will cost you.