Now You're Settled

Food Tips

When living in hostels on a budget, grocery shopping is an absolute must. Although Australia is filled with amazing restaurants, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, eating out quickly adds up. Grabbing a burger or sandwich will run about AUD $10 to $18. In contrast, we calculated that grocery runs can bring the per meal cost down to about AUD $4, meaning more money for travel.

Learn to cook basic meals (eggs, pasta, sandwiches, etc.), but don’t overdo your grocery shopping as hostel fridges are small and you’ll likely end up wasting food. That being said, there are too many good restaurants -- we recommend asian fusion cuisine in Melbourne -- to not treat yourself occasionally.

Laundry

Every hostel should have laundry facilities and will take coins as payment. It'll usually run about AUD $6 to $10 for washer and dryer combined so expect to spend around AUD $18 to $30 per month on laundry.

Social Scene

The most significant expense, however, is alcohol, which is shockingly overpriced in Australia. Cases of beers will cost more than twice as much as they do in the United States, with a 24 pack going for anywhere from AUD $49 to $55+. In the major cities, a pint of beer at the bar can cost up to AUD $15, whereas the smaller schooner size will cost about AUD $6. Keep an eye out for backpacker deals or happy hours wherever you go (these will be posted in and around the hostels and bars).

The drink of choice among backpackers is goon (bagged wine). Easily the cheapest drink option to pregame bars or clubs with, this knockoff version of wine packs a hard punch and will almost assuredly give you a violent hangover the next day. Make sure you are not visibly intoxicated when showing up to bars and clubs, as many bouncers will deny entry for numerous reasons. It’s a game of fine lines so make sure you’re on the right side and you’ll have plenty of fun nights out.

In theory, you could simply not drink and save money, but depending on your hostel, there are constantly fellow travellers going out and it’s a great way to meet new people. There are drinking games, card games and many more hostel-based activities, such as bingo night and contests, that facilitate the social and communal atmosphere. Usually these same hostels will have special backpacker deals with nearby bars or clubs, so take advantage of those offerings. A night on the town is easily our favorite way to meet new people from around the world.