Backpacking Sydney (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Sydney

Sydney is the city that mixes postcard sunsets with “wait, how much for a flat white?” prices.

It flashes that famous Opera House smile and dares your wallet to keep up. But here’s the trick: if you plan smart, stash a reusable coffee cup, and follow a few local hacks, you can soak up the harbor magic without selling a kidney.

This backpacking Sydney guide is your cheat sheet. Just the info you need to grab the right area, stretch your dollars, and leave with sand in your shoes and money still in your bank app.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Sydney

Best for Hostel Newbies

YHA Pittwater Eco9.3

from $15.00 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

The Pod9.2

from $16.61 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Mad Monkey Backpackers ...9.1

from $14.30 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Sydney

Sydney is pricey, but not unbeatable.

• Shoestring €55–70/day: 10-bed dorm, supermarket pasta, Opal card rides, free walks.
• Mid €80–100/day: smaller dorm, café brekkie, one paid tour, two happy-hour drinks.
• Comfy €120+/day: pod dorm or cheap private, daily flat whites, craft-beer flights, ferry joyrides.

Always keep a spare €10 for surprise charges—Sydney loves service fees.

Typical Daily Expenses in Sydney

• Hostel dorm bed: €30–38 (shoulder) · €45–50 (summer).
• Food total: €25–30 if you split groceries and street eats.
• Breakfast: €4–8 for banana bread + coffee or yogurt pot from a servo.
• Lunch: €7–12 for Chinatown noodles or two sushi rolls.
• Dinner: €10–18 for pub schnitzel deal or Thai takeaway.
• Transport: €4–7 with daily Opal cap, ferries extra.
• Attractions: €0–25; coastal walks are free, zoo or aquarium is not.
• Extras: €10–15 for gelato, thrift tee, or two schooners.

Plan on roughly €65 to survive, €90 to relax.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Sydney

1. Mad Monkey Potts Point - best for Solo Traveller
2. Summer House Sydney City - best for Digital Nomads, Groups (10+ people), Solo Traveller
3. Wake Up! Bondi Beach - best for Female Solo Traveller, Solo Traveller
4. Clarks at Clovelly
5. Wood Duck Inn

Mad Monkey Potts Point

8.1

Potts Point

Jolly Swagman is run by an energetic bunch of travellers that have knowledge and heaps of good more

from

$12.38

Summer House Sydney City

8.6

An ideal accommodation for social solo travellers. Organised activities include yoga classes, more

from

$15.68

Wake Up! Bondi Beach

8.6

Bondi Beach

Just seconds from the famous Bondi Beach, this over 18’s hostel has one of the best views more

from

$18.66

Clarks at Clovelly

8.4

Clovelly Beach

"…Brilliant - I also stayed here in 2002 for several months and it was a great place to meet people more

Wood Duck Inn

8.7

Darlinghurst

"…However if the weather is nice the rooftop is amazing! The place is very well situated. I stayed more

Money Saving Tips

• Grab a free Opal card at the airport; daily transit caps save big.
• Hit supermarkets after 6 p.m.—yellow “quick-sale” stickers slash dinner costs.
• Fill your bottle at public taps; Sydney water is top-tier and free.
• Use library Wi-Fi for big downloads and a quiet air-con break.
• Many museums drop entry fees on Wednesday evenings—check their websites.
• University bars pour €4 beers before 7 p.m. and welcome outsiders.
• Free electric BBQs dot beaches; share grill space, make new friends.

Getting Around Sydney on a Budget

• Walk the CBD: Opera House to Darling Harbour in 20 minutes.
• Opal caps: Daily ~€14, weekly ~€47; after that, rides are free.
• Sunday Funday: All transport capped at ~€6—do big trips then.
• Cheap ferry hack: Inner-harbor routes cost standard fare but feel like cruises.
• Night buses: Run hourly; screenshot routes before data drops.
• Bike share: Lime e-bikes free for first 10 minutes—hop, dock, repeat.

Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions

Free things to do

• Bondi to Coogee coastal walk—waves, cliffs, zero euros.
• Royal Botanic Garden—picnic with a harbor view.
• Explore Barangaroo Reserve at sunset.
• Tour the Art Gallery of NSW permanent collection.
• Wander Paddington Markets on Saturday for crafts and buskers.

Low cost attractions

• Manly ferry—harbor cruise feel for a bus fare.
• Taronga Zoo late-entry ticket after 2 p.m. for a 20 % cut.
• Bondi Icebergs pool dip—€6 for infinity vibes.
• Sydney Tower Eye early-bird ticket—cheaper before 11 a.m.

Food and Drinks on a Budget

• Street eats: €3 banh mi on George St, €2.50 sushi rolls on Goulburn St.
• Cookouts: Free beach BBQs—grab sausages and bread from Woolies.
• Happy hours: CBD pubs do €4 house beers 4–6 p.m.
• Nightlife: Arrive at Kings Cross clubs before 9 p.m. to dodge €15 cover.
• BYO: Many restaurants are “bring your own wine” with tiny corkage fees.
• Cheap caffeine: 7-Eleven sells €1 flat whites that aren’t terrible in a pinch.

Experiences for Backpackers

• Surf lesson at Bondi—€40 for board, wetsuit, and wipeouts.
• Volunteer beach cleanup—gear + good karma included.
• Free walking tour of The Rocks; tip what you want.
• Kayak Sydney Harbour at sunrise—cheapest slots, unbeatable photos.
• Catch indie gigs in Newtown bars—often no cover midweek.
• Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains with an Opal card—train ride covered by daily cap.

6 Hidden Gemz in Sydney (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best time: March–May and September–November—warm water, thinner crowds, lower dorm rates.
• Book ahead: Reserve hostels and whale-watch cruises two weeks out in peak season.
• Tourist traps: Skip Darling Harbour chain eateries and over-priced souvenir shops at Circular Quay.
• Safety: Swim between red-yellow flags; rips are sneaky. Keep zippers shut on packed trains.
• Cultural respect: Slip-slop-slap sunscreen, keep voices low on late buses, and don’t litter—Aussies love clean beaches.

Sydney tests your budget but pays back in golden sunsets, salt-sprayed hair, and friendships forged over sausage sizzles. Spend smart, smile often, and you’ll leave richer in stories than you arrived.

Backpacking Sydney? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Matt Kiefer

Hey, I’m Matt, the founder behind Hostelgeeks.com. My team and I are collecting the absolute best hostels in the world for you. We share the coolest hostels so you can focus on your travels, rather than spending your time trying to pick a good hostel.

Personally, I’ve bunked in over 600 hostels and stamped my passport in more than 70 countries. My heart beats for Vietnam, Spain, and France, and so many more destinations. I’m a Foosball champ but a beer pong amateur.

Last but not least: Hostelgeeks is a proud ambassador of Hostelz.com.