11 Realistic Ways For How To Save Money In Sydney, Australia

Sydney is a very expensive city. There’s no way around it. The Economist says it has the 14th most expensive cost of living in the world, which is more than London, San Francisco, and Stockholm. But it’s not impossible to save money in Australia’s biggest (and most expensive) city, especially if you use these 11 smart ways to save cash.

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Don’t spend money in touristy places.

Sure, everyone who visits Sydney will go to Circular Quay, The Rocks, and Darling Harbour to see the city’s most popular sights, but keep your money in your pocket because prices are higher there than in less touristy areas. Nearby inner-city suburbs like Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Redfern, Ultimo, and Glebe are cheaper, especially when it comes to food and drink.

Don’t give a tip.

When Australians go abroad, one of their biggest pet peeves is having to add an extra 10 or 20% to the bill to cover the tip, because that’s not how it works here. Sure, if a meal costs $95.60, we’ll pay a flat $100 or leave a tenner on the table if the service was especially good. But hospitality workers in Australia are paid a decent wage, so there’s no need to tip like you would in the U.S.

See More: 8 Cheap Things To Do in Sydney – Adventures For Under $30

11 Realistic Ways For How To Save Money In Sydney, Australia — Don’t give a tip.

Use hostels to stay

Backpacker hostels are perfect for travelers who want to stay on a budget, and there are some great ones in Sydney. The Sydney Harbour YHA has multi-share rooms for as little as $30 a night and great views of the water, including the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, as well as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Talk about getting champagne views for the price of a beer!
The Rocks, Sydney Harbour YHA

Drink goon

Cask wine, which is cheap and comes in a box, is called “goon” in Australia. People there don’t like it very much, but the cheap stuff isn’t all that bad when there are so many world-cass wineries in the country. Even Aldi, which is known for being a cheap grocery store, has won awards for their inexpensive wines. Budget boozers, rejoice!

Use an Opal card

Team Sydney would be on top of the podium if complaining about public transportation was an Olympic sport, but even critics have to admit that trains, buses, and ferries connect all the city’s major attractions well, and getting an Opal card will save you a few bucks. The Opal is similar to the Oyster card in London and other smart cards in other parts of the world. It is free, guarantees cheaper fares than single tickets, and makes it easier to get on and off public transportation.

Use Ubers

When the ride-sharing app came to Sydney in 2014, it was a huge help. Anyone who has taken a taxi from the airport to the city and been charged $70 for the seven-kilometer trip knows how expensive taxis in Sydney are. When public transportation isn’t an option—especially after midnight, when Sydney’s trains and buses stop running for the night—Uber is almost always cheaper and more pleasant than trying to

Go to a free museum

The Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Maritime Museum, The Rocks Discovery Museum, and the Nicholson Museum, which is full of old things, are all free to visit in Sydney, which is like Christmas for tourists who don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Walk around the city for free.

Free Tours Sydney, in the orange corner, and I’m Free Walking Tours, in the green corner, compete to be the best “free walking tour” company in Sydney. Both follow similar routes through the city center, Circular Quay, and The Rocks, and both offer a cheap way to see the Harbour City’s best sights.

Get out into nature.

Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Cronulla, Bronte, Balmoral, Tamarama, Freshwater, and so on are some of Sydney’s beaches, and you don’t have to pay a dime to go to any of them. If sun, surf, and sand aren’t your thing, there are plenty of walks, parks, and bike paths to check out.

Dodge convenience stores

Around Circular Quay and The Rocks, there are a lot of convenience stores that sell cheap souvenirs and overpriced food and drinks. If you don’t want to pay $6 for a can of Coke and $22.50 for a fridge magnet of a koala wearing an Australia T-shirt, you should avoid these stores like the plague. Stock up at big grocery stores like Woolworths and Coles to save money.

Find inexpensive food

By eating at the pub, you can do two things at once: learn about Australian Travel Pixy by going to a real Aussie watering hole and fill up on cheap food. If you want to save money on food, most inner-city pubs have deals like two-for-one meals and $10 schnitzels. Even better, you can buy ingredients at Coles or Woollies and cook a feast at your hostel on the cheap.

Topic: 11 Realistic Ways For How To Save Money In Sydney, Australia

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