Australia is an expensive country by most western standards. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne are comparable with London or New York for traveling. This does not mean you cannot travel on a budget, but you should be prepared for a larger daily budget than many countries. The supermarkets are competitive and there are dining options for people on smaller budgets. It’s advisable to get familiar with the prices in Australia before you travel and be sure that you have the available funds, as many people are surprised by some of the prices of everyday items.