What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $20–$38/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $60–$95/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $80–$130/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Australia (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $75/day shoestring or $110/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
South Bank / West End.
Local tip
💡 Cheaper than Sydney/Melbourne — a good place to sort logistics before heading up the coast.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.