Which Aussie city gives you bang for your buck?

It’s the one thing every Aussie traveller wants to know: which capital city comes with the biggest price tag?

And now thanks to trivago, we can tell you.

Compiling data from trivago’s Hotel Price Index for 2012 through to 2014, the hotel search site has compared average hotel prices across Australia’s capital cities.

Out of all the capitals, Perth’s leading asking price for a hotel stay ($208) has been matched by Sydney, whose annual average hotel prices are now on par with the WA capital.

The culturally cool capital of Melbourne peaked at its highest average price level over the February to March period this year at $214, marking a 13% and 8% month-on-month increase respectively on 2014 prices.

Up in sunny Brisbane, average hotel fees followed the trend of the last two years, hitting its stride in February, only this time higher, at $214 – a 14% increase on last year’s price of $188.

When headed for a hotel stay in Darwin, you’ve really got to pick your month, with this capital seeing the biggest fluctuation in prices. Darwin saw the biggest decrease in annual averages, with prices falling by 12% over December, January and February.

Darwin sees its peak costly periods from around May to September, with the lowest hotel stay sitting in the summer periods – probably because of its unbearable heat over the holidays!

Flying down to Adelaide, the average hotel price tag saw a continued pattern of peaking in March, but held onto its consistency with $180 in 2013, $188 in 2014 and $182 in 2015.

Down in the Apple Isle, Hobart experienced the biggest annual average increase, jumping 6% from 2014, from $174 to $184, which really isn’t too much of a price hike.

And if you’re contemplating a stay in Canberra, average hotel prices stuck around $160 in December, dropping from $179 back in 2013.

But what does all this mean for travellers? Well, if you’re looking for a cheap city stay, Adelaide looks the cheapest overall throughout the year, with Perth and Sydney asking the most for a night in a hotel year on year.

Avoid Darwin in winter – money grabbing city – and if you’re game to brave the chill, give Hobart a chance in the winter months for a great deal.

Do these results surprise you?

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

@australia adelaide brisbane canberra capital city darwin hobart melbourne perth sydney trivago