Los Angeles from Australia: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Los Angeles, when to go, the visa for Australians and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Los Angeles tripDay to day in Los Angeles, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | A$63 | A$71 |
| A balanced mix | A$140 | A$147 |
| Mostly restaurants | A$199 | A$206 |
- Local transport: about A$7 a day. Taxi: A$4 to start, then A$2.39 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about A$46 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 18% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: metro.net, roommaster.com, taxifarefinder.com; in AUD at today's rate.
When to go
17°F
17°M
19°A
21°M
23°J
27°J
30°A
30°S
29°O
25°N
21°D
17°
The most pleasant months are September to July. June is the driest month (1 mm of rain) and February the wettest (75 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit United States, place by placeCompare: United States or Canada · Mexico or United States · Japan or United States · United States or United Kingdom
Visa for Australians
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program
Fee: $40 a person.
Allow at least 3 days before you fly.
Official source: smartraveller.gov.au, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatrestreet · a couple of hoursHand and footprints in the forecourt; the Hollywood Sign is visible from the Hollywood & Highland terraces
Griffith Observatoryviewpoint · a couple of hoursFree entry; come for sunset and the city lights, with the Hollywood Sign in view
Getty Centermuseum · half a dayFree admission (pay for parking); tram up the hill, gardens and views as good as the art
Santa Monica Pier and Beachbeach · half a dayEnd of Route 66; Ferris wheel on the pier, then cycle the beach path to Venice
Venice Beach Boardwalkbeach · a couple of hoursStreet performers, skate park and Muscle Beach; the canals are a quiet five-minute walk inland
Universal Studios Hollywoodtheme park · a full dayWorking studio plus theme park; the Studio Tour tram and Wizarding World of Harry Potter are the draws
- Griffith Park hike to the Hollywood Signpark · half a day
Brush Canyon or Mt Hollywood trails; start early, carry water, no shade
LACMA and La Brea Tar Pitsmuseum · half a dayUrban Light lamp-post installation outside; Ice Age fossils still being dug next door
- Malibu coast and beachesbeach · half a day
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway; Surfrider Beach, Point Dume and El Matador
- Movie studio tour (Warner Bros. or Paramount)experience · half a day
Real working backlots and soundstages; book ahead, especially for weekends
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Los Angeles cost?
Food and getting around come to about A$71 a person a day eating street food, A$147 with a balanced mix and A$206 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
The most pleasant months are September to July. June is the driest month (1 mm of rain) and February the wettest (75 mm); daytime highs run from 17 to 30 °C over the year.
Do Australians need a visa for United States?
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, $40. Checked on smartraveller.gov.au on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Los Angeles?
Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Santa Monica Pier and Beach, Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Your whole Los Angeles trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from Australia, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
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