The BEST Cheap Hostels in Sydney for Budget Travellers [2023 GUIDE]

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So you’re looking through the endless Sydney backpackers on offer looking for the holy grail, something cheap and good! Staying in the Central Business District is slightly more expensive but you’ll save money whilst visiting Sydney if you’re within walking distance of the main sights. A great area to stay in for backpackers is close to Central Station, it makes getting from Sydney airport easy as well as getting to places like the Sydney Opera House.

Situated in a historic building, this budget-friendly hostel in Sydney CBD offers the ideal balance of chilled-out vibes combined with a party atmosphere. It’s a great place for solo travellers or anyone who wants to meet fellow adventurers as they tour around Australia and beyond.

This place is very affordable and provides all of the basics. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no effort been put into making this place the best it can be. It’s colourful throughout and has been thoughtfully decorated, and rest assured it’s spotless.

There are some great communal spaces at this Sydney backpackers where you can spend some time chilling out, including a garden and cinema room. On top of that, this hostel is managed by a friendly bunch of staff who’ll make sure you have a blast while you’re there. 

Where is Summer House Backpackers Kings Cross?

You’ll find this hostel in the Kings Cross area of the Sydney CBD, the most budget-friendly place to stay in Sydney. It’s a party-centric area, just a couple of minutes walk to Kings Cross railway station and Hyde Park. Close by, you’ll get to discover Westfield Tower and Shopping Centre, as well as Darling Harbour and an array of other districts. Just two stops on the train from here and you’ll be in Bondi Beach. Not a bad location at all!

Wondering what your room options are at Summer House Backpackers Kings Cross? Well, there aren’t any private rooms, but they’ve got a whole bunch of dorm rooms for you to choose from. These include:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

Prices start at a very reasonable $10 USD per night.

Any extras?

This place is more than just a cheap hostel in Sydney where you can sleep on a shoestring budget. It’s fun and friendly and has a bunch of decent amenities for guests to make full use of. Those include: 

There’s also a roster of events going on here daily, with nights-out organised by the hostel team themselves. These include barbecues, movie nights, karaoke, quizzes, and all sorts of other fun-filled shenanigans.

So there you have it. Basic and budget-friendly, but pretty funky and fun to boot. Summer House combines its awesome location with an equally great team, so you really can’t go wrong.

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As the name suggests, this is the perfect base for exploring Sydney. More like a budget hotel than a super cheap hostel, this place has actually been included in iconic guide books like Lonely Planet. It’s a good start, for sure.

Though it’s set inside a historic, red brick building, the interiors have been lovingly modernized. Contemporary interiors combine with antique leather sofas, chandeliers, and exposed brick walls. It’s roomy too, with a ton of communal spaces including a large kitchen and dining area, games room, and the awesome event space.

Rooms here come in an array of shapes and sizes, but in general, the dorms are clean, bright, and modern. They’re fairly spacious and are definitely clean; in fact, they claim to be the “cleanest hostel in Sydney”! They offer private and dormitory rooms here so there are plenty of choices.

Where is Base Sydney?

Base has an awesome location close to Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Town Hall in Sydney CBD. It’s also just a few minutes walk to Centre Point Tower, and there are plenty of cafes and bars in the surrounding area. Basically, you can stroll to pretty much all of Sydney’s best sights from this hostel, really saving you extra pennies on public transport. if you do want to jump on the train, it’s easy to get to. Bondi Beach.

The room options at Base Sydney are pretty plentiful. Let’s start with the dorms: 

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

Not sure about embracing hostel life? Don’t worry: they’ve got private rooms on offer here, too: 

• Double room
• 3 bed private room

Prices at Base Sydney start from $14 USD per night.

Any extras?

As well as looking the part and being modern with a great vibe, Base Sydney also comes complete with a whole host of different amenities. These include the following:

There are also a load of activities (rotating weekly) going on at Base Sydney, often taking place at the hostel’s very own Scary Canary Bar. These include:

Base Sydney is a sanctuary for backpackers. It’s got historic charm, tons of things to do, and plenty of space to kick back in. If you’re travelling on a budget but want to stay right in all the action, this is definitely an amazing option. You can also take advantage of things like the laundry facilities and kitchen to save even more money.

Wake Up! Sydney Central is part of an award-winning chain of hostels (and hotels) throughout Australia. So, you know it’s a reliable place to stay before you even set foot through its doors. If you want a comfy bed at a reasonable rate, check this place out.

This is a stylish, modern hostel that’s been specifically designed to get the most out of the historic building in which it’s situated. For one thing, there’s a large lobby lounge area where digital nomads can smash out a bit of work and relax with the free wifi. There’s also a large industrial-style communal kitchen, where you can whip up a meal for yourself.

But if you don’t feel like cooking, no worries. There’s an uber-cool on-site bar/restaurant for your drinking, eating, and partying needs (and a separate cafe, too). The dorms are more basic than the rest of this cheap Sydney hostel, but they’re still modern, clean and some even boast city views.

Where is Wake Up! Sydney Central?

As the name suggests, this budget-friendly Sydney hostel has a central location. In fact, it’s right opposite Central Station, which makes exploring around Sydney pretty easy. Paddy’s Market and Chinatown are close by, and Darling Harbour is just a 15-minute walk away. You can also jump on the train and be at Bondi Beach in no time at all! The major Sydney landmarks such as the Opera House and the Sydney harbour are easy to reach on foot or public transport too.

The rooms at Wake Up! Sydney Central include the following dorm options:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

There are private rooms on offer here, too. Options include:

• Twin room
• Double room
• 3 bed private room

Prices here begin from $18 USD per night.

Any extras?

You betcha. There are quite a few different amenities offered at this budget hostel in Sydney that you can enjoy if you choose to stay here. These include:

But wait, there’s more. There’s actually something going on every night of the week at this epic Sydney backpackers. Their super-comprehensive roster of events includes:

The dorms may not be much to look at, but this budget Sydney hostel is way more than just a place to rest your head. With a crazy amount of events and tons of space to kick back in on the free wifi, this place offers some next-level value for money. You’ll also get a free breakfast with some of the rooms too.

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Not super polished and modern, but down-to-earth and pretty stylish, this hostel is set in a large Victorian house with a vintage vibe to match. It’s the kind of place where you can expect a lively atmosphere, but not so party-centric that it’s impossible to sleep.

The house itself is super nice. It’s very clean throughout, with charming period features and surprisingly large dorms and modern communal areas. The garden steals the show for us though; it’s a proper oasis, with benches, seats, palms, and a patio with a BBQ.

The staff here are super friendly and make sure everything runs smoothly. They’ll help you get to grips with the city, which makes all the difference. The glowing reviews back all this up, with many guests returning for another stay – it’s that good.

Where is The Original Backpackers Hostel?

Situated in Potts Point, a quiet, leafy area near Kings Cross, this cheap Sydney hostel is within walking distance to the Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, and Mrs Mcquarie’s Point. It’s also just 200 meters from Kings Cross railway station, which makes getting around the city a breeze, you’ll be sunbaking at Bondi Beach in no time!

Want to know what the sleeping arrangements are? For starters, here are the dorm options:

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

You can also choose from the following private rooms if the dorms don’t cut it for you:

• Twin room
• Single room
• Double room

Prices per night start from $16 USD.

Any extras?

Yes, there are extras at The Original Backpackers, of course. You’ll have access to the following amenities and perks:

This hostel is one of the more unique among the many to be found in Sydney. It’s great value for money, has tons of character (thanks to being set in a Victorian house and all), and has a nice, intimate vibe. Overall, a classic laid-back Aussie hostel in a chilled location. With the free breakfast, you can save even more money on food as we all know, Sydney can be an expensive place for eating out!

Other than its awesome name, there’s so much more to the Jolly Swagman. This fun hostel offers great value for money and is a true party hostel through and through.

Even though the Jolly Swagman Backpackers is a large hostel, it’s still pretty friendly with welcoming staff and an all-around great vibe. It may not be the newest place in town, but it’s still one of the best budget hostels in Sydney.

It’s comfortable, too, with a ton of communal areas to kick back in. There’s also a free breakfast, so you can save your pennies for more important things, like, drinks and sightseeing.

Where is Jolly Swagman Backpackers?

This hostel is located along a fairly low-key street in Potts Point. This isn’t exactly the most happening area, but it’s just a five-minute stroll to all the backpacker-friendly party action of Kings Cross (and Kings Cross railway station, too). Just a short train ride is Sydney CBD (Central Business District), but you could always walk there through the famous Royal Botanic Garden. The Sydney Opera House is also just a stone’s throw away or you can jump on the train for Bondi Beach or Sydney airport.

When it comes to room options, Jolly Swagman Backpackers has a fair few on offer. Let’s start off by looking at the dorm situation: 

• Mixed dorm
• Female dorm

But if a private room is more your thing, you’ll be happy to know that this budget Sydney hostel has those, too. Options include:

• Single room
• Twin room
• Double room

Prices at Jolly Swagman Backpackers start at just $11 USD per night.

Any extras?

Being the fun party hostel that this place is, it’s got a few tricks up its sleeve to keep you entertained and comfortable during your stay. You’ll have access to the following:

There may not be specific events going on, but the drinks deals and general party atmosphere definitely make this a fun place to be. If you’re in Sydney to party, that is.

Overall, this is a solid hostel in Sydney. It’s not a fashionable or super modern backpacker hostel, but it is fun without being too raucous. If you’re a solo traveller in Sydney and feel like meeting new people, this is an ideal option.

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Sydney has a pretty amazing hostel scene going on. It’s been a popular backpacking hub for decades, and there’s plenty to show for it. The area of Kings Cross is pretty much Sydney backpackers central, with plenty of international visitors, cheap bars, and hostels. It’s here where you’ll probably find the holy grail of Sydney hostels: cheap and well located!

There’s a lot of variation going on with Sydney backpackers, too. Whether you want a cosy hostel experience or you’re just after something basic for a weekend in Sydney, you’ll find it here. Plus if you’re feeling social, you’ll be pleased to note that a whole lot of Sydney’s hostels are great for meeting fellow travellers and partying on down. Enjoy!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!