all prices in Australian Dollars ($AUD)

drinks and snacks			food: local markets; restaurants; & stores
water (mineral) juice soft drink (can) soft drink (bottle)	1.5 litre 1 litre 330ml 1.5 litre	1.00 1.70 0.55 1.30	bread loaf-white bread loaf-whole grain	600g 750g	2.75 4.00
			pizza - take-away chips sunrice 3 minute cup sanitarium nutmeat	med one serving 65g 414g can	tba 1.50 1.50 3.65
beer - local wine	330ml 750ml	2.29 10.00
tea (Lipton) coffee (cafe / bar) Nescafe instant coffee - ground	25 bags per cup 125g 500g	1.80 3.20 4.50 9.90	rice (white) pasta eggs crushed tomatoes	kg 500g per dozen 410g	1.35 1.30 3.50 1.10
milk yoghurt / curd cheese (processed) Magnum icecream	1 litre 500g kg each	1.80 1.85 8.50 tba	potatoes onions tomatoes green beans	kg kg kg kg	2.20 1.80 3.75 3.90
chips salted peanuts dried apricots	200g pack 250g 200g	2.50 2.50 2.60	apples oranges bananas	kg kg kg	3.60 2.80 3.00
cornflakes chocolate biscuits-plain biscuits-chocolate museli bars	375g pack 100g block 220g pack 240g 8 x 25g bars	2.75 1.80 1.40 2.40 3.35	pineapple (can) oil (canola)	450g 500ml	195 1.70
			peanut paste jam	500g jar 400g jar	3.60 2.90
accommodation			personal
budget city hostel budget city hotel	18.00+ per dorm bed 75.00 (double) share bathroom		deodorant - roll-on soap shampoo toothbrush toothpaste disposable razor toilet paper	50ml 150g bar 200ml each 110g 10 pack 4 pack	3.50 1.50 3.90 2.10 2.84 2.20 1.65
camping	15.00 in campground w/o electricity, 6.50 in NP & wild camping possible in some areas
internet	5.00+ per hour

A couple of extra tips:

The above prices are only a guide as the cost of living varies greatly between the different states and whether you reside in the city or an isolated outback town.

Bargaining is not widely practiced except when buying case lots of fruit and vegetables or bulk items at markets. Some warehouse/ wholesale establishments may also provide discounts for large purchases.

Tipping is now common practice in Australia and encouraged throughout all facets of the hospitality industry. Either rounding the bill up to the nearest five or ten dollar amount is fairly customary, though the decision to tip or not is entirely up to you. In restaurants and some larger hotels, an optional tip line/box will be included on your credit card slip: again entirely discretional.

Taxi fares are always metred, unless you plan a long distance and then the price will be fixed before hand. Therefore tipping is not expected, though if your taxi-driver has run a miracle in getting you somewhere fast or on time, then a little extra is always appreciated.

Why not try these for starters?

Drop into the pub for a counterie
A counterie or counter meal is what Australians call the meal served at the local pub. Traditionally they were served at lunch and in the lounge bar. Nowadays, they are served at dinner time as well and you often get the option of sitting in the front bar or back in the lounge. Prices may vary between these two places. All pubs will have a couple if not more vegetarian options on offer.
Bush Tucker
If you get the opportunity to visit a restaurant that specialises in Australian Bush Tucker then make sure you go all out and try some of the unusual tastes of the native bush. Such flavours include lemon myrtle, wattle seed, quandongs or pepperberries. And of course if you haven't already, then you just have to sink your teeth into a big juicy macadamia nut: Australia's most commercially successful native plant food.
Damper
Simple bread dough traditionally wrapped around a stick and baked over an open fire in colonial times. Present day, it is not commonly found on sale, except for a few quirky bakeries and in bush tucker restaurants. However, if you get the chance to camp with a few locals, ask them to go all out and make you some of this bread. More for the experience than the taste.
Vegemite
Definitely an acquired taste, but seeing as most Australians are brought up on the stuff, they love it. This famously salty yeast-based spread, comparable to the British product: marmite, is gobbled up nationally on hot buttered toast for breakfast or smeared in a fresh buttered roll for lunch. Most cafes or coffee shops will serve it, if you ask for it. Variations to the sanga (sandwich) are to serve it with a layer of philadelphia cheese; crunchy iceberg lettuce; or crunchy straw potato chips.
Veggie Burger with the Lot
Basically waltz into any take-away and ask for their 'hamburger with the lot' without the meat element. It is totally unnecessary anyway when you get a seeded burger bun with fried egg, onions, grilled cheese, lettuce, tomato, beetroot and pineapple. With a serving of crunchy thick cut chips, you've got a meal and a half.
Chip Buttie
If the above burger seems all a bit too much to handle, then why not try a surfer's favourite snack. Sold at take away stores on the beach front, the chip buttie is simply a burger bun stuffed with a serving of hot chips and smothered with tomato sauce. Heart warming, but definitely not for those watching the health of their hearts.
Vanilla slice
Similar to the French mille-feuille or the Dutch tompouce, this morning tea delight is one of Australia's favourite baked goodies. Characteristically recognisable in colour from the thick set yellow vanilla custard between two layers of flaky pastry and topped with a sweet layer of bright pink icing. Great with a strong cup of freshly brewed black coffee.
The Lamington
Apparently discovered by accident when the former Governor of Queensland, Charles Cochrane-Baillie: the 2nd Baron Lamington's cook accidentally dropped a piece of sponge cake in melted chocolate and then rolled it in desiccated coconut. It is said that he actually hated it, but that didn't stop millions of Australians from consuming this bakery delight and today you can find this simple cake establishments ranging from coffee houses to bakeries, to supermarkets and take-away stores. Often they will be sliced in two and served with a layer of jam and cream in between and recently lemon and strawberry varieties have also found their way into bakery shops.
Pavlova
This dish is still cause for argument between New Zealanders and Australians, as it is not exactly clear, who invented this mouth-watering sweet in honor of the Russian dancer, Ánna Pávlova during one of her tours in Oceania. Wherever it was discovered, both countries frequently devour this dessert on any celebratory occasion,: national or local. Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, this meringue-marsh mellow cake is served with lashings of whipped cream and covered with fresh fruit.
The Tim Tam Slam
If you have never tried two chocolate biscuits filled with a creamy chocolate fudge and covered in milky chocolate, then you are in for one of the finest moments in your life. And when you have got over your first delightfully gastronomic bite, why not explore this sensation further by embarking on the "Tim Tam Slam".
Nibble off both chocolate ends and then use your tim tam as a straw in cup of strong coffee. The brew will melt the fudge centre and the entire biscuit if you are not quick enough to suck everything up into your mouth in time. A unique chocolate experience that words cannot portray: you just have to give it a go for yourself. And don't be worried if you fail the first time, there are twelve biscuits in a pack.
ANZAC biscuits
Believed to have dated back to World War 1, when loved ones sent these long shelf life biscuits to soldiers fighting abroad. A mix of coconut, oats, flour, sugar, butter and golden syrup make an energy filling snack, which are popular with bush-bashers (bushwalkers) today. As well as being commercially produced for fundraising purposes, they can be found in supermarkets as well as local bakeries.

Drink
Water from the tap is potable everywhere in Australia, but the quality and taste does vary from state to state. In South Australia, for example most people have bottled water delivered weekly as the mains water isn't particularly pleasant to drink. The price of water varies depending where you are. In a populated region it is cheap, but in the outback it is like liquid gold and almost costs the same as well. It stands to reason that if you intend to go cycling in remote areas, it pays to read up on where your water stops will be along your route. There are long stretches of dry arid desert where there is no sign of life for miles. Dropping into the local police station is always a good idea, just to catch up on any recent news in the area, including confirmation about the availability of water.

Beer, also considered by many as liquid gold, is pumped out by two main breweries: Carlton United and Lion Nathan. What with them producing a plentiful flow of the amber beverage and the warm weather, the beer drinking culture is firmly embedded in the Ozzie lifestyle. While Fosters has had huge international appreciation, it is not often consumed by Australians. In fact, if you spy any of it in someone's ridgey didge (refrigerator), they'll tell you it was left over from a recent party and to help yourself. Besides the mass produced beers, there are a number of smaller brewers like Coopers and Boags who have national recognition and are widely available throughout the country.

Wine is one of Australia's success stories and there are wineries of all sizes, with and without attached restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfasts and other attractions dotting the entire lower third of the country. The only pitfall is that this delicious juice is not at all cheap, especially if you want something of a decent quality.

Alcohol cannot be purchased in the regular supermarket, though these days many decent sized shops have an attached liquor store. Otherwise you'll need to make a separate trip to the bottlo (bottle shop) down the road.