What food-related tips does the article recommend to reduce travel expenses in Australia?

The article recommends bringing items like kimchi, instant rice (Haetban), and cup noodles from Korea to reduce food expenses while traveling in Australia. It also suggests buying inexpensive meat at Australian supermarkets like Coles or Woolworths and cooking it with the Korean food you brought.

Where is KT Mart located in Melbourne, and who recommended it?

Melbourne KT Mart is located at 544 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. This mart was recommended by working holidaymakers in Melbourne, Australia, for its wide variety of Korean food and good prices.

Approximately how much does a pack of kimchi cost at Melbourne KT Mart, and what is the price range for popular instant noodles?

A small pack of kimchi at Melbourne KT Mart costs approximately ~$7. Popular instant noodles like Shin Ramyun or Jin Ramyun Spicy are said to be significantly more expensive per pack than in Korea.

What tips does this article provide for efficiently using Melbourne KT Mart?

The article's author recommends buying only bulky items at Melbourne KT Mart and bringing other necessary goods from local supermarkets like Coles or preparing them in advance from Korea. This is because KT Mart's prices are relatively high.

Melbourne KT Mart 2026: Save on Australia Travel Costs

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Melbourne KT Mart 2026: Save on Australia Travel Costs | TRVLOGUE

Save on Australia Travel Expenses: Food & Korean Marts

Melbourne KT Mart Review & Tips

Our Australian honeymoon was absolutely unforgettable!

Even though we ended up visiting during Australia's rainy season in 2026 and saw daily showers, our time flew by. It was such a joyful trip!

Australia is incredible in so many ways, but there's one thing that really stands out: the cost of living is no joke.

A decent meal out for two easily costs ~$51, and if you opt for something a bit more upscale, you can expect to spend upwards of ~$146.

My husband and I were planning a two-week adventure across Sydney, Melbourne, and even New Zealand's South Island. To keep our Australia travel budget in check, we decided to pack some Korean essentials!

Table of Contents
1	Saving Money on Australia Travel Food
2	Melbourne KT Mart Review & Tips

1. Saving Money on Australia Travel Food

Half of my suitcase was dedicated to kimchi, instant rice (Hetbahn), and cup noodles. Seriously, when it comes to cutting down Australia travel expenses, bringing your own food is a game-changer.

The only real challenge is the return trip with a heavier bag, but packing light on the way out is usually easy enough.

Australia has two major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, where you can find affordable lamb, beef, and pork. They also have convenient oven-ready chicken dishes. So, I highly recommend combining your packed instant rice, kimchi, and cup noodles with fresh ingredients from these local supermarkets to create delicious side dishes.

My husband and I prefer home-cooked meals over dining out, and honestly, Australia doesn't have a particularly famous cuisine that we felt we were missing. So, we happily shopped at the supermarkets and cooked up some delicious meals.

By eating out for lunch and cooking dinner ourselves, we significantly reduced our Australia travel costs.

Plus, grocery shopping together in Australia became a memorable part of our trip! =)

2. Melbourne KT Mart: Insider Tips

Given the large number of Korean working holiday visa holders in Australia, you'll find an abundance of Korean restaurants and, thankfully, Korean supermarkets are easy to locate.

📍 KT MART
544 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

A friend who did a working holiday in Melbourne recommended Melbourne KT Mart, saying it had a great variety of Korean food and reasonable prices. They suggested checking it out if it was close to our accommodation.

So, we made sure to visit during our trip.

They truly have everything! You'll find a lot of Koreans shopping there, but also many other international visitors.

You can even find traditional Korean rice cakes, and popular snacks like 'Ddujjeonku' (a type of Korean cookie), showing how vibrant and well-stocked the store is.

However, it is quite expensive.

If you're considering bringing kimchi, cup noodles, or other side dishes into Australia, you'll need to declare them on your arrival card to ensure a smooth entry process. But if dealing with customs declarations feels like too much hassle, then utilizing KT Mart is a fantastic alternative.

Just be prepared for the prices to be significantly higher!

A small pack of kimchi, for example, costs around ~$7.

While less popular ramen brands might be similar in price to what you'd find back home, popular varieties like Shin Ramyun or Jin Ramyun Spicy, which often contain meat ingredients, can be significantly more expensive per pack.

It's essentially paying extra for convenience.

Beyond Korean snacks, they also stock a wide array of international imported snacks.

And there are so many instant meal options! The selection of Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) is incredible, with many available as easy-to-prepare meal kits, which seems to make them very popular with international shoppers.

Again, these are typically on the pricier side.

From sauces to fermented pastes, they have everything you could need.

Personally, I'd only buy heavy items like sauces or pastes from a place like Melbourne's KT Mart and either pack lighter essentials from home or pick them up at Coles.