Last Updated: July 29, 2022
Is New Zealand Expensive? Travel Cost + Tips To Travel On A Budget
New Zealand is a stunning country full of beautiful scenery, has a stunning seaside, fun people, amazing mountains, better wilderness, and the culture is pretty epic too!
There is no doubt that a trip to New Zealand is on most people’s bucket lists but much does travel to New Zealand cost? That is what we are here to find out!
Is New Zealand expensive? Yes and no, as the travel cost to New Zealand varies depending on the way in which you want to travel.
If you are on a tight budget, then don’t worry, New Zealand isn’t a place that requires a lot of money to enjoy but on the other hand, if you are living budget free, then you can definitely live it up if that is what you wish.
Join me as I run through all the travel costs associated with New Zealand as well as some money-saving tips for those of you who want to do it on a mega-budget.
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How Much Is the Cost on Average to Travel to New Zealand?
Your average trip to New Zealand can cost anywhere between $2500 – $10000 US dollars (not New Zealand Dollar) and it all depends on what you do while you are there.
Your main costs on a trip to New Zealand are going to be your plane ticket as it is far away and then your accommodation followed by food, drinks, how you choose to get around, how many things you want to see, and what activities you want to do.
This might sound daunting but this kind of decision-making gives you ultimate control over your budget and how you want to spend it, which is only a good thing.
You can live off $30 per day in New Zealand if you stay in budget accommodation and eat at the most affordable places on offer. Go for 12 days and you are only spending $360 plus your flights but you won’t get to see much of the country, so adding some transport costs is also wise.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can spend $500 a day and live a life eating at the best restaurants, drinking the best wine, seeing the whole country, and staying in amazing hotels. There is, of course, a middle ground, so let’s look a bit deeper into that.
So, is New Zealand expensive? Let’s find out!
Are Flights to New Zealand Expensive?
Flights to New Zealand are unavoidably expensive from most major hubs in the world and this is hardly surprising considering how far away it is from everywhere. Of course, if you are catching a flight from Australia or Fiji, then it is without doubt going to be cheaper but that is not the case for most of us.
The average flight price for a flight to New Zealand from Europe or North America ranges from $900 to $1500, which is probably a big chunk of your overall budget for your trip. But, unfortunately, that is just the way it is.
Even if you are paying at the top end of the spectrum for flights, they aren’t even going to be direct and will require at least one change to get there, usually via one of the Asian hubs or the Middle East.
But, there are some ways to save money on your flights if you are clever about it. Flying to New Zealand in May is the most affordable time of year as it is outside of school holidays and it is just when their summer ends, so it is the least busy time to go, meaning you can find some deals.
You can also save money by booking flights that have a lot of stops on them, like at least 3 or 4, but you had better make sure it is a good saving as you will end up spending some money on food and drinks in those airports while waiting for all the connections.
Another one of my money-saving tips for flights is to search often on Skyscanner or Kayak, like daily, having cleared your browsing history. Eventually, a deal or a glitch is going to pop up which you can take advantage of!
Is Hotel Accommodation in New Zealand Expensive?
The cost of accommodation in New Zealand can range from $20 a night for cheap accommodation all the way to $200 a night for the best hotel accommodation around.
It is totally up to you to decide in what style you want to travel in and how much of your budget you want to spend on where you choose to stay.
Hostels
The most affordable accommodations in New Zealand are, of course, hostels. Just like everywhere else in the world, the hostels in New Zealand are designed for backpackers and travelers on a serious budget that they have to stick to.
The cheapest hostels you are going to find will cost around $20 a night and that will be in a dorm room, shared with other travelers. The hostel will also have private rooms available too which are very affordable especially if you are traveling as a couple and want a private room to share.
Staying at a hostel can also bring your costs down in other ways too since they usually have a kitchen, so you can cook food on a budget rather than eating out. A hostel is also a great way to meet other travelers which can end up saving costs on transportation since you can share the costs instead of taking it all on yourself.
Airbnb
Airbnb accommodations are the next most affordable accommodation after a hostel and will cost you around $80 to $120 a night for city apartments and more.
While this is a steep jump up from a hostel, the accommodation is much nicer since you will have the place to yourself and have a kitchen to cook in, which saves you money in the long run. Your host will also be able to give you great tips about the local area which is a bonus.
A good way of balancing your accommodation budget is by doing some hostel time and some Airbnb time, that way you get the best of both worlds.
Hotels & Eco-Lodges
You are only going to find hotels in a capital city or city center in New Zealand and while they are nice, they tend to cost the same as an Airbnb in the city center of larger cities in New Zealand.
Personally, I always prefer Airbnb over a hotel but if you want the service that comes with a hotel, which is a touch of luxury, then go for it! Cheap hotels in New Zealand don’t really exist though so expect to spend anywhere from $80 to $200 a night depending on the level of luxury you are after!
When it comes to accommodation in the countryside, mountains, or by the sea, New Zealand is epic at creating amazing Eco-Lodges. These lodges are expensive mind you and cost around $100 to $200 a night but you will be living in ultimate luxury with things like a sauna, wood-burning stove, and views into the stunning natural scenes.
If I was going to splurge on something during my stay, it would be a few nights in an epic Eco-Lodge at the end of my trip!
Is Food in New Zealand Expensive?
Food is actually pretty affordable in New Zealand overall and you can find a good meal that is large and filling in an inexpensive restaurant for around $15, which is pretty good.
That being said, the food in New Zealand is delicious and there are tons of great things on offer from delicious seafood all the way to food trucks serving up great bites, awesome Asian restaurants, great pubs, brunch spots, cheap cafes, and more.
If you are looking for luxury, then a fine dining seafood restaurant will probably cost around $100 per head with wine. But, you can find a huge slice of pizza, which is like half a normal pizza for $5, so the options are there to suit everyone’s budget.
The most affordable restaurants to eat out at include food trucks and Asian options, so look out for those if you want to go to a restaurant on a budget. Also, some places do meal deals in the afternoons where their prices are close to 50% off so keep an eye out for them!
The most budget-friendly way of eating good food in New Zealand is by buying and making your own food, like those budgeting at hostels would. The cheapest places to buy your groceries in New Zealand are at Pak’nSave and Countdown which sell pretty much everything you could need.
You can also find some amazing deals on food and groceries at farmers’ markets and luckily New Zealand is rife with them. Pretty much every town will have a farmers market going on during the week and it is a great place to try some local and affordable food plus grab all the fresh stuff you need for the week at a great price!
Overall, the costs of staying nourished in New Zealand are pretty low on both the North Island and South Island. You can pick up delicious meals from southeast Asia to local dishes, but cook for yourself to spend the least money possible if you need to.
Is Transportation in New Zealand Expensive?
Being an island nation that gets even more beautiful the more into the wilderness you go, after all, it is middle earth, and you are going to want to get to some of the most remote parts of the country.
But, public transport isn’t very affordable in New Zealand, and it doesn’t always take you straight to where you want to go, especially if it is somewhere remote. You will waste time and money using the local transport system and you can actually travel cheaper in a hire car.
Hire Cars
Hire cars are the most cost and time-efficient way to travel around New Zealand, especially if you want to see the more remote parts like the mountains, lakes, fjords, and beaches.
A rental car can cost as little as $10 per day but averages at around $30 per day, and this is for a standard car with insurance. You can opt to add comprehensive protection for another $10 per day but it is cheaper to buy excess insurance from somewhere like icarhireinsurance.com.
The reason car hire is so cheap in New Zealand is because the companies are in fierce competition with each other.
You can even rent a 4×4 with a roof tent or a camper van to explore the country with if you really want to go for it! A camper that sleeps 2 that comes with a cooker and fridge will cost around $600 per person for a whole month – which takes care of all your accommodation, cooking, and transport, just remember that you will need to pay the petrol costs.
Public Transportation
Taking the train is a lovely way to see the New Zealand countryside but trains are not cheap and will run at about $100 to get you from one major city to another. Travelling by train in New Zealand isn’t very efficient either, as it is more about the journey.
I would recommend taking trains once in New Zealand, just to see the amazing countryside you run through, but for a budget traveller, this is not the most cost-effective form of travel.
The cheapest way to get from one city to the next is on the bus as prices can be as cheap as $1 for a single ticket. You will still get to see the countryside too but accessing more remote areas by bus is close to impossible, so only use it from city to city.
You can choose to get a bus pass but these don’t remove much additional cost compared to the deals.
Are the Attractions in New Zealand Expensive?
Taking advantage of the amazing attractions in New Zealand is the main reason to go there, but whether they are expensive or not depends on one answer, what attractions do you want to see and do?
Things like helicopter rides are expensive activities, so is zip-lining, skydiving, or scuba diving but going for a hike with a tent on your back through the mountains is 100% free.
Many ex-pats and New Zealanders are all about exploring New Zealand themselves which makes it a much less expensive country at the end of the day.
You really can see the best attractions that New Zealand has to offer for close to nothing, it all comes down to how expensive fuel is. You can drive your car anywhere you want, camp out, and explore everything New Zealand has to offer in that way without any stress at all!
Are Alcoholic Beverages in New Zealand Expensive?
If you are anything like me, you might find it hard not to have an alcoholic drink after an amazing day of exploring mountains, swimming in the sea, and catching big trout on dry flies – everything New Zealand has to offer.
Kiwis also like to drink alcohol too and spend on average around $15 per day on booze, so if you are hanging with locals, chances are some drinking is going to be done.
New Zealand is world-renowned for its wine and their craft beer scene has exploded too, so you can’t leave without sampling some of these delights, but is alcohol expensive in New Zealand?
Again, the answer depends on where you are drinking. You should expect to pay around $10 for a beer in a pub in a major city in New Zealand and that price drops to around $7-8 when you get out of town. You should expect to pay around $5 for a glass of wine when drinking out too!
As you can see, a night on the town is one of the more expensive activities you can do in New Zealand.
Buying booze from the supermarket, as you’d expect, is a lot less expensive. You can pick up a beer for $1 a can and a bottle of wine for around $10, which will keep your booze expenses much lower than drinking out.
Other Travel Costs in New Zealand
There are always extra travel costs that you can not quite foresee wherever you travel to in the world. You might lose your camera, break your sunglasses, wear out your pair of shoes, or have no option but to stay somewhere you didn’t budget for because travel plans change or cancellations occur.
This is all a part of the joy of travelling though so don’t be put off by it and budget a little extra for it, around an extra 10 to 15% of your budget should have you covered.
However, there are some expected extra travel costs in New Zealand that you can plan for in New Zealand, and one of them is tipping! You are not expected to tip in New Zealand, as it doesn’t have a tipping culture like in the United States.
If you feel like the service at a restaurant was great, add 10%. Always drop some dollars to the room staff and other hotel staff if you are staying in one. If you do an expensive activity, then be sure to tip at least 5% to your guide, which might be quite a lot if you have been riding in a helicopter.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is an extra cost that all of us have to bear, as it is not worth being stuck up a creek without a paddle when you are tens of thousands of miles away from home and don’t know anyone to come and help you.
Travel insurance costs around $100 for a trip to New Zealand but this does vary a lot depending on how long you choose to stay in the country and what level of cover you choose to get.
Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you have some travel insurance as extra expenses like a hospital bill can be no joke!
Tips on How to Travel on a Budget in New Zealand
For you budget travelers, here is a list of tips for you to follow to ensure you can enjoy New Zealand on a budget and make the most out of every dollar while having an amazing time.
- Buying a car for your trip and selling it at the end is the most cost-effective way to get around New Zealand on a budget. Chances are you will sell it for the same price you bought it, or a little less
- Travel with friends as this splits the costs of transportation and accommodation by half or more
- If you can’t buy a car, hire a car instead
- Bring camping gear with you, this way you can explore the wilderness without the need to spend any money on accommodation
- Keep your activity costs to a minimum. Hiking and camping in the mountains and fjords are one of the best things you can do in New Zealand, so is camping on the beach and swimming in the sea every day. Look to nature for fun, not to helicopters
- If accommodation is too expensive, look on Couchsurfing.com as they have some great places to stay
- Bring a reusable water bottle with you can and fill up from the taps as all the tap water in New Zealand is great drinking water
- Cook your own food, and if you want to eat out, eat cheap at cheap restaurants and look for meal deals
- Drink beers and wine from the supermarket and have the odd one in the pub, not all of them
- Hire a campervan if you want to explore as it is around $600 per person per month and it covers all your accommodation and transport needs too
Verdict: Is New Zealand Expensive?
Is New Zealand expensive? Yes, and no! Everything is expensive in New Zealand, and everything isn’t at the same time, it depends on what you choose to do and how you want to travel.
It is an expensive place to travel around when you compare it to India but it is far more affordable than traveling around the UK for example. Your biggest costs will be your flights, after that you can make a plan and stick to a budget you have set quite easily.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
