Travel budget and cost of living in New Zealand how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to New Zealand and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in New Zealand. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your New Zealand travel budget.
Travel budget in New Zealand
New Zealand: calculate your travel budget
New Zealand: sample budgets by traveller type
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in New Zealand for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 57 for 2 ppl.
- $ 15 per person
- $ 9.5 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 1481* (2520 $)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 112 for 2 ppl.
- $ 38 per person
- $ 19 per person
- $ 12 per person
Total budget:
$ 3450* (5866 $)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 126 for 2 ppl.
- $ 68 per person
- $ 37 per person
- $ 23 per person
Total budget:
$ 5296* (9002 $)
* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).
Cost of living in New Zealand in 2024
Cost of living: New Zealand VS United States
On average, the cost of living in New Zealand in 2024 is 3% less than in the United States (USA).
The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Cost of living in New Zealand by city
See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in New Zealand compared to the national average.
| Cities | /New Zealand | View Details |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown | 18% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Queenstown |
| Auckland | 9% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Auckland |
| Taupo | 9% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Taupo |
| Wellington | 7% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Wellington |
| Thames | 7% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Thames |
| Wanaka | 6% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Wanaka |
| Christchurch | 3% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Christchurch |
| Dunedin | 6% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Dunedin |
| Rotorua | 11% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Rotorua |
Local prices in New Zealand by expense type
New Zealand: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in New Zealand costs 11% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 15/person
($ 8.9 to $ 28)
($ 8.9 to $ 28)
25% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203 course dinner
$ 36/person
($ 24 to $ 55)
($ 24 to $ 55)
6% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38McDonald's meal
$ 8.9/person
($ 8.2 to $ 11)
($ 8.2 to $ 11)
19% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11Local beer
$ 6 for 500ml
($ 4.1 to $ 8.9)
($ 4.1 to $ 8.9)
0% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6Imported beer
$ 3.7 for 330ml
($ 1.5 to $ 6.5)
($ 1.5 to $ 6.5)
5% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Cappuccino
$ 3.3/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 4.1)
($ 2.7 to $ 4.1)
35% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Fizzy drink
$ 2.3/can
($ 1.5 to $ 2.9)
($ 1.5 to $ 2.9)
10% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Water bottle
$ 2.1/bottle
($ 1.5 to $ 2.9)
($ 1.5 to $ 2.9)
2% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2New Zealand: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in New Zealand costs 42% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 93/night
($ 22 to $ 366)
($ 22 to $ 366)
47% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1752-star hotel
$ 106/night
($ 58 to $ 238)
($ 58 to $ 238)
33% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1593-star hotel
$ 118/night
($ 64 to $ 265)
($ 64 to $ 265)
49% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2314-star hotel
$ 134/night
($ 73 to $ 324)
($ 73 to $ 324)
57% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3115-star hotel
$ 211/night
($ 116 to $ 454)
($ 116 to $ 454)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 476Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 106/month
($ 50 to $ 304)
($ 50 to $ 304)
36% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166Room with kitchen
$ 127/month
($ 61 to $ 342)
($ 61 to $ 342)
48% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244Hotel with swimming pool
$ 131/month
($ 70 to $ 319)
($ 70 to $ 319)
38% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 213Cottage or guest house
$ 140/month
($ 83 to $ 333)
($ 83 to $ 333)
37% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226Family room
$ 174/month
($ 86 to $ 406)
($ 86 to $ 406)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214New Zealand: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in New Zealand costs 10% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)
70% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1Bread
$ 2/500g
($ 1.1 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.6)
45% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6Rice
$ 1.8/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5Eggs
$ 6.5/12 eggs
($ 3.6 to $ 8.6)
($ 3.6 to $ 8.6)
77% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7Chicken
$ 9.3/kg
($ 4.8 to $ 14)
($ 4.8 to $ 14)
22% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Apples
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
48% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3Tomatoes
$ 5.3/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 8.9)
($ 2.4 to $ 8.9)
9% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9Potatoes
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
27% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3Water bottle
$ 1.1
($ 0.5 to $ 2.4)
($ 0.5 to $ 2.4)
48% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2New Zealand: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in New Zealand is 14% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 2.4/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 3)
($ 1.2 to $ 3)
5% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Taxi (per km)
$ 2.1/km
($ 1.6 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.6 to $ 3.6)
20% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 1.7)
($ 1.5 to $ 1.7)
74% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 2.4
($ 1.7 to $ 4.8)
($ 1.7 to $ 4.8)
32% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Car hire
$ 64/24hrs
($ 31 to $ 411)
($ 31 to $ 411)
10% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 59New Zealand: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in New Zealand costs 26% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 12/ticket
($ 8.9 to $ 15)
($ 8.9 to $ 15)
20% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Tennis
$ 16/hr
($ 8.9 to $ 22)
($ 8.9 to $ 22)
32% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23New Zealand: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in New Zealand is 56% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 24/pack
($ 22 to $ 28)
($ 22 to $ 28)
137% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10Levi's jeans
$ 71
($ 43 to $ 101)
($ 43 to $ 101)
31% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54Summer dress
$ 45
($ 24 to $ 89)
($ 24 to $ 89)
1% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44Plane ticket budget
Sydney → Auckland
$ 327
(fair price: $ 275)
(fair price: $ 275)
Melbourne → Auckland
$ 368
(fair price: $ 313)
(fair price: $ 313)
Sydney → Christchurch
$ 428
(fair price: $ 381)
(fair price: $ 381)
Los Angeles → Auckland
$ 1361
(fair price: $ 1125)
(fair price: $ 1125)
Melbourne → Christchurch
$ 422
(fair price: $ 360)
(fair price: $ 360)
London → Auckland
$ 1383
(fair price: $ 1213)
(fair price: $ 1213)
About the information on the cost of living in New Zealand
The information about the cost of living in New Zealand shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in New Zealand updated on 25-07-2024.
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