Travel budget and cost of living in Queenstown (New Zealand) how much does a trip cost?

Queenstown travel budget

Queenstown: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Queenstown

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Queenstown for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Queenstown compared to United States in 2026

On average, the cost of living in Queenstown in 2026 is 18% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Queenstown in 2026 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Queenstown by expense type

Restaurant budget in Queenstown

Lunch

$ 18/person
($ 14 to $ 28)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 43/person
($ 40 to $ 48)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 9.4/person
($ 9.4 to $ 10.6)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 7 for 500ml
($ 6 to $ 8.2)

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19% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 6.8 for 330ml
($ 3.6 to $ 8.8)

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89% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.3/cup
($ 3 to $ 4.4)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 2.3/can
($ 2 to $ 2.6)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 2.1/bottle
($ 1.8 to $ 2.6)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Queenstown

1-star hotel

$ 252/night
($ 71 to $ 1363)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

2-star hotel

$ 221/night
($ 80 to $ 843)

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31% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 170

3-star hotel

$ 187/night
($ 80 to $ 547)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 249

4-star hotel

$ 251/night
($ 120 to $ 1010)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 355

5-star hotel

$ 634/night
($ 125 to $ 2200)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 595

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 192/month
($ 88 to $ 665)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180

Room with kitchen

$ 274/month
($ 78 to $ 1200)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 271

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 343/month
($ 104 to $ 1281)

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52% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 227

Cottage or guest house

$ 332/month
($ 133 to $ 1026)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

Family room

$ 344/month
($ 109 to $ 1389)

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56% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 221

Supermarket food budget in Queenstown

Milk

$ 2.1/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 2.6)

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103% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.1/500g
($ 2.9 to $ 4.8)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.3

Rice

$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.8)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 6.4/12 eggs
($ 5.7 to $ 7)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 10.5/kg
($ 8.8 to $ 14)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.8)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 5.7/kg
($ 3.8 to $ 7)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 5.4)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 1.1
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Queenstown

Bus ticket

$ 1.4/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 5.4)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.9/km
($ 1.6 to $ 2.4)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 1.8)

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90% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.7
($ 2.7 to $ 2.7)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 70/24hrs
($ 27 to $ 300)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 84

Leisure activity budget in Queenstown

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 10.6 to $ 23)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 29/hr
($ 18 to $ 45)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Queenstown

Cigarettes

$ 29/pack
($ 29 to $ 42)

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174% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.4

Levi's jeans

$ 86
($ 69 to $ 108)

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60% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 49
($ 48 to $ 52)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

London → Auckland

$ 1390
(fair price: $ 1204)

Sydney → Auckland

$ 360
(fair price: $ 322)

Montreal → Auckland

$ 1575
(fair price: $ 1452)

Melbourne → Auckland

$ 369
(fair price: $ 320)

Manchester → Auckland

$ 1726
(fair price: $ 1382)

Los Angeles → Auckland

$ 1285
(fair price: $ 1031)