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

Timaru travel budget

Timaru: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Timaru

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

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

Cost of living in Timaru compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Timaru in 2025 is 5% 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 Timaru in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Timaru by expense type

Restaurant budget in Timaru

Lunch

$ 17/person
($ 9.7 to $ 31)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 33/person
($ 33 to $ 60)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 10.1/person
($ 8.5 to $ 13)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 6.5 for 500ml
($ 5.2 to $ 12)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.5

Imported beer

$ 6.4 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 9.7)

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68% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 3.7/cup
($ 3.2 to $ 5.2)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Fizzy drink

$ 2.4/can
($ 2 to $ 3.2)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 2.1/bottle
($ 1 to $ 3.9)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Timaru

1-star hotel

$ 68/night
($ 68 to $ 68)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 174

2-star hotel

$ 116/night
($ 67 to $ 174)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 113/night
($ 72 to $ 167)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 245

4-star hotel

$ 130/night
($ 90 to $ 221)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 345

5-star hotel

$ 199/night
($ 181 to $ 229)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 563

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 68/month
($ 68 to $ 68)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Room with kitchen

$ 118/month
($ 65 to $ 220)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 263

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 114/month
($ 84 to $ 151)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 126/month
($ 101 to $ 174)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Family room

$ 169/month
($ 100 to $ 259)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Supermarket food budget in Timaru

Milk

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.9)

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52% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2.1/500g
($ 1.5 to $ 2.6)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 1.3/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 5.2)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Eggs

$ 6.6/12 eggs
($ 6.3 to $ 7.8)

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65% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 12/kg
($ 9.7 to $ 19)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.8/kg
($ 2 to $ 5.2)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7

Tomatoes

$ 6.4/kg
($ 5.6 to $ 13)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Potatoes

$ 3.6/kg
($ 2.3 to $ 5.8)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 1.3
($ 0.7 to $ 2.9)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Public and private transport budget in Timaru

Bus ticket

$ 1.6/ticket
( $ 1.6)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.2/km
($ 1.6 to $ 2.7)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 2)

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70% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3
($ 3 to $ 3)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Car hire

$ 48/24hrs
($ 45 to $ 52)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 80

Leisure activity budget in Timaru

Cinema

$ 17/ticket
($ 12 to $ 26)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Timaru

Cigarettes

$ 32/pack
($ 21 to $ 47)

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188% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 98
($ 98 to $ 98)

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72% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 53
($ 53 to $ 53)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

London → Auckland

$ 1402
(fair price: $ 1213)

Sydney → Auckland

$ 349
(fair price: $ 305)

Melbourne → Auckland

$ 356
(fair price: $ 308)

Manchester → Auckland

$ 1734
(fair price: $ 1414)

Los Angeles → Auckland

$ 1329
(fair price: $ 1076)

Montreal → Auckland

$ 1614
(fair price: $ 1490)