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

Wanaka travel budget

Wanaka: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Wanaka

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

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

Cost of living in Wanaka compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Wanaka in 2025 is essentially identical to the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Wanaka in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Wanaka by expense type

Restaurant budget in Wanaka

Lunch

$ 15/person
($ 9.7 to $ 18)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 30/person
($ 26 to $ 86)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 8.5/person
($ 7.9 to $ 12)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Local beer

$ 6.8 for 500ml
($ 5.7 to $ 10.1)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 3.4 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 6.8)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3/cup
($ 2.1 to $ 3.7)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 1.7/can
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 1.9/bottle
($ 1.7 to $ 2.2)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Wanaka

1-star hotel

$ 179/night
($ 70 to $ 518)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 170

2-star hotel

$ 154/night
($ 82 to $ 364)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 158/night
($ 77 to $ 326)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

4-star hotel

$ 187/night
($ 118 to $ 375)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 347

5-star hotel

$ 545/night
($ 131 to $ 1642)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 578

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 161/month
($ 107 to $ 387)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Room with kitchen

$ 193/month
($ 77 to $ 535)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 264

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 229/month
($ 128 to $ 482)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 184/month
($ 122 to $ 431)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 255

Family room

$ 241/month
($ 105 to $ 556)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Supermarket food budget in Wanaka

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.2)

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74% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.9/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Rice

$ 1.6/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.1)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 5.7/12 eggs
($ 2.2 to $ 6.8)

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30% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 10/kg
($ 7.9 to $ 13)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.8/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 3.4)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 4.9/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 8.3)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 1
($ 0.6 to $ 2.2)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Wanaka

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.2/km
($ 1.2 to $ 1.2)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.6 to $ 1.7)

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79% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 5.7
($ 5.7 to $ 5.7)

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62% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Leisure activity budget in Wanaka

Cinema

$ 10.4/ticket
($ 7.9 to $ 18)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Wanaka

Cigarettes

$ 24/pack
($ 24 to $ 26)

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117% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.5

Levi's jeans

$ 68
($ 46 to $ 86)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 34
($ 26 to $ 46)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

London → Auckland

$ 1376
(fair price: $ 1193)

Sydney → Auckland

$ 350
(fair price: $ 311)

Melbourne → Auckland

$ 359
(fair price: $ 313)

Montreal → Auckland

$ 1572
(fair price: $ 1450)

Manchester → Auckland

$ 1704
(fair price: $ 1382)

Los Angeles → Auckland

$ 1292
(fair price: $ 1041)