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 2026

On average, the cost of living in Wanaka in 2026 is 3% 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 Wanaka in 2026 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Wanaka by expense type

Restaurant budget in Wanaka

Lunch

$ 15/person
($ 10.2 to $ 19)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 31/person
($ 28 to $ 91)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 9/person
($ 8.3 to $ 12)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 7.1 for 500ml
($ 5.9 to $ 11)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Imported beer

$ 3.7 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 7.1)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.2/cup
($ 2.1 to $ 3.9)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 1.8/can
($ 1.2 to $ 3)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 2/bottle
($ 1.8 to $ 3)

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3% 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

$ 182/night
($ 72 to $ 527)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 171

2-star hotel

$ 157/night
($ 83 to $ 370)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

3-star hotel

$ 161/night
($ 79 to $ 331)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 247

4-star hotel

$ 190/night
($ 120 to $ 381)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 353

5-star hotel

$ 556/night
($ 133 to $ 1679)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 591

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 164/month
($ 108 to $ 393)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 178

Room with kitchen

$ 196/month
($ 79 to $ 543)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 270

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 233/month
($ 130 to $ 490)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226

Cottage or guest house

$ 187/month
($ 124 to $ 438)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 260

Family room

$ 245/month
($ 107 to $ 565)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220

Supermarket food budget in Wanaka

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 2.4)

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88% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.2

Rice

$ 1.8/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 2.6)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 6.3/12 eggs
($ 2.4 to $ 7.7)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 11/kg
($ 8.3 to $ 15)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.2/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 3.6)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 5.2/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 8.8)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Potatoes

$ 2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4.1)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 1.1
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)

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53% 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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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.7 to $ 1.8)

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91% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 5.9
($ 5.9 to $ 5.9)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Leisure activity budget in Wanaka

Cinema

$ 10.2/ticket
($ 8.3 to $ 19)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Wanaka

Cigarettes

$ 25/pack
($ 25 to $ 28)

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132% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.3

Levi's jeans

$ 72
($ 49 to $ 91)

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32% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 36
($ 28 to $ 49)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

London → Auckland

$ 1380
(fair price: $ 1195)

Sydney → Auckland

$ 357
(fair price: $ 319)

Montreal → Auckland

$ 1564
(fair price: $ 1442)

Melbourne → Auckland

$ 367
(fair price: $ 318)

Manchester → Auckland

$ 1713
(fair price: $ 1372)

Los Angeles → Auckland

$ 1276
(fair price: $ 1023)