Which place is cheaper, Christchurch or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Christchurch. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Athens is a vibrant, energetic, and historic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Athens is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Athens travel costs.
Christchurch is a adventure-filled, cultural, and outdoorsy city. Christchurch offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Christchurch travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Athens than Christchurch, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Athens is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Christchurch is known for its beaches, hiking, and shopping. Athens is more touristy than Christchurch and is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also home to The Acropolis. Christchurch is popular for its outdoor beauty and relaxing, scenic atmosphere.
The Acropolis
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Christchurch and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Athens is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Athens are among the most recognizable in the world. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.
Many visitors head to Christchurch specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with street art and local galleries. There's also Canterbury Museum, the International Antarctic Centre, the Arts Centre, and the Riccarton House & Bush.
Athens is terrific for its restaurant scene. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
For foodies, Athens is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.
Christchurch has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a mix of cozy cafes and casual eateries around town. You'll also find some fine dining restaurants as well as international flavors.
Athens is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.
Athens is a must-see party destination. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.
Many people head to Christchurch for the nightlife scene. The city has its share of dance clubs, live music venues, and laid back bars. You'll find a number of popular hangout spots around Oxford Terrace or on the historic New Regent Street.
Christchurch is great for the beach. However, Athens is not a beach destination.
Many people visit Christchurch for it's beautiful beaches. There are sandy beaches in the area with water sports and various amenities. The summer months are the most popular time for hanging out at the beach, and you'll find local families playing in the sun or enjoying a picnic.
Athens is not a beach destination.
Athens is terrific for its old town. However, Christchurch does not have a historic old town.
Athens has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.
Christchurch does not have a historic old town.
Christchurch is great for hiking. However, Athens is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors go to Christchurch for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful hikes in the area that take you along the coastline or past local historic sights. The landscape is diverse and you'll find many amazing parks in the area. Hooker Valley Track is one of the best hiking routes nearby.
Athens is not a hiking destination.
Christchurch is great for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Christchurch. There's a mix of boutique shops, outlet malls, and open air markets. Some of the best shopping places include the Tannery and the Colombo.
Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.
You'll find a similar quality of good scenery and beauty in both Athens and Christchurch.
Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With it's stunning archaeological sites, Athens is most beautiful at night, when things light up.
Christchurch is a gorgeous place to visit. With its many beautiful parks, gardens, and outdoor spaces, this is a very scenic city.
Christchurch is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.
With a huge array of activities for kids, Christchurch is very family-friendly. The International Antarctic Centre is a thrilling and fun experience. There's also the Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. For adrenaline junkies there are the ropes courses at the Adrenalin Forest. There are also many indoor playgrounds and rock climbing facilities.
Athens is a very family-friendly place to visit. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.
Christchurch is great for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.
Christchurch is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Punting on the Avon River is one of the most romantic activities in the city. There are also botanical gardens, parks, and natural areas that are fun to explore. Nearby, you can do a wine tour, or there are cocktail bars and charming restaurants in town. The city also has a nice theater and many other date night activities.
Athens is a nice destination for couples. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.
Athens is terrific for backpackers. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Athens. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.
Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Christchurch. There's no shortage of hostels around town, and many backpackers pass through Christchurch on their epic New Zealand adventure.
For students, both Athens and Christchurch are superb places to visit.
Many students visit Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.
Christchurch is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's the largest city on the South Island and there are plenty of activities and nearby trips that you can enjoy.
Athens is well known for its public transit. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.
Athens has some very good public transit options. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.
While Christchurch offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While it's not a diverse transit system, the buses are well connected and offer the cheapest way to get around town.
Athens and Christchurch are superb when it comes to walkability.
Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.
Christchurch is very walkable. The city center is relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Christchurch Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Athens or Christchurch. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Athens due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-4 days is enough time in Christchurch.
Families should spend more time in Christchurch than Athens. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Christchurch, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Christchurch than Athens. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Christchurch that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Christchurch if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Athens.
Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Christchurch. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Athens is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.
Christchurch is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Christchurch. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Athens is a popular place to visit. Many people spend one week here. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the outdoorsy destination of Christchurch. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Christchurch is €108. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Christchurch in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Christchurch? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Christchurch:
Prices for flights to both Christchurch and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
Here are a few actual costs in Christchurch for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
Also in Christchurch, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Christchurch, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Christchurch much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Christchurch is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Christchurch would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Christchurch and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Christchurch.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Christchurch Expensive?.
Athens has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Christchurch. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Christchurch, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Christchurch is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Athens has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Christchurch. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Christchurch for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Athens is generally much warmer than Christchurchin January. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Christchurch fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Christchurch. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Christchurchin January. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Christchurch receives 224 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Christchurchin January. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Christchurch and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Christchurch in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Athens is much warmer than Christchurch in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Christchurch fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Christchurch during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Christchurch receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Christchurchin April. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Christchurch and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Christchurch for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Christchurch. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Christchurch averages at about 6°C (43°F)in July.
In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Christchurchin July. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Christchurch receives 122 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Christchurchin July. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Christchurch. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Christchurch because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Athens is generally a little warmer than Christchurchin October. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Christchurch fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Christchurch this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Christchurch during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Christchurch receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Christchurchin October. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Athens | Christchurch | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |