Should you visit Christchurch or Cromwell?
Should I visit Christchurch or Cromwell? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, right beside the Canterbury Plains. Most people begin their South Island travels here. The city itself can be fascinating to explore so it is worth allowing yourself several days in town as an introduction to the region.
The River Avon flows through the city center, twisting through the old buildings. Christchurch is referred to in New Zealand as the Garden City and it is easy to see why. It's quite a nice city with trees spread throughout. The economy is centered around international tourism as well as foreign education. There is a high Asian student population here, giving the city a diverse feel.
Christchurch's climate is temperate and the city receives moderate rainfall. In January average high temperatures are around 73 degrees Fahrenheit with averages around 52 degrees Fahrenheit in July. There is a sea breeze during the summer months that keep temperatures pleasant. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night during the winter months. Snow may also fall several times a year.
Cromwell
Cromwell is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated between two of the main highways on the South Island and is close to Queenstown and Wanaka. Luckily, the town is surrounded by Lake Dunstan, which is good for those who love being near water as Cromwell is the furthest point from the sea in the entire country.
Which city is cheaper, Cromwell or Christchurch?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Christchurch is $91, while the average daily cost in Cromwell is $78. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Christchurch and Cromwell in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $47. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Christchurch the cost is $94 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $74 for a double occupancy room in Cromwell If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Christchurch costs travelers about $29 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
While meal prices in Cromwell can vary, the average travelers spends about $25 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Cromwell should cost around $10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cromwell is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Christchurch $29
Cromwell $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Christchurch
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Christchurch.
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Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge Ride with Optional Buffet Lunch or Dinner:
$47
-
Tramway Restaurant 4 Course Dinner Service through Christchurch:
$92
-
Taste Auckland Group Food Tour:
$98
-
Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise:
$102
-
Sunset / Night Kayak to Rangitoto Island with BBQ Dinner:
$138
-
Queenstown Wine and Food Tour:
$141
-
Willowbank Kiwi Tour and Maori Concert Including Hangi Dinner from Christchurch:
$174
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cromwell
For Cromwell, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Luge Ride with Optional Buffet Lunch or Dinner:
$47
-
Taste Auckland Group Food Tour:
$98
-
Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise:
$102
-
Sunset / Night Kayak to Rangitoto Island with BBQ Dinner:
$138
-
Queenstown Wine and Food Tour:
$141
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Christchurch is $14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Cromwell than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $24 on transportation in Cromwell on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Christchurch
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Christchurch:
-
Private & Exclusive One-Way Transfer Christchurch to Queenstown:
$1,264
-
Christchurch to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier One-Way Transfer:
$1,185
-
Private Transfer: Christchurch to Mount Cook:
$790
-
Christchurch To Lake Tekapo One-way Transfer:
$672
-
Private Transfers to Cardrona Ski Field or Treble Cone Ski Field:
$629
-
Private Luxury Transfers to The Remarkables:
$445
-
Private Return Transfers from Queenstown to The Remarkables:
$431
-
Private Return Transfers from Queenstown to Coronet Peak:
$389
-
Private Luxury Transfers to Coronet Peak:
$375
-
Christchurch to Akaroa transfer up to 4 people:
$186
-
Christchurch to Methven Private Transfer(Or Methven to Christchurch):
$163
-
Christchurch Airport Transfers : Christchurch to Airport CHC in Luxury Car:
$121
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cromwell
Also for Cromwell, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Entry Ticket and Auckland Airport (AKL) Express Transfer:
$40
-
Private Luxury Transfers to Coronet Peak:
$375
-
Private Luxury Transfers to The Remarkables:
$445
-
Private Return Transfers from Queenstown to Coronet Peak:
$389
-
Private Return Transfers from Queenstown to The Remarkables:
$431
-
Private Transfers to Cardrona Ski Field or Treble Cone Ski Field:
$629
-
Shared Queenstown Airport (ZQN) Transfers for Queenstown CBD:
$11
-
Shared and Private Auckland Airport (AKL) Transfers to/from Auckland CBD:
$18
-
Shared and Private Christchurch Airport (CHC) Transfers for Christchurch CBD:
$13
-
Shared and Private Dunedin Airport (DUD) Transfers for Dunedin CBD:
$14
-
Shared and Private Nelson Airport (NSN) Transfers for Nelson CBD:
$7.09
-
Shared and Private Rotorua Airport (ROT) Transfers for Rotorua CBD:
$16
Is it cheaper to fly into Christchurch or Cromwell?
Prices for flights to both Cromwell and Christchurch 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.
Entertainment
Christchurch's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $17 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing expenses in Cromwell, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $16 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Christchurch
Here are a few actual costs in Christchurch for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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4WD-U Drive Experience:
$232
-
Hobbiton Movie Set Day Tour from Auckland:
$140
-
Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves Tour from Auckland:
$211
-
Kaituna Whitewater Rafting Experience :
$84
-
Kaituna Whitewater Sledging Experience:
$91
-
Milford Sound Vista Day Tour from Queenstown or Te Anau:
$127
-
Mt Tarawera Volcanic Crater Hiking Experience:
$131
-
Putt and Glow Indoor Mini Golf Experience in Queenstown:
$12
-
Queenstown Scenic Cruise - Spirit of Queenstown:
$28
-
Queenstown Tiki Tour:
$70
-
Rotorua Day Tour from Auckland:
$188
-
Ultimate Queenstown Highlights Tour:
$77
Tours and Activities in Cromwell
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cromwell.
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Time Tripper Queenstown Virtual Journey Through Time Experience:
$7.09
-
Te Papa Museum Ticket in Wellington:
$11
-
Devonport Ferry Tickets in Auckland:
$11
-
Putt and Glow Indoor Mini Golf Experience in Queenstown:
$12
-
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools Entry Ticket:
$14
-
Hamilton Gardens Guided Walking Tour:
$14
-
Auckland Zoo Ticket:
$16
-
3D Trick Art Gallery Entry Ticket:
$16
-
SheepWorld Admission Ticket:
$16
-
Puzzling World Ticket in Wanaka:
$17
-
Rotorua Heritage Farm Tour:
$17
-
Waitangi Treaty Grounds Experience Pass in Bay of Islands:
$18
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Christchurch may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Cromwell, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $8.75.
Sample the Local Flavors in Christchurch
Also in Christchurch, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sip Marlborough Wine Tour:
$69
-
Wine Tours from Queenstown:
$71
-
Gibbston Valley Ride and Wine Tours:
$88
-
Bubbly Grape Marlborough Wine Tours:
$92
-
A Waipara Wine Experience with Giles Tours, includes wine tastings and lunch:
$95
-
All-Inclusive Waipara Region Wine Tour from Christchurch:
$100
-
Akaroa Eco-Safari with Alpaca Farm Tour and Wine Tasting:
$103
-
Full-day Akaroa Tour with Penguins Safari and Wine Tasting:
$114
-
Lyttelton Shore Excursion - Waipara Wine Tour With Lunch:
$115
-
Afternoon Brewery Tour with Lunch in Queenstown:
$117
-
Wine Tasting Sampler Tour from Queenstown:
$119
-
Queenstown’s Original Wine Tour:
$119
Sample the Local Flavors in Cromwell
Also in Cromwell, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Sip Marlborough Wine Tour:
$69
-
Wine Tours from Queenstown:
$71
-
Gibbston Valley Ride and Wine Tours:
$88
-
Bubbly Grape Marlborough Wine Tours:
$92
-
Afternoon Brewery Tour with Lunch in Queenstown:
$117
-
Wine Tasting Sampler Tour from Queenstown:
$119
-
Queenstown’s Original Wine Tour:
$119
-
Taste Marlborough Wine Tour:
$138
-
Queenstown E-Bikes Wine Tour:
$147
-
THE TIGER TOUR - Full-Day Guided Wine Tour of the Central Otago Wine Region.:
$186
-
Spa and Wine Tasting Experience in Queenstown:
$293
-
Queenstown Private Helicopter and Wine Tour:
$672
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Christchurch and Cromwell, we can see that Christchurch is more expensive. And not only is Cromwell much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cromwell would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cromwell 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 Christchurch would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Christchurch than you might in Cromwell.
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