A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Christchurch vs. Khao Yai National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park?

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.

Khao Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Christchurch and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Christchurch is more expensive. And not only is Khao Yai National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Christchurch is in Pacific and Khao Yai National Park is in Asia, 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 Khao Yai National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Yai National Park 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 Khao Yai National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Christchurch Expensive? and Is Khao Yai National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park?

Christchurch has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Yai National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Christchurch as well as Khao Yai National Park. Many travelers come to Christchurch for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

In January, Christchurch is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Daily temperatures in Christchurch average around 18°C (64°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Christchurch this time of the year. In the summer, Christchurch often gets more sunshine than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Christchurch gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Christchurch usually gets less rain in January than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Christchurch gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Christchurch are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Christchurch in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Christchurch is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Christchurch averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during autumn. Christchurch gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In April, Christchurch usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Parkin October. Christchurch gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Christchurch during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Christchurch for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

In the winter, Christchurch is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Christchurch in July average around 6°C (43°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Christchurch often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Parkin January. Christchurch gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun.

Christchurch usually gets more rain in July than Khao Yai National Parkin January. Christchurch gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Christchurch or Khao Yai National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Christchurch and Khao Yai National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Christchurch because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Christchurch is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Daily temperatures in Christchurch average around 12°C (54°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai National Park this time of the year. In Christchurch, it's very sunny this time of the year. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during spring. Christchurch gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Christchurch usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Christchurch gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Christchurch