Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Christchurch?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Christchurch or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Christchurch or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChristchurch $102Whitsundays $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Christchurch is $102, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Christchurch and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChristchurch $52Whitsundays $72
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChristchurch $104Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Christchurch and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Christchurch or Whitsundays? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Christchurch Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Christchurch $15Whitsundays $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Christchurch
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Christchurch:
- Christchurch Airport (CHC): Transfer to Christchurch hotels: $132
- Christchurch Airport Transfers : Airport CHC to Christchurch in Luxury Car: $109
- Departure Private Transfers from Christchurch to Airport CHC in Luxury Van: $93
- Executive Sedan Airport Transfer(Pickup Airport to Hotel/Residence) Christchurch: $75
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport CHC to Christchurch in Business Car: $67
- Christchurch Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Christchurch: $60
- Private Transfer from Christchurch Airport (CHC) to Akaroa Port: $55
- Christchurch Airport to City Transfer : $53
- Private Transfer from Christchurch Airport CHC to Lyttelton Port: $39
- Christchurch Airport(CHC) to Christchurch-Arrival PrivateTransfer: $32
- Christchurch to Christchurch Airport(CHC)- Departure Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Christchurch City to Lyttelton Cruise Port: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Christchurch or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayChristchurch $33Whitsundays $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $101
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Christchurch $19Whitsundays $26
Tours and Activities in Christchurch
Here are a few actual costs in Christchurch for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket: $26
- (MT) Mount Cook Day Tour From Christchurch: $186
- 6 Day South Island NZ Private Tour from Auckland w/ Flight: $3,664
- 8 Day Southern Secrets Small Group Tour: $977
- Akaroa Day Tour From Christchurch: $112
- Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch: $162
- Akaroa Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch: $221
- Arthur's Pass and TranzAlpine Train Day Tour from Christchurch: $264
- Arthur's Pass: TranzAlpine Train and Castle Hill Day Tour: $260
- Arthurs Pass Day Tour With Jet boat Ride : $224
- Christchurch All in One Day tour: $208
- Christchurch All in One Day tour: $211
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $161
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,101
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChristchurch $12Whitsundays $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Christchurch
Also in Christchurch, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $103
- All-Inclusive Waipara Region Wine Tour from Christchurch: $109
- From Guided Local Wine Tours in Waipara: $122
- Lyttelton Shore Excursion - City Highlights & Waipara Wine Tour : $137
- Akaroa Craft Distillery HeliGin Experience: $547
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Christchurch and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Christchurch much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Christchurch Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Christchurch or Whitsundays?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Christchurch or Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Christchurch during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Christchurch because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Christchurch is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Christchurch average around 18°C (64°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Christchurch. In the summer, Christchurch often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Christchurch usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryChristchurch 18°C (64°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Christchurch or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Christchurch and Whitsundays. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Christchurch this time of year.
Christchurch is much colder than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Christchurch averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Christchurch gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Christchurch usually receives less rain than Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures AprilChristchurch 12°C (54°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Christchurch or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Christchurch as well as Whitsundays. Many travelers come to Christchurch for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Christchurch is much colder than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Christchurch in July average around 6°C (43°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the winter, Christchurch often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Christchurch usually gets more rain in July than Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JulyChristchurch 6°C (43°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Christchurch or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Christchurch are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Christchurch in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In October, Christchurch is generally much colder than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Christchurch average around 12°C (54°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Christchurch. Christchurch usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Christchurch gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Christchurch usually receives around the same amount of rain as Whitsundays. Christchurch gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures OctoberChristchurch 12°C (54°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Christchurch
| Christchurch | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (60°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 6°C (44°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 6°C (43°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (49°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.