Should you visit Darwin or Wellington?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin or Wellington, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
Which city is cheaper, Wellington or Darwin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $102, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $93. 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 Darwin and Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Darwin is about $114 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $106 in Wellington For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Darwin costs travelers about $34 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.
Wellington food costs typically run travelers around $27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Darwin $34
Wellington $27
Typical Food prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Walking Food Tour Of Wellington:
$148
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Martinborough Wine and Food Tour with Lunch from Wellington:
$204
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Local Delicacies Half-Day Food Tour:
$215
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A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day):
$227
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Full Day Wellington Food Tour:
$279
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Full Day Wellington Food Tour:
$295
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Darwin is $11 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 Wellington than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $11 on transportation in Wellington on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station
$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
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Wildman Fishing Tours - Fishing + Scenic Flight Transfer:
$1,146
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Darwin Airport:
$142
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Private Arrival Transfer: Darwin Airport to Hotel:
$142
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Transfer Between Airport & City CBD:
$12
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Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels:
$13
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Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport:
$13
Entertainment
Darwin's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 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 Wellington, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
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1-Day Wetlands + Wildlife Adventure:
$114
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1-Day Wildlife Park + Berry Springs experience:
$81
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11-day Darwin to Cairns tour:
$1,580
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2-Day Kakadu and Arnhem Land Tour from Darwin:
$753
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3-Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Glamping Tour:
$688
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3-Day Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land Explorer Tour from Darwin:
$1,028
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4-Day Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield 4WD Glamping Tour:
$1,030
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5 Day Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land Tour:
$2,837
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9 Day Darwin to Broome Adventure:
$1,779
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9-Day Kimberley Offroad Adventure from Darwin to Broome:
$1,580
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Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise with Roundtrip Helicopter from Darwin:
$545
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Arnhem Land Injalak Hill Full-Day Tour from Darwin:
$213
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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One-Way or Return Cable Car Ticket:
$3.60
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The Great War Exhibition Entry Ticket:
$11
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Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket:
$11
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Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
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Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
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Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour:
$14
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Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa Maori Highlights Tour:
$14
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Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour:
$14
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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour:
$15
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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Mana Māori Tour:
$15
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The Great War Exhibition Guided Tour:
$18
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Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket:
$18
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Darwin per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Wellington spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar
$18
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Glass of Wine
$5.23
Sample the Local Flavors in Darwin
Also in Darwin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Heli Pub Crawl – 4 Pubs:
$782
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings:
$91
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Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour:
$95
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Wellington All-Inclusive Half-Day Brewery Tour:
$97
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Craft Beer Tours NZ Half Day Brewery Experience:
$102
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Craft Beer Tours NZ Full Day Brewery Experience:
$133
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Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch from Wellington:
$189
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Martinborough Wine Tour:
$369
When comparing the travel costs between Darwin and Wellington, we can see that Darwin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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