A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hongcun vs. Tauranga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hongcun or Tauranga?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Tauranga can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Hongcun or Tauranga?

Hongcun

When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.

The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or Hongcun?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hongcun is $52, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $103. 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 Hongcun and Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hongcun $23
    Tauranga $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hongcun $46
    Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Hongcun and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Hongcun or Tauranga? 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.

Hotels in Hongcun


Hotels in Tauranga


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: Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hongcun $12
    Tauranga $6.78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tauranga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tauranga:

  • Roundtrip Transfer from Port of Tauranga Omanu Golf Club: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Hongcun or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga and Hongcun 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 day
    Hongcun $19
    Tauranga $22
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.83
  • Breakfast of Dumplings
    $2.07

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hongcun $17
    Tauranga $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:


  • Two Entrance Tickets
    $29

Tours and Activities in Tauranga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:

  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Mount Maunganui Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $24
  • Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $29
  • Waimarino Adventure Park: $30
  • 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $45
  • 3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer: $54
  • 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
  • 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
  • Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $59
  • Tauranga Shore Excursion: Omanawa Falls & Great Sights Tour: $72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hongcun $14
    Tauranga $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hongcun and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hongcun is in Asia and Tauranga 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 Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga than you might in Hongcun.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hongcun Expensive? and Is Tauranga Expensive?.