A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nakhon Ratchasima vs. Aoraki Mount Cook for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Aoraki Mount Cook?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nakhon Ratchasima or Aoraki Mount Cook, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Nakhon Ratchasima or Aoraki Mount Cook?

Nakhon Ratchasima

If you're planning on traveling from Bangkok to Isaan, you'll likely make Nakhon Ratchasima your pit stop or home base. However, there is so much more to this sprawling metropolis than just a layover. Underneath the chaos of it all, is a charming and traditional Thai city.

Aoraki Mount Cook

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or Nakhon Ratchasima?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Nakhon Ratchasima Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Aoraki Mount Cook Prices
    New Zealand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $58
    Aoraki Mount Cook $124

The average daily cost (per person) in Nakhon Ratchasima is $58, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $124. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima and Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nakhon Ratchasima $22
    Aoraki Mount Cook $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nakhon Ratchasima $44
    Aoraki Mount Cook $118
Compare Hotels in Nakhon Ratchasima and Aoraki Mount Cook

Looking for a hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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 Nakhon Ratchasima


Hotels in Aoraki Mount Cook


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: Nakhon Ratchasima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $5.19
    Aoraki Mount Cook $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nakhon Ratchasima

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nakhon Ratchasima:


  • Tuk Tuk
    $1.57
  • Bus to Vientiane
    $1.57

Is it cheaper to fly into Nakhon Ratchasima or Aoraki Mount Cook?

Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook and Nakhon Ratchasima 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
    Nakhon Ratchasima $30
    Aoraki Mount Cook $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $6.68
    Aoraki Mount Cook $23

Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.

  • 45-Minute Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter Combo Tour: $296
  • Day Tours from Mount Cook: $119
  • Gibbston Valley Wines - Cave Tour : $17
  • Guided Tour with Cheese & Wine Pairing: $21
  • Half-Day Self-Guided Ride and Wine Bike Tour from Arrowtown: $59
  • Moeraki Boulders Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Mt Cook & Tasman Glacier lookout Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $149
  • Mt Cook Small Group Scenic Day Tour from Queenstown: $149
  • Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $1,042
  • Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Queenstown, Christchurch or Dunedin: $1,040
  • Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $107
  • Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo Small Group Tour (one-way): $98

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $12
    Aoraki Mount Cook $20

Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:

  • Kinross Winery: Classic Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $15
  • Gibbston Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided Audio Tour: $24
  • Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $45


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nakhon Ratchasima Expensive? and Is Aoraki Mount Cook Expensive?.