A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Napier vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Pacific / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Napier or Kaikoura?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Napier and Kaikoura can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Napier or Kaikoura?

Napier

Napier is city on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Hawke's Bay Region, a famous area for wine vineyards. Napier has a population of 61,000 people and is known for its Art Deco architecture and of course, wine.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.

Which city is cheaper, Kaikoura or Napier?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Napier is $146, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $118. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Napier and Kaikoura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Napier $88
    Kaikoura $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Napier $176
    Kaikoura $84
Compare Hotels in Napier and Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Napier or Kaikoura? 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 Napier


Hotels in Kaikoura


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: Napier Hotel Prices and Kaikoura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Napier $26
    Kaikoura $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Napier

Also for Napier, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arrival Transfer: Hawkes Bay Airport to Central Napier City Centre: $21
  • Departure Transfer: Napier and Hastings City Centre to Hawkes Bay Airport: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Napier or Kaikoura?

Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Napier 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
    Napier $32
    Kaikoura $33
Typical Food prices in Napier

For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casural Lunch
    $9.09

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Napier $24
    Kaikoura $133

Tours and Activities in Napier

For Napier, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Napier Earthquake Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Napier Art Deco Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Napier Prison Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
  • Legacy and Winery Experience: $26
  • 75-minute Art Deco City Highlights Tour: $39
  • Versatility of the Grape Experience in Napier: $52
  • 2.5-Hour Napier Art Deco Tour: $53
  • Small Group 2.5-Hour Napier History and Art Deco Tour: $53
  • Cruise Ship Shore Excursion: $68
  • 2-Hour Guided Bicycle Tour: $71
  • Shore Excursion: 4-Hour Discover Hawkes Bay and Napier Tour: $76
  • 60-Minute Napier Deco City Tour by Vintage Car: $76

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

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

  • 30-Minute Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $269
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $85
  • Sunset Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $70
  • Private Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $178
  • Seal Swimming Tour from Kaikoura: $89
  • Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Napier $14
    Kaikoura -
Typical Alcohol prices in Napier

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:


  • Wine
    $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Napier

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:

  • Hawke's Bay Wine Tour Including Pick Up From Napier or Hastings: $78
  • Wine Tour - 3 wineries in an afternoon: $81
  • Half Day Small-Group Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: $84
  • Full Day Small-Group Hawke's Bay Wine Tour: $95
  • Napier Afternoon Wine Tour + Optional Beer Tasting: $100
  • Napier Gourmet Luncheon including Afternoon Wine Tour: $133
  • Small Group Hawke's Bay Premium Afternoon Wine Tour: $144
  • Small Group Half-Day Ultimate Wine Tour in Napier: $171
  • Hawke's Bay Morning Wine Tour and Te Mata Peak Including Winery Lunch: $175
  • Vintage Car & Wine Tasting Experience: $220
  • Private Tour & Wine Tasting (90 mins): $293

About these numbers

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

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Wellington vs. Napier
Wellington vs. Kaikoura
Te Anau vs. Napier
Te Anau vs. Kaikoura
Taupo vs. Napier
Taupo vs. Kaikoura
Paihia vs. Napier
Paihia vs. Kaikoura
Nelson vs. Napier
Nelson vs. Kaikoura
Napier vs. Mount Aspiring National Park
Napier vs. Lake Tekapo
Napier vs. Fiordland National Park
Napier vs. Dunedin
Napier vs. Christchurch
Napier vs. Auckland
Napier vs. Tauranga
Napier vs. Queenstown
Napier vs. Arrowtown
Napier vs. Cromwell
Napier vs. Rotorua
Napier vs. Picton
Napier vs. Aoraki Mount Cook
Mount Aspiring National Park vs. Kaikoura
Lake Tekapo vs. Kaikoura
Kaikoura vs. Fiordland National Park
Kaikoura vs. Dunedin
Kaikoura vs. Christchurch
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Napier vs. Kaikoura Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.