Should you visit Napier or Kaikoura?
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.
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 $145, 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Napier and Kaikoura in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $176 in Napier For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $42. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Kaikoura the cost is $84 on average.
Local Transportation
To get around in Napier, the average visitor spends $26 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Kaikoura is $15 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Napier
Also for Napier, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Transfer: Hawkes Bay Airport to Central Napier City Centre:
$21
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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
Napier food costs typically run travelers around $32 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.
The average traveler spends about $33 per day in Kaikoura for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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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:
Entertainment
In Napier, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $24 per person, per day.
Kaikoura's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $132 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.
Tours and Activities in Napier
For Napier, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Napier Earthquake Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
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Napier Art Deco Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
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Napier Prison Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$13
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Legacy and Winery Experience:
$26
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75-minute Art Deco City Highlights Tour:
$39
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Versatility of the Grape Experience in Napier:
$52
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2.5-Hour Napier Art Deco Tour:
$53
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Small Group 2.5-Hour Napier History and Art Deco Tour:
$53
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Cruise Ship Shore Excursion:
$68
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2-Hour Guided Bicycle Tour:
$71
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Shore Excursion: 4-Hour Discover Hawkes Bay and Napier Tour:
$76
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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
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Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour:
$85
-
Sunset Kayaking Tour:
$89
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Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura:
$70
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Private Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura:
$178
-
Seal Swimming Tour from Kaikoura:
$89
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Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura:
$89
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Napier spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Napier
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Napier
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:
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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
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Full Day Small-Group Hawke's Bay Wine Tour:
$95
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Napier Afternoon Wine Tour + Optional Beer Tasting:
$100
-
Napier Gourmet Luncheon including Afternoon Wine Tour:
$133
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Small Group Hawke's Bay Premium Afternoon Wine Tour:
$144
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Small Group Half-Day Ultimate Wine Tour in Napier:
$171
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Hawke's Bay Morning Wine Tour and Te Mata Peak Including Winery Lunch:
$175
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Vintage Car & Wine Tasting Experience:
$220
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Private Tour & Wine Tasting (90 mins):
$293
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.
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