Should you visit Napier or Queenstown?
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 Queenstown 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.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
Which city is cheaper, Queenstown 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 Queenstown is $91. 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 Queenstown 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $96 for a double occupancy room in Queenstown.
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 cost of a taxi ride in Queenstown is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $8.87 per person, per day, on local transportation in Queenstown.
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
-
Ski Transfer To Remarkables Ski Area (Round Trip):
$27
-
Ski Transfer To Coronet Peak (Round Trip):
$27
-
Private Ski Transfer to The Remarkables Ski Field:
$370
-
Private Ski Transfer to Coronet Peak Ski Field:
$333
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Queenstown Airport to Hotel by Jet Boat:
$342
-
Private & Exclusive One-Way Transfer Queenstown to Christchurch:
$1,264
-
Departure Transfer: Queenstown Central City Centre Hotels to Queenstown Airport:
$13
-
Arrival Transfer: Queenstown Airport to Central Queenstown City Centre:
$13
Is it cheaper to fly into Napier or Queenstown?
Prices for flights to both Queenstown 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 $31 per day in Queenstown 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Napier $32
Queenstown $31
Typical Food prices in Napier
For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
-
Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown:
$110
-
Queenstown Progressive Dinner & Wine Tour - 3 iconic locations:
$207
Entertainment
In Napier, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $24 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Queenstown typically cost an average of $19 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
-
Skyline Gondola (for 2)
$33
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
-
10 Day Explorer tour: Ziplines, Hikes, Canyoning, Kayaking, Rafting & Glaciers.:
$4,219
-
12-Day Snow Odyssey Tour:
$2,444
-
20-Minute Remarkables Helicopter Tour from Queenstown:
$166
-
3 Day Queenstown Adventure: Jet Boat, Helicopter, Bungy and Milford Sound Cruise:
$1,241
-
3 day Private Wanaka and Otago Photography Tour:
$2,888
-
4 Day Southern Circuit: Glaciers, Christchurch and Mt Cook Tour from Queenstown:
$1,140
-
5-Day The Great Walks of New Zealand Tour from Queenstown:
$4,150
-
Alpine Adventure Helicopter Flight from Queenstown:
$267
-
Arrowtown and Wanaka Premium Tour from Queenstown:
$178
-
Arrowtown and Wanaka Tour from Queenstown:
$133
-
AuthenticAs Discover Queenstown - Professional Photography & Exclusive 4WD Tour:
$501
-
AuthenticAs Paradise - Professional Photography & Exclusive Guided 4WD Tour:
$1,373
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Napier spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $7.75 on alcoholic beverages in Queenstown per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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:
-
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
-
Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Queenstown:
$40
-
Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour:
$52
-
Wine Tour from Full Day:
$103
-
Queenstown Classic Wine Tour - 3 Vineyards, Cave Tour and Cheeseboard:
$116
-
Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour:
$122
-
Original Wine Tour:
$125
-
Vine Hopper: Queenstown's Ultimate Wine & Microbrewery Adventure:
$133
-
Valley of the Vines Afternoon Wine Tour includes a Winery Tour:
$133
-
Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown - Includes 4 Vineyards, Lunch & Wine:
$136
-
Valley of the Vines Lunch & Wine Tour with a Wine Cave Adult Tour:
$147
-
Wine Tour & Maori Culture Queenstown:
$159
-
Boutique Wine Tour in Central Otago Wine Region:
$161
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napier and Queenstown, we can see that Napier is more expensive. And not only is Queenstown much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Queenstown would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Queenstown 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 Queenstown.
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