Which city is cheaper, Nelson or Paihia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Paihia vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Paihia or Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Paihia and Nelson. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Paihia or Nelson?
Paihia
Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPaihia $78Nelson $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Paihia is $78, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $98. 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 Paihia and Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPaihia $36Nelson $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPaihia $72Nelson $84
Compare Hotels in Paihia and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Paihia or Nelson? 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.
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: Paihia Hotel Prices and Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paihia $12Nelson $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nelson
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nelson:
- Departure Transfer: Nelson City Centre Hotels to Nelson Airport: $43
- Arrival Transfer: Nelson Airport to Nelson City Centre Hotels: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Paihia or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson and Paihia 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
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Food Meals for one dayPaihia $27Nelson $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia
For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bay of Islands 3-Hours Sailing & Gourmet Dinner Burger Buffet: $74
- 3 Hour Bay of Islands Sailing Cruise with Gourmet Dinner: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paihia $36Nelson $24
Tours and Activities in Paihia
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Waitangi Treaty Grounds Experience Pass: $37
- Sundowner Evening Cruise: $46
- Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $46
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Cruise Kayak or Paddle board: $50
- Parasailing Adventure Over the Bay of Islands: $78
- Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike, Swim, Paddleboard, Wildlife: $84
- Dolphin Cruise to the Hole in the Rock with Island Stopover - Afternoon Cruise: $89
- Dolphin Cruise to the Hole in the Rock with Island Stopover - Morning Cruise: $89
- V8 Trike Tours 30 minute Bay of Islands Thriller Tour - 2 Passengers: $91
- V8 Trike Tours - Bay of Islands 30 minute Scenic Tour (x 2 Passengers): $91
- Bay of Islands: Bay Discovery Cruise with Island Stop-Over: $92
- Waipoua Forest: Giants and Glow Worms Full Day Tour: $100
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Abel Tasman and Golden Bay Tour: $149
- Dragon Hunt Archery Experience in Pristine Native Forest: $115
- Fly Golden Bay & Cruise Abel Tasman Day Tour from Nelson: $341
- Full-Day Abel Tasman National Park Hiking Tour with Cruise: $354
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $36
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $67
- Skywire Experience: $72
- SKYWIRE Experience: $78
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $75
- Tunnel to Town - Day Adventure - Option A Via Mapua: $125
- Tunnel to Town - Day Adventure Option B Nelson City: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPaihia $23Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia
Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bay of Islands Craft Beer & Wine Tour: $93
- Private Wine Tour in a Mustang or 4x4: $148
- Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $236
- Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $236
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Half Day Wine Tour: $114
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paihia and Nelson, we can see that Nelson is more expensive. And not only is Paihia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paihia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paihia 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson than you might in Paihia.
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