Which place is cheaper, Christchurch or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pretoria or Christchurch?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Christchurch? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pretoria or Christchurch?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, right beside the Canterbury Plains. Most people begin their South Island travels here. The city itself can be fascinating to explore so it is worth allowing yourself several days in town as an introduction to the region.
The River Avon flows through the city center, twisting through the old buildings. Christchurch is referred to in New Zealand as the Garden City and it is easy to see why. It's quite a nice city with trees spread throughout. The economy is centered around international tourism as well as foreign education. There is a high Asian student population here, giving the city a diverse feel.
Christchurch's climate is temperate and the city receives moderate rainfall. In January average high temperatures are around 73 degrees Fahrenheit with averages around 52 degrees Fahrenheit in July. There is a sea breeze during the summer months that keep temperatures pleasant. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night during the winter months. Snow may also fall several times a year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $50Christchurch $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $50, while the average daily cost in Christchurch is $96. 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 Pretoria and Christchurch in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $25Christchurch $50
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $50Christchurch $100
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Christchurch
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Christchurch? 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: Christchurch Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $12Christchurch $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $27
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $89
- Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $61
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Christchurch
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Christchurch:
- Private Transfer from Lyttelton Port to Christchurch Airport CHC: $29
- Departure Private Transfers from Christchurch to Airport CHC in Luxury Van: $91
- Departure Private Transfers from Christchurch to Airport CHC in Business Car: $66
- Christchurch to Christchurch Airport(CHC)- Departure Transfer: $32
- Christchurch Hotels to Airport Transfer: $51
- Christchurch City Hotels to Airport Transfer - Lowest price 1 to 9 Passengers: $78
- Christchurch Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Christchurch: $69
- Christchurch Airport Transfers : Christchurch to Airport CHC in Luxury Van: $91
- Christchurch Airport Transfers : Christchurch to Airport CHC in Business Car: $66
- Christchurch Airport (CHC): Transfer to Christchurch hotels: $130
- Arrival Private Transfer from Airport CHC to Christchurch in Business Car: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Christchurch?
Prices for flights to both Christchurch and Pretoria 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 dayPretoria $15Christchurch $31
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $14Christchurch $18
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- History Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $40
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Soweto and Johannesburg Tours: $55
- Soweto Township Tour from Johannesburg - Friday Special: $58
- Soweto & Johannesburg - walking, Bike , E-scooter, Tuk Tuk Tour : $58
- Pretoria Tour-Voortrekker Monument, Town, Union Buildings: $59
- Cullinan Diamond Mine Surface Guided Tour from Pretoria, every MONDAY: $61
- Soweto Pub-Crawl Tour: $61
- Taste of Africa Food tasting Experience & Optional Beer Tasting: $61
- Johannesburg exploration tour(Jo-burg/Soweto & Apartheid museum): $66
- Private Johannesburg and Soweto with Apartheid museum tour: $69
Tours and Activities in Christchurch
Here are a few actual costs in Christchurch for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket: $25
- 8 Day Southern Secrets Small Group Tour: $961
- Akaroa Day Tour From Christchurch: $114
- Akaroa Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Christchurch: $151
- Arthur's Pass and TranzAlpine Train Day Tour from Christchurch: $250
- Arthur's Pass: TranzAlpine Train and Castle Hill Day Tour: $237
- Arthurs Pass Day Tour With TranzAlpine and Jet Boat Ride : $229
- Christchurch Gondola and Tram City Tour Combo: $42
- Christchurch International Antarctic Centre Entry Tickets: $35
- Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Tour: $190
- Christchurch Tram City Tour & Punting Combo: $46
- Christchurch Zipline Tour: $120
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $31Christchurch $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Christchurch
Also in Christchurch, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $102
- All-Inclusive Waipara Region Wine Tour from Christchurch: $106
- From Guided Local Wine Tours in Waipara: $120
- Akaroa Craft Distillery HeliGin Experience: $538
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Christchurch, we can see that Christchurch is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pretoria is in Africa and Christchurch 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 Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Christchurch would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Christchurch than you might in Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Christchurch Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Christchurch?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Christchurch. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Christchurch, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.