Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Pyeongchang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pyeongchang or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Lake Tekapo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Pyeongchang or Lake Tekapo?
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPyeongchang $114Lake Tekapo $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $114, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Pyeongchang and Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPyeongchang $62Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPyeongchang $124Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang or Lake Tekapo? 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices and Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pyeongchang $25Lake Tekapo -
Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo and Pyeongchang 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 dayPyeongchang $27Lake Tekapo $13
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pyeongchang $51Lake Tekapo -
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $181
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
- Arthur's Pass and Mount Cook: 2-Day Tour From Christchurch: $1,455
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
- From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $178
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours: $178
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $178
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPyeongchang $8.79Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pyeongchang is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Lake Tekapo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
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.