A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Taupo vs. Tauranga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Taupo or Tauranga?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Taupo or Tauranga? 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: Taupo or Tauranga?

Taupo

Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

Which city is cheaper, Tauranga or Taupo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $92, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $85. 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 Taupo and Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taupo $52
    Tauranga $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taupo $104
    Tauranga $122
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Taupo or Tauranga? 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.

Hotels in Taupo


Hotels in Tauranga


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: Taupo Hotel Prices and Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taupo $20
    Tauranga $5.59

Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga and Taupo 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 day
    Taupo $19
    Tauranga $18

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taupo $29
    Tauranga $8.54
Typical Entertainment prices in Taupo

Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Bungy Jumping
    $156
  • Jet Boating
    $58

Tours and Activities in Taupo

Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Lake Maori Rock Carvings 1.5-Hour Scenic Cruise: $23
  • Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $26
  • Maori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise: $26
  • Cruise Kakariki to the Maori Rock Carvings: $30
  • Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $30
  • Lake Taupo Maori Rock Carving 2.5-Hour Sailing Cruise: $33
  • Great Lake Trail Lake Taupo 2-Day Mountain Biking Tour: $175
  • Taupo Highlights Tour - Go Explore Scenic: $182

Tours and Activities in Tauranga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:

  • Mount Maunganui Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Mount Maunganui: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Harley Tour of the Mount 20mins: $30
  • Waimarino Adventure Park: $35
  • 3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer: $43
  • 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Ice Cream: $61
  • Deluxe small group Cruise Day Tour, Rotorua, Tauranga & Mt Maunganui highlights: $83
  • Evening Glow Worm Kayak Tour in Tauranga: $100
  • From Half Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour: $102
  • Half-Day Tauranga Guided Tour by Minivan with port Pickup: $104

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taupo $11
    Tauranga $8.44
Typical Alcohol prices in Taupo

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $5.21

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Taupo and Tauranga, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Taupo vs. Tauranga Travel Comparison

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