Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Te Anau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Te Anau vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Te Anau or Kaikoura?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Te Anau and Kaikoura can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Te Anau or Kaikoura?
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTe Anau $103Kaikoura $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Te Anau is $103, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $141. 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 Te Anau and Kaikoura in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTe Anau $46Kaikoura $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTe Anau $92Kaikoura $100
Compare Hotels in Te Anau and Kaikoura
Looking for a hotel in Te Anau or Kaikoura? 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: Te Anau Hotel Prices and Kaikoura Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Te Anau $28Kaikoura $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Te Anau to Queenstown Transfer: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Te Anau or Kaikoura?
Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Te Anau 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 dayTe Anau $28Kaikoura $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Te Anau $49Kaikoura $159
Tours and Activities in Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour: $73
- Morning Tea Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht from Te Anau: $94
- Afternoon Te Anau Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht: $94
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $94
- Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau: $96
- Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise with Picnic Lunch from Te Anau: $103
- Full-Day Milford Sound Hiking Tour with Cruise: $103
- Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise from Te Anau with Picnic Lunch: $103
- Lord of the Rings and Te Anau Highlights Small Group Tour from Te Anau: $111
- VIP Milford Sound All Inclusive Tour: $117
- Milford Sound Experience Full Day from Te Anau: $124
- Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau: $132
Tours and Activities in Kaikoura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:
- 30-Minute Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $269
- Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
- Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $85
- Sunset Kayaking Tour: $89
- Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $70
- Private Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $178
- Seal Swimming Tour from Kaikoura: $89
- Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTe Anau $14Kaikoura -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Te Anau and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Te Anau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Te Anau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Te Anau 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura than you might in Te Anau.
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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.More City Comparisons
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