Which city is cheaper, Nelson or Te Anau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Te Anau vs. Nelson for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Te Anau or Nelson?
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 Nelson 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 Nelson?
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.
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 dayTe Anau $103Nelson $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Te Anau is $103, 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 Te Anau and Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTe Anau $46Nelson $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTe Anau $92Nelson $84
Compare Hotels in Te Anau and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Te Anau 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: Te Anau Hotel Prices and Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Te Anau $28Nelson $30
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
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 Te Anau or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $28Nelson $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Te Anau $49Nelson $24
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 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 dayTe Anau $14Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Half Day Wine Tour: $114
When comparing the travel costs between Te Anau and Nelson, we can see that Te Anau 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.
Related Articles for 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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