Which place is cheaper, Akureyri or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Wellington or Akureyri?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington or Akureyri? 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: Wellington or Akureyri?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.
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Wellington Prices
New Zealand PricesAkureyri Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $124Akureyri $191
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $124, while the average daily cost in Akureyri is $191. 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 Wellington and Akureyri in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $60Akureyri $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $120Akureyri $206
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Akureyri
Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Akureyri? 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Akureyri Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Akureyri $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $126
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Akureyri?
Prices for flights to both Akureyri and Wellington 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 dayWellington $51Akureyri $71
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wellington $16Akureyri $18
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.95
- Wellington Zoo General Entry Tickets: $15
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Entry Ticket: $28
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Creative Classes Experience Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington: $33
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Zealandia by Day Tour: $37
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Akureyri Cruise Port: Mývatn Lakes, Waterfalls & Nature Trip: $282
- Akureyri Guided E-Bike Tour: $167
- Akureyri Port: Dettifoss, Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn Tour: $229
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and Akureyri Botanical Garden Tour: $170
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and the Forest Lagoon Tour: $203
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $82
- Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Guided Tour with Lunch: $329
- Akureyri Port: Myvatn Nature Baths & Godafoss Waterfall Tour: $247
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $143
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $135
- 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship: $108
- E-Bike Tour with Forest Lagoon Entry: $217
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWellington $12Akureyri $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific and Akureyri is in Europe, 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 Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri than you might in Wellington.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wellington Expensive? and Is Akureyri Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Akureyri?
Wellington has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Akureyri, 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.
When is the best time to visit Wellington or Akureyri?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Akureyri has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Wellington or Akureyri in the Summer?
Both Akureyri and Wellington during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Wellington is generally much warmer than Akureyriin July. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 18°C (64°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in Wellington. In the summer, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Akureyriin July. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 158 hours of full sun.
Wellington usually gets more rain in January than Akureyriin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyWellington 18°C (64°F)Akureyri 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Akureyri in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Akureyri. Many visitors come to Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Akureyri can be very cold during autumn. Wellington is much warmer than Akureyri in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Akureyri fluctuates around 3°C (38°F)in October.
Wellington usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during autumn. Wellington gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 52 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Wellington usually receives more rain than Akureyriin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberWellington 15°C (58°F)Akureyri 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Akureyri in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Akureyri. Most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Akureyri can be very cold. In the winter, Wellington is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wellington in July average around 10°C (49°F), and Akureyri averages at about -2°C (28°F)in January.
In the winter, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Akureyriin January. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 7 hours of full sun.
Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Akureyriin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryWellington 10°C (49°F)Akureyri -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Akureyri in the Spring?
Both Akureyri and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches.
It's quite cold in Akureyri in the spring. In October, Wellington is generally much warmer than Akureyriin April. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 13°C (55°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Wellington usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during spring. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 130 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Wellington usually receives more rain than Akureyriin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilWellington 13°C (55°F)Akureyri 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Akureyri and Wellington
| Wellington | Akureyri | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
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.