A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wellington vs. Oranjestad for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wellington or Oranjestad?

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

Should I visit Wellington or Oranjestad? 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 Oranjestad?

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad or Wellington?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $124, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is $431. 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 Oranjestad in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wellington $60
    Oranjestad $241
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wellington $120
    Oranjestad $482
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Oranjestad

Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Oranjestad? 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 Wellington


Hotels in Oranjestad


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 Oranjestad Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wellington $12
    Oranjestad $45

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oranjestad

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Oranjestad:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.84

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:

  • Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
  • Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
  • Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131
  • Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Oranjestad?

Prices for flights to both Oranjestad 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Wellington $51
    Oranjestad $139
Typical Food Prices in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad.

  • Aruba: Sip and Savor Local Food Tour: $95
  • Oranjesta: Sunset Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wellington $16
    Oranjestad $116

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Oranjestad

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


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $32
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $89
  • Golf
    $159
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $126

Tours and Activities in Oranjestad

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

  • 3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour: $49
  • Aruba Arikok National Park Hiking Tour: $57
  • Aruba Downtown Historic And Cultural Walking Tour: $75
  • Aruba: 4-Hour ATV Adventure: $142
  • Aruba: Amazing UTV Island Tour: $99
  • Aruba: Arikok Park Rancho Loco Natural Pool Horseback Tour: $160
  • Aruba: Barhopping Party Bus Tour with DJ and Dancing: $92
  • Aruba: Beach Hopping Snorkeling Tour: $57
  • Aruba: Guided Countryside Exploration Tour: $45
  • Aruba: Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach Jeep Adventure: $89
  • Aruba: North Coast EZ Raider Adventure: $95
  • Aruba: Northcoast UTV Afternoon Adventure: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wellington $12
    Oranjestad $40

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 Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Oranjestad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Wellington or Oranjestad?

Wellington has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Oranjestad, 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.