A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wellington vs. Port-of-Spain for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain?

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

Should I visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain? 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 Port-of-Spain?

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.

Port-of-Spain

Located on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, Port of Spain is the capital of the Caribbean island nation Trinidad & Tobago. It is a hub of activity, especially during the celebration of Carnival for which the island nation is famous.

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, Port-of-Spain or Wellington?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $104, while the average daily cost in Port-of-Spain is $174. 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 Port-of-Spain in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wellington $61
    Port-of-Spain $80
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wellington $122
    Port-of-Spain $160
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Port-of-Spain

Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Port-of-Spain? 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 Port-of-Spain


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 Port-of-Spain Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wellington $12
    Port-of-Spain $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington

Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
  • Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
  • Private Airport Transfer: $78
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $11
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
  • Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
  • Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $74
  • Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
  • Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $77
  • Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $62

Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Port-of-Spain?

Prices for flights to both Port-of-Spain 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 $30
    Port-of-Spain $54
Typical Food Prices in Wellington

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


  • Dinner
    $9.02

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $153
  • A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $188

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wellington $16
    Port-of-Spain $59

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: $6.61
  • Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket: $9.02
  • Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour: $12
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Mana Māori Tour: $12
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour: $12
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour: $14
  • Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $28
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $28
  • Wētā Workshop Experience and Guided Tour: $33

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wellington $12
    Port-of-Spain $22

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 Tour: $93
  • Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
  • 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $153
  • Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $172
  • Full Day Martinborough Wine Tour: $178
  • 1/2 Day Martinborough Private Chefs wine tastings tour with lunch: $245
  • Martinborough Private 5 hour Food & Wine tour with Gourmet lunch: $264
  • Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and Port-of-Spain, we can see that Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Wellington or Port-of-Spain?

Wellington has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Port-of-Spain. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Port-of-Spain, 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 Port-of-Spain?

Wellington has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Port-of-Spain experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain in the Summer?

Both Port-of-Spain and Wellington during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Wellington in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Port-of-Spain year-round.

In the summer, Wellington is much colder than Port-of-Spain. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wellington in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Port-of-Spain averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

In Port-of-Spain, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wellington. In the summer, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Port-of-Spainin July. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Port-of-Spain receives 206 hours of full sun.

Port-of-Spain gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Wellington usually gets less rain in January than Port-of-Spainin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Port-of-Spain receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Wellington 18°C (64°F) 
    Port-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Port-of-Spain. Most visitors come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months. Port-of-Spain attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Wellington is generally much colder than Port-of-Spainin October. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 15°C (58°F), and Port-of-Spain fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port-of-Spain this time of the year. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than Port-of-Spain during autumn. Wellington gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Port-of-Spain receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Port-of-Spain receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Wellington usually receives less rain than Port-of-Spainin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Port-of-Spain receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Wellington 15°C (58°F) 
    Port-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Port-of-Spain. The winter months attract visitors to Wellington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Port-of-Spain throughout the year.

Wellington is much colder than Port-of-Spain in the winter. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 10°C (49°F) in July, and Port-of-Spain fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. In the winter, Wellington often gets less sunshine than Port-of-Spainin January. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Port-of-Spain receives 241 hours of full sun.

Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Port-of-Spainin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Port-of-Spain receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Wellington 10°C (49°F) 
    Port-of-Spain 26°C (78°F)

Should I visit Wellington or Port-of-Spain in the Spring?

Both Port-of-Spain and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Wellington this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Port-of-Spain because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Wellington is much colder than Port-of-Spain. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wellington in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Port-of-Spain averages at about 27°C (81°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Port-of-Spain. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than Port-of-Spain during spring. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Port-of-Spain receives 238 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Wellington usually receives more rain than Port-of-Spainin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Port-of-Spain receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Wellington 13°C (55°F) 
    Port-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)

Typical Weather for Port-of-Spain and Wellington

Wellington Port-of-Spain
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 18°C (64°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in) 26°C (79°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Mar 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 26°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 15°C (58°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 51 mm (2 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Jun 10°C (51°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 252 mm (9.9 in)
Jul 10°C (49°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 266 mm (10.5 in)
Aug 10°C (50°F) 98 mm (3.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 225 mm (8.9 in)
Sep 12°C (53°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 203 mm (8 in)
Oct 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 15°C (58°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Dec 17°C (62°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 155 mm (6.1 in)