A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wuyuan vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wuyuan or Kaikoura?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Wuyuan and Kaikoura can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Wuyuan or Kaikoura?

Wuyuan

Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Wuyuan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Wuyuan is $57, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $135. 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 Wuyuan and Kaikoura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wuyuan $26
    Kaikoura $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wuyuan $52
    Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Wuyuan and Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Wuyuan 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.

Hotels in Wuyuan


Hotels in Kaikoura


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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wuyuan $13
    Kaikoura $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Wuyuan or Kaikoura?

Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Wuyuan 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
    Wuyuan $20
    Kaikoura $38
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:


  • Gummy Candy
    $0.28
  • Cookies
    $0.69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wuyuan $19
    Kaikoura $152

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:

  • Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
  • 1-Hour Private Heli-Picnic Mountain top tour in Kaikoura : $237
  • 40-minute Mt Fyffe Summit Heli Tour in Kaikoura : $222
  • Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
  • Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch: $238
  • Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch: $211
  • 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $624
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
  • Whale Watching Cruise: $98
  • Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wuyuan $14
    Kaikoura -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wuyuan and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wuyuan is in Asia and Kaikoura is in Pacific, 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 Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wuyuan Expensive? and Is Kaikoura Expensive?.