Travel Budget for Christchurch Visit Christchurch on a Budget or Travel in Style

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

How much does it cost to travel to Christchurch?

You should plan to spend around $98 (NZ$160) per day on your vacation in Christchurch. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $31 (NZ$51) on meals
  • $15 (NZ$24) on local transportation
  • $101 (NZ$165) on hotels

A one week trip to Christchurch for two people costs, on average, $1,372 (NZ$2,247). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $98
    NZ$160
  • One Week Per person
    $686
    NZ$1,123
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,372
    NZ$2,247
  • One Month Per person
    $2,940
    NZ$4,815
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,372
    NZ$2,247
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,744
    NZ$4,494
  • One Month For a couple
    $5,880
    NZ$9,630
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Christchurch cost?

A one week trip to Christchurch usually costs around $686 (NZ$1,123) for one person and $1,372 (NZ$2,247) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Christchurch on average costs around $1,372 (NZ$2,247) for one person and $2,744 (NZ$4,494) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Christchurch will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Christchurch on average costs around $2,940 (NZ$4,815) for one person and $5,880 (NZ$9,630) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Christchurch has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Christchurch expensive to visit?

Prices in Christchurch are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, Christchurch is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in the Pacific for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Lake Tekapo, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Sydney.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Christchurch Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Christchurch?

The average Christchurch trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Christchurch travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) NZ$165 ($101)
Local Transportation 1 NZ$24 ($15)
Food 2 NZ$51 ($31)
Entertainment 1 NZ$29 ($18)
Alcohol 2 NZ$9 - 28 ($6 - 17)
Accommodation Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Christchurch is $50 (NZ$83). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Christchurch is $101 (NZ$165). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $50
    NZ$83
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $101
    NZ$165

Hotel Prices in Christchurch

Looking for a hotel in Christchurch? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Christchurch based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $82. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Christchurch is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $15 (NZ$24) per person, per day, on local transportation in Christchurch.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $15
    NZ$24

Recommended Services


Flights to Christchurch
How much does it cost to go to Christchurch? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Christchurch
The price of renting a car in Christchurch will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Christchurch can vary, the average cost of food in Christchurch is $31 (NZ$51) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Christchurch should cost around $13 (NZ$21) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Christchurch is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $31
    NZ$51


Entertainment Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Christchurch typically cost an average of $18 (NZ$29) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $18
    NZ$29

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $11 (NZ$19) on alcoholic beverages in Christchurch per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $11
    NZ$19

Recommended


Water Budget in Christchurch
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $2.22 (NZ$3.63) on bottled water in Christchurch per day. The public water in Christchurch is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $2.22
    NZ$3.63


Christchurch On a Budget
Christchurch Christchurch, New Zealand
Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, right beside the Canterbury Plains. Most people begin their South Island travels here. The city itself can be fascinating to explore so it is worth allowing yourself several days in town as an introduction to the region.

The River Avon flows through the city center, twisting through the old buildings. Christchurch is referred to in New Zealand as the Garden City and it is easy to see why. It's quite a nice city with trees spread throughout. The economy is centered around international tourism as well as foreign education. There is a high Asian student population here, giving the city a diverse feel.

Christchurch's climate is temperate and the city receives moderate rainfall. In January average high temperatures are around 73 degrees Fahrenheit with averages around 52 degrees Fahrenheit in July. There is a sea breeze during the summer months that keep temperatures pleasant. Temperatures can drop below freezing at night during the winter months. Snow may also fall several times a year.
Sights
There are a variety of places to visit in Christchurch that will help you to orient yourself with the city and the surrounding area. It's great to spend a couple of days in Christchurch at the beginning of your trip so that you can learn about New Zealand and the area's history and geography. The Christchurch Cathedral was originally built between 1864 and 1904 in Cathedral Square. Today's replacement, "Cardboard Cathedral" is located at 234 Hereford Street. Museums worth visiting include the Arts Centre, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the Air Force Museum, Canterbury Museum, and Yaldhurst Museum. Parks in the area include the Botanic Gardens, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, and Riccarton Bush.
Neighborhoods
Many people prefer to stay in Christchurch's inner city, specifically the area bounded by Deans, Bealey, Moorehouse, and Fitzgerald Avenues. From there you can walk to many places. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens are technically still in the inner city to the west of the central business district. This area also has great accommodations and interesting sights. Fendalton is a beautiful neighborhood with old homes and tree lined streets. The suburb of Merivale has high end shopping and a number of bed and breakfasts. St. Albans is to the east and has a some number of hotels and very little shopping. To the west of Hagley Park is Riccarton. This is a center for shopping and entertainment. There's a large shopping mall and many cheap Asian restaurants. It's also where you'll find Canterbury University. Sumner is about half an hour from the city and has great views of the city and coast. It's a nice holiday spot for locals and popular with surfers during the summer months. Lyttelton is a quaint port village about half an hour from town.

Activities
There are some interesting activities that you can enjoy while you're in Christchurch. Driving or biking along the Summit Road offers great views of the city, the Southern Alps, Pegasus Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, and Banks Peninsula. It's also worth visiting Lyttelton Farmers Market. The market is open every Saturday morning between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

If you find yourself in Christchurch at the right time, you can see one of its many festivals. Summer begins in December and runs into February. It offers some great free events with music and art. The World Buskers Festival is in January and features comedy and circus activities. Another fun one is the Christchurch Garden Festival which is in March.
Food and Dining
There's a diversity of food options in Christchurch. If you're on a particularly tight budget you can pick up some groceries at a supermarket and prepare your own meal. Fish and chips are also a common and cheap meal. Asian food is quite common as well, particularly in the Riccarton and Upper Riccarton areas. Church Corner is considered the city's unofficial "Chinatown" and has many Asian supermarkets and restaurants. Korean restaurants are also quite common.

Transportation
Public transportation in the city is generally lacking, however the bus system has improved in recent years. It is recommended that you have a car if you plan to spend any significant amount of time in Christchurch. Alternatively, the city is quite flat so it is easy to navigate with a bicycle. This is a cheaper alternative if you aren't able to rent a car and are looking to save some money. Whether on bike or in a car, it is relatively easy to navigate the city as it is laid out in a grid.


Related:

Looking for a party in Auckland or somewhere else in New Zealand?
Traveling alone or with a group?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.