How much does a trip to Christchurch Cost?

The Cost of a Trip to Christchurch

When it comes to exploring Christchurch, travelers typically find themselves budgeting between $37 and $260 per day for solo adventures and $74 to $520 if you're traveling as a couple. Now, that's a broad range, but the typical trip, on average, is $96 (NZ$160) per person per day. This average cost covers sightseeing, accommodation, meals, and transportation, all from our large repository of travel expenses from previous visitors. Keep in mind, though, your personal spending might vary a bit based on your own level of luxury, travel style, and chosen activities. However, if you're visiting the highlights with some savvy planning, chances are your spending will vibe right around this average cost. For more details, check out the breakdown of expenses by category, plus the breakdown on accommodation and activity prices below.

How much money should you budget for your trip to Christchurch?

If you're considering an independent trip to Christchurch, it's helpful to have an idea of the amount of money you'll need. For budget travelers, planning to spend around $37 (NZ$62) per day should cover your essential expenses, including affordable accommodations like hostels and budget hotels, cost-effective meal options, local transportation, and affordable activities. For those with a mid-range budget, allocating around $96 (NZ$160) per day would allow for more comfortable hotels, dining at typical restaurants, and exploring a range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should anticipate a daily budget of $260 (NZ$434), which would encompass higher-end accommodations, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in private tour options. It's worth noting that these price ranges are based on extensive travel cost data for Christchurch from fellow travelers, as well as insights from travel companies regarding hotel and tour prices. For further details on travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for Christchurch.


Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
Budget Mid-Range Luxury
Accommodation1 $19 $50 $131
Local Transportation1 $6 $15 $33
Food2 $11 $31 $93
Water2 $1 $2 $4
Entertainment1 $7 $18 $39
Souvenirs1 $7 $17 $31
Communication2 $4 $5 $7
Living Expenses2 $5 $15 $45
Alcohol2 $5 $11 $26


How much does a weekend trip to Christchurch cost?

Travelers spend, on average, $289 per person on a three-day trip to Christchurch. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.



Christchurch, New Zealand

How much does a five day trip to Christchurch cost?

With five days in Christchurch, you can expect to spend about $481 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.

How much does a one week trip to Christchurch cost?

Most visitors spend between $259 and $1,820 for a one week trip to Christchurch, with the average being $674. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Christchurch. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.

Hostel Prices in Christchurch

With more than 9 hostels in Christchurch, the average price is $29 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $3 and the most expensive is $38. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Christchurch here.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Christchurch.

  • $23 for a dorm bed at Jailhouse Accommodation Christchurch in Christchurch
  • $27 for a dorm bed at Urbanz Christchurch in Christchurch
  • $29 for a dorm bed at LyLo Christchurch in Christchurch

Hotel Prices in Christchurch

The average price for a hotel room in Christchurch is $82 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Christchurch here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.


Hotels by star rating in Christchurch
Rating Number of Hotels Average Hotel Price
5 stars 6 $133
4 stars 60 $91
3 stars 53 $74
2 stars 13 $59
1 star 1 $22

85 Dyers Pass Road, Christchurch
Overall Rating 9.5
449 Memorial Avenue, Christchurch
Overall Rating 9.3

Should you do a tour in Christchurch?

You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Christchurch and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $25 for the Christchurch Gondola Ride Ticket to $242 for the Lyttelton Shore Excursion - Sea Kayaking, Quail Island & Harbour.


    • Half Day Guided Walking Tour on Banks Peninsula: $126
    • Guided Walking Tour & Scenic Drive form Christchurch - Lyttelton & Godley Head: $242
    • Mt. Cook Full Day Group Tour via Tekapo from Christchurch: $182
    • (MT) Mount Cook Return Day Tour Via Lake Tekapo from Christchurch: $182
    • Kaikoura Day Tour with Whale Watching From Christchurch: $206
    • Arthurs Pass Day Tour With TranzAlpine and Jet Boat Ride : $231
    • Lyttelton Shore Excursion -Inland Canterburey & Castle Hill Tour : $242
    • Lyttelton Shore Excursion - Guided Walking Tour and Picnic : $152
    More for Christchurch

    If you're planning a trip to Christchurch, New Zealand, check out these other informative travel guides.



    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.

    If you want to share the information, here's how. down-arrow
    • You are welcome to reference or display our travel costs on your website as long as you provide a link back to this page.
    • For a basic link, you can copy and paste the HTML link code, or this page's address.
    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.

    Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.