Is Nelson expensive to visit?
Nelson is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $95. Compared to the rest of the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a reasonably affordable place to visit. It's ranked in the top 25% of cities in the Pacific for its affordability, comparable to places like Alice Springs and Christchurch.
Archway Islands, Wharariki Beach, New Zealand
How expensive is Nelson?
On average, visitors spend about $95 per day when visiting Nelson (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $191 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Nelson here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Nelson?
A weekend trip to Nelson costs about $286 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $572.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Nelson?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Nelson costs around $667 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,334.
Is it expensive to backpack in Nelson?
Nelson is a fairly popular backpacker destination with more than 6 hostels around town. Dorm beds in hostels cost around $19 per night on average. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $16 and the most expensive dorm beds costing around $22. (See hostel prices in Nelson here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Nelson.
- $20 for a dorm bed at Tasman Bay Backpackers
- $20 for a dorm bed at YHA Nelson
- $16 for a dorm bed at Bridge Backpackers
Are hotels expensive in Nelson?
Hotel prices in Nelson are very affordable compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $88 per night for a room on average. There are around 4 five star hotels in the city and they average $113 per night. Three star hotels average $84 a night and two star hotels average $22 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Nelson
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 4 | $113 |
| 4 stars | 21 | $108 |
| 3 stars | 15 | $84 |
| 2 stars | 7 | $22 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Nelson?
Activities and things to do in Nelson can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $24 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $36.
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $122
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $161
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $76
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
Is food expensive in Nelson?
Food in Nelson can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $27 on food per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $31. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
Is transportation expensive in Nelson?
Local transportation in Nelson can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $29 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $20. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Nelson
If you're planning a trip to Nelson, 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.
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.