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

Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

How much does it cost to travel to Queenstown?

You should plan to spend around $107 (NZ$175) per day on your vacation in Queenstown. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $37 (NZ$60) on meals
  • $10 (NZ$17) on local transportation
  • $114 (NZ$186) on hotels

A one week trip to Queenstown for two people costs, on average, $1,498 (NZ$2,453). 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
    $107
    NZ$175
  • One Week Per person
    $749
    NZ$1,227
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,498
    NZ$2,453
  • One Month Per person
    $3,210
    NZ$5,257
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,498
    NZ$2,453
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $2,996
    NZ$4,906
  • One Month For a couple
    $6,419
    NZ$10,513
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 Queenstown cost?

A one week trip to Queenstown usually costs around $749 (NZ$1,227) for one person and $1,498 (NZ$2,453) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Queenstown on average costs around $1,498 (NZ$2,453) for one person and $2,996 (NZ$4,906) 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 Queenstown will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Queenstown on average costs around $3,210 (NZ$5,257) for one person and $6,419 (NZ$10,513) 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 Queenstown 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 Queenstown expensive to visit?

Prices in Queenstown 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, Queenstown 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 Queenstown Expensive?

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

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


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) NZ$186 ($114)
Local Transportation 1 NZ$17 ($10)
Food 2 NZ$60 ($37)
Entertainment 1 NZ$36 ($22)
Tips and Handouts 1 NZ$3 - 9 ($2 - 6)
Alcohol 2 NZ$7 - 22 ($5 - 14)
Accommodation Budget in Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Queenstown is $57 (NZ$93). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Queenstown is $114 (NZ$186). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $57
    NZ$93
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $114
    NZ$186

Hotel Prices in Queenstown

Looking for a hotel in Queenstown? 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 Queenstown based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $222. (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 Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Queenstown is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $10 (NZ$17) per person, per day, on local transportation in Queenstown.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $10
    NZ$17

Recommended Services


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

Rental Cars in Queenstown
The price of renting a car in Queenstown 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 Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Queenstown can vary, the average cost of food in Queenstown is $37 (NZ$60) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Queenstown should cost around $15 (NZ$24) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Queenstown is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $37
    NZ$60

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Queenstown typically cost an average of $22 (NZ$36) 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.
    $22
    NZ$36

Recommended Activities

What did other people spend on Entertainment in Queenstown?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Queenstown are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Queenstown, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Skyline Gondola (for 2)
    NZ$50


Tips and Handouts Budget in Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Queenstown is $3.75 (NZ$6.14) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Queenstown is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $3.75
    NZ$6.14


Alcohol Budget in Queenstown
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $9.15 (NZ$15) on alcoholic beverages in Queenstown per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $9.15
    NZ$15

Recommended


Queenstown On a Budget
Queenstown Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.

Queenstown's climate is oceanic, influenced by the town's location on the shore of Lake Wakatipu as well as its relatively moderate altitude and the surrounding mountains. The summers are warm with temperatures that may climb to 30 degrees Celsius. The winters are cold with frequent snowfall, but there is no permanent snow cover.
Sights
Most people come to Queenstown for the spectacular views of the mountains. The scenery in the area is excellent. You'll find one of the best views of the area from the top of Bob's Peak. This peak can be accessed by the Skyline Gondola and there are views of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables mountain range, and the Cecil and Walter Peaks across Lake Wakatipu.

There is also a beautiful, scenic drive to Glenorchy. It takes about fifty minutes traveling north along Lake Wakatipu. The Gibbston Valley wine area is also just a twenty minute drive from town along the Kawarau Gorge. For even more ideas, read up on things to do in Queenstown such as wineries, gardens, and lakes nearby.
Neighborhoods
Queenstown has a few neighborhoods that each have their own atmosphere. The central business district is the best area to stay if you hope to take advantage of the town's nightlife. There are more than fifty bars in the area.

If you want a slightly quieter experience, there are several surrounding neighborhoods that make a quiet base but offer easy access to the center of town. The Glenorchy Road area and the Kingston Road area have great views and a natural setting with high end lodges, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals. The Gibbston Valley area has a variety of accommodation options near many of the vineyards. Arrowtown is the historic precinct with much of the area's history and culture.

Activities
Queenstown offers some excellent adventure sports opportunities. These include skiing, snowboarding, bungyjumping, jet boats and horseback riding among other things. There are several private companies that offer trips out on the lake. This is a great way to enjoy the area's beauty. Several companies also organize scenic flights. Helicopters can take you around the area and offer views that can't be beat.

If you're hoping to relax a little, there are several good wine tasting opportunities as well as the Body Sanctum Day Spa in the area. The Central Oteago wine region produces cool climate wines that are of great quality.

You really won't be at a shortage of things to do if you have a couple days in Queenstown.
Food and Dining
You'll find every type of restaurant in Queenstown, from fast food take away that is open all night long, to fine dining seafood restaurants where you can enjoy a nice, well prepared meal. The nicer restaurants in town almost always require a reservation, particularly during peak season when they can fill up quickly. Many of the wineries in the area are also open for lunch.

Transportation
Queenstown's town center is small and easy to walk around. Parking within the city center can be a challenge. There is a bus service called Connectabus. There are three routes, with the most helpful to tourists being services 10/11. This route runs every half hour between the airport, the Remarkables Park shopping center, and alternating routes that continue on to Arrowtown. There are also two trips a day to Wanaka.

If you're hoping to get out on the lake then you can pick up a tour at Queenstown Wharf. There's also now a water taxi service which is less of a tour but will take you out on the water.
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.