Is Queenstown expensive to visit?
Queenstown is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $105. 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 Wellington and Adelaide.
Queenstown, New Zealand
How expensive is Queenstown?
On average, visitors spend about $105 per day when visiting Queenstown (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $210 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 Queenstown here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Queenstown?
A weekend trip to Queenstown costs about $315 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 $630.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Queenstown?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Queenstown costs around $735 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,471.
Is it expensive to backpack in Queenstown?
With more than 10 hostels around town, Queenstown is a very popular backpacker destination. Hostels usually cost around $26 per night. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $1 and the most expensive rooms costing about $39. (See hostel prices in Queenstown here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Queenstown.
- $33 for a dorm bed at Nomads Queenstown
- $39 for a dorm bed at Adventure Queenstown Hostel
- $23 for a dorm bed at Absoloot Hostel Queenstown
Are hotels expensive in Queenstown?
Hotel prices in Queenstown are very expensive compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $222 per night for a room on average. There are around 21 five star hotels in the city and they average $539 per night. Three star hotels average $195 a night and two star hotels average $20 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Queenstown
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 21 | $539 |
| 4 stars | 52 | $205 |
| 3 stars | 29 | $195 |
| 2 stars | 5 | $20 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Queenstown?
Activities and things to do in Queenstown 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 $22 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is less than the country's average of $36.
- Guided eBike Tour 'Ride to the Sky': $124
- Half-Day Queenstown Photography Tour: $231
- Highlands Taxi - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $90
- Mustang V8 U-Drive - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $240
- Private Tour Half Day Queenstown and Beyond Photography Tour: $149
- Private Half Day Photography Tour of Queenstown | Skippers | Glenorchy: $219
- Queenstown Hop-on Hop-off Evening Beer Tour: $54
- Queenstown Highlights - Half Day Tour - Arrowtown, Winery, Bungy, Local Sites: $78
Is food expensive in Queenstown?
Food in Queenstown can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $36 on food per person per day, which is more 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.
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $115
- Queenstown: Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $18
Is transportation expensive in Queenstown?
Local transportation in Queenstown can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $10 on local transportation per person per day, which is less 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 Queenstown
If you're planning a trip to Queenstown, 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.