How much things cost in New Zealand

Working out a daily budget for general living expenses is a good way to avoid unexpected surprises. We’ve created the following guide to give you an indication of what you can expect to pay for typical items as well as tips for maximising your budget. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

Sightseeing and activities

If you wish to try iconic activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving and jet boating – or see New Zealand’s glorious landscapes from the air on helicopter or small aircraft flights – factor them in whilst you’re planning. These ‘big’ experiences are worth absolutely every penny, but they can dig a hole in your holiday budget. Don’t forget, we can book many excursions in advance so that you can spread the cost.

One of the best things about New Zealand though is the amount of beautiful places you can explore for free (or very little money) – hikes and bike paths are well marked, drives can be incredibly scenic too.

Eating out and tipping

New Zealand is well known for its food and wine, and gastronomes could easily spend all their time sampling specialities but in remote areas, expect food to be comparatively expensive.

Tipping is completely optional in NZ (although sometimes there will be an additional service charge on a restaurant bill) – that said, if you wish to reward good service, between 5-10% of the bill is normal.

Useful information

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted – American Express less so.