Budget · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch on a budget
What a trip to Christchurch really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Palmer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Christchurch is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $70–$120 per person per day on a tight budget, $170–$300 mid-range and $400–$900 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–September.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $70–$120 a day
- Mid-range
- $170–$300 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$900 a day
- Local currency
- NZD
- Free sights
- 10
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $70–$120 | $210–$360 | $350–$600 | $490–$840 |
| Mid-range | $170–$300 | $510–$900 | $850–$1,500 | $1,190–$2,100 |
| Luxury | $400–$900 | $1,200–$2,700 | $2,000–$4,500 | $2,800–$6,300 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Christchurch, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Flat white | about NZ$5–6.50 |
| Mince and cheese pie | about NZ$6–8 |
| Café brunch | about NZ$22–32 |
| Pint of craft beer | about NZ$10–14 |
| Restaurant main course | about NZ$30–45 |
| Major attraction ticket | about NZ$35–70 |
| Motel double room | about NZ$150–220 |
Money-saving tips
- The Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park, the Art Gallery, the Air Force Museum, Tūranga and the beaches are free.
- Use a Metrocard rather than cash on buses, and take the Diamond Harbour ferry from Lyttelton as a low-cost harbour cruise.
- Motels with kitchens in Riccarton and Merivale let you cook from supermarkets and farmers' markets.
- Visit from May to September for lower accommodation prices, avoiding school holidays.
- Book hire cars and the TranzAlpine early for summer; prices rise sharply close to travel dates.
- Accommodation prices rise during Cup and Show Week in November and major events.
Free things to do
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens — Founded in 1863 inside a loop of the Avon River, the 21-hectare gardens include a heritage rose garden, a New Zealand plants section, glasshouses and some of the country's largest exotic trees.
- Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū — The city's public art gallery, behind a curving glass facade completed in 2003, holds New Zealand art from colonial painting to contemporary Māori and Pacific work, alongside changing exhibitions.
- Transitional Cathedral — Designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and opened in 2013, the 'Cardboard Cathedral' replaced the earthquake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral as the city's Anglican cathedral.
- New Regent Street and the heritage tram — Built in the early 1930s, this short pedestrian street of pastel Spanish Mission-style shopfronts survived the earthquakes and is now lined with cafés and small shops.
- Tūranga central library — Opened in 2018 on Cathedral Square, the five-floor library has a striking facade of fins inspired by Ngāi Tahu stories, a large children's area, digital and maker spaces, and views over the square from the upper floors.
- Margaret Mahy Family Playground — Opened in 2015 on the Avon riverbank and named after the Christchurch children's author, this is one of the largest playgrounds in the Southern Hemisphere, with a giant slide tower, water play, climbing nets and flying fox.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for budget, families and shopping
Riccarton
Motels, Asian eateries and a big mall west of Hagley Park
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Addington
Former industrial area with event venues, pubs and motels
$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and solo travellers
Lyttelton
Hilly harbour town with bars, a Saturday market and port views
Eating well for less
- Mince and cheese pie — Bakeries across the city and in towns on the road to Akaroa, Kaikōura and Arthur's Pass.
Getting around for less
Metrocard
A stored-value card for Metro buses and the Diamond Harbour ferry with lower fares than cash and daily and weekly fare caps.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Christchurch cost?
About $850–$1,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $350–$600 on a tight budget.
+Is Christchurch expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. The Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park, the Art Gallery, the Air Force Museum, Tūranga and the beaches are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Christchurch?
Roughly $70–$120 on a budget and $170–$300 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Christchurch?
Usually in May–September.