Wellington budget calculator
Estimate your daily costs based on travel style, duration and planned day trips. All prices in NZD, with an approximate USD total.
Estimated budget
How much does a Wellington trip cost?
Wellington is a compact, walkable capital, which keeps daily costs reasonable once you're in the city — most attractions are within a 15-30 minute walk of the CBD, so you can skip taxis entirely for city days. Budget travelers can get by on around NZD 100-150 per person per day (hostel dorms, supermarket meals, walking or a Snapper card), mid-range travelers should plan for NZD 250-350 per person per day (3-4 star hotel, casual dining, Te Papa is free), and luxury travelers can expect NZD 600-1,000+ per day.
The biggest single variables are day trips — a Martinborough wine day (1h15 drive each way) or a Kāpiti Island guided tour (50 min drive plus a boat crossing) both add real cost, and the Cook Strait ferry to Picton (NZD 55-220 depending on class and season) turns your trip into a South Island gateway if you factor it in. A Metlink Snapper card is worth getting on arrival — it discounts bus, train and cable car fares across the region.