A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hefei vs. Queenstown for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hefei or Queenstown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Hefei or Queenstown? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Hefei or Queenstown?

Hefei

While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.

Queenstown

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Queenstown or Hefei?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hefei is $78, while the average daily cost in Queenstown is $130. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hefei and Queenstown in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hefei $29
    Queenstown $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hefei $58
    Queenstown $110
Compare Hotels in Hefei and Queenstown

Looking for a hotel in Hefei or Queenstown? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Hefei


Hotels in Queenstown


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Queenstown Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hefei $17
    Queenstown $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:

  • From Cardrona Ski/Snowboard Rentals & Transfer: $152
  • Private Airport Transfer Vice Versa in Queenstown by SUV: $69
  • Private Transfers from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka : $177
  • QUEENSTOWN:Private 1 way Airport transfer to/from CBD Hotels: $52
  • Queenstown Airport to/from Wanaka Hassle Free Private Transfer : $101
  • Queenstown International Airport to City Hotels Transfer : $90
  • Queenstown private transfer: $87
  • Queenstown to Mt Cook One Way Scenic Transfer: $115
  • Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $748
  • Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $982
  • ZQN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Hefei or Queenstown?

Prices for flights to both Queenstown and Hefei change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hefei $36
    Queenstown $62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.

  • Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $17
  • Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $119
  • Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!: $135
  • Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch: $138

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hefei $19
    Queenstown $21

Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:


  • Skyline Gondola (for 2)
    $30

Tours and Activities in Queenstown

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:

  • Underwater Theatre Experience Entry Ticket: $12
  • Augmented Reality Escape Adventure: $20
  • Fear Factory Haunted House Admission Ticket: $23
  • Private Race Car Simulation Experience: $26
  • Minus 5 Ice Bar Experience with Drink Options: $29
  • Go Karts - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $32
  • Kiwi Park Admission Ticket: $35
  • Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise: $40
  • Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes): $41
  • Scenic Queenstown Lake Cruise : $41
  • Glenorchy Kiwi Special Tour : $53
  • Self-Guided Gibbston Valley Wineries Bike Tour: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hefei $11
    Queenstown $8.86

Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:

  • Ice Bar Crawl: $23
  • Queenstown, Arrowtown, Gibbston: Join the Only Flexible Wine Tour: $53
  • Bike & Wine Tour: Arrowtown to Valley of the Vines: $69
  • Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $75
  • Craft Beer Brewery Tour with Lunch: $107
  • Queenstown's Original Wine Tour Celebrating 33 Years: $113
  • Classic Wine Tour: $127
  • Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese: $131
  • Central Otago Wine Tour: $132
  • Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries: $137
  • Wine Tasting Tour: $144
  • Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $149


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hefei and Queenstown, we can see that Queenstown is more expensive. And not only is Hefei much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hefei is in Asia and Queenstown is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hefei would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hefei and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown than you might in Hefei.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hefei Expensive? and Is Queenstown Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hefei or Queenstown?

Hefei has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Queenstown. When comparing the sizes of Hefei and Queenstown, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.