A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Auckland for Nightlife, Beaches, Food, and Families

Should you visit Phuket or Auckland?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Auckland, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Phuket

Phuket is a stunning, activity-filled, and energetic resort island. Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and nightlife. See Phuket travel costs.

Auckland

Auckland is a thrill-seeking, cosmopolitan , and adventurous city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Auckland travel costs.

Phuket and Auckland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Auckland?

You'll generally find more things to do in Auckland than Phuket. Auckland is bigger than Phuket, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Auckland is better known for its museums and attractions, hiking, shopping, and big city activities, while Phuket is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty. Phuket is more touristy than Auckland and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Auckland is well known for its waterfront setting, diverse beaches, and active and adrenaline-filled environment. Also, Auckland is famous for the Sky Tower.

How is Phuket different from Auckland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Auckland and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Auckland?

Auckland is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Auckland can be an interesting and educational experience. The waterfront is filled with sights for tourists, and many of the city's attractions are geared towards thrill seekers. The Sky Tower is a popular landmark with its Sky Walk and Sky Jump. There are also many thrilling experiences that you can have along the Harbour Bridge. For museums, head to the New Zealand Maritime Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery, or the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Auckland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Phuket and Auckland can be difficult as they are each excellent in their own way.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Phuket. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Auckland has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city has a diverse selection of restaurants, but you'll also find many places that highlight local ingredients such as seafood and lamb. You'll often find the standard dishes such as fish and chips, oysters, and green-lipped mussels on the menus.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Auckland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Phuket is a world class party destination. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

The people in Auckland know how to have a good time. The city has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and there are many bars and clubs that you can explore in the evening. Some of the best nightlife options are found in the vibrant Britomart precinct and around the trendy Ponsonby Road. Other popular areas include Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Resorts?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, Auckland is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Phuket is a perfect choice. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Auckland is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is an excellent place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Auckland is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Auckland is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Beaches?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for the beach. Also, Auckland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

With world-famous beaches, Phuket is a very popular vacation destination. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Auckland. You don't have to head too far from the city to find some impressive beaches that are diverse and beautiful. There are beaches that are secluded and private as well as more lively beaches with all of the amenities and activities that you might want.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Hiking?

Auckland is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Auckland has hiking trails worth exploring. Locals love to get outdoors, and you'll find many local hikes in the area. There are easy paths that are family-friendly and perfect for a stroll, as well as longer stretches that present more of a challenge.

Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Auckland?

Auckland is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Auckland is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city centre is cosmopolitan and full of diverse shopping venues that sell international brands as well as local designers. Some of the most popular shopping areas are Britomart, High Street, and Queen Street.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Is Phuket or Auckland More Beautiful?

Phuket is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Auckland is not a destination known for its beauty.

Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Auckland is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Families?

Auckland is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Auckland is a very kid-friendly city. There's a big focus on getting kids outside in the city, so you'll find many outdoor parks and play spaces. Popular activities for families include visiting the Huia Lodge Discovery Centre, going to the Museum of Transport and Technology, and wandering through the botanical garden.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Couples?

Phuket and Auckland are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Phuket frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Auckland is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. There are many romantic restaurants in the city, as well as spas, cocktail bars, and evening venues. Couples will also enjoy one of the many thrill-seeking activities that New Zealand is famous for.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Auckland is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Auckland is a great city to visit for backpackers. Auckland is high on many backpackers' wish list, and usually they pass through the city at some point during their trip. You'll find a number of hostels in the city that are perfect for socializing and saving money.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Students?

Auckland is a great destination for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Auckland is a great city to visit as a student. Some of the country's best universities are found in the city, many of which are popular with international students.

Phuket is not popular with students.

Is Phuket or Auckland Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Phuket and Auckland.

You'll find some public transit in Phuket, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

While Auckland offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a mishmash of different public transit options, and trips often include a variety of modes of transport. In the city you'll find ferries, trains, and buses to help you get around.

Is Phuket or Auckland a more walkable city?

Phuket is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Auckland is lacking in options for its ease of walking around.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

Auckland is generally not very walkable. It is a very car-centric city and it can be challenging to explore on foot alone.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Auckland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Auckland or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Auckland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Phuket and Auckland. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Phuket than in Auckland. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-3 days is enough time in Auckland.

Families should spend more time in Auckland than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Auckland, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Phuket than Auckland. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Phuket that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Auckland than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Auckland.

One day in Phuket or Auckland?

The resort island of Phuket offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Auckland is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Auckland?

Phuket is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Auckland is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Auckland?

Phuket is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Phuket, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Auckland. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Auckland?

Phuket is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Phuket has to offer. This resort island offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the thrill-seeking big city of Auckland. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia and Auckland 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland than you might in Phuket.

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

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Auckland?

Auckland has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Auckland, 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.

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Auckland?

Auckland has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Auckland in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Auckland. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Auckland because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Phuket is a little warmer than Auckland in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Auckland fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Auckland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Aucklandin January. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auckland receives 240 hours of full sun.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Aucklandin January. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Auckland in the Autumn?

Both Auckland and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Auckland this time of year.

In the autumn, Phuket is much warmer than Auckland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Auckland averages at about 16°C (61°F)in April.

Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Auckland during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Auckland receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Aucklandin April. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Should I visit Phuket or Auckland in the Winter?

Both Auckland and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Auckland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Phuket is generally much warmer than Aucklandin July. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Auckland fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Aucklandin July. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auckland receives 141 hours of full sun.

Auckland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Aucklandin July. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or Auckland in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Auckland. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Also, many visitors come to Auckland in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Phuket is much warmer than Auckland in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Auckland fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in October.

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Auckland during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Auckland receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Aucklandin October. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Auckland and Phuket