Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tiger Leaping Gorge or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tiger Leaping Gorge and Aoraki Mount Cook. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
Aoraki Mount Cook
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.
-
Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
China PricesAoraki Mount Cook Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiger Leaping Gorge $54Aoraki Mount Cook $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $124. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiger Leaping Gorge $13Aoraki Mount Cook $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiger Leaping Gorge $26Aoraki Mount Cook $118
Compare Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge and Aoraki Mount Cook
Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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.
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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tiger Leaping Gorge $17Aoraki Mount Cook $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiger Leaping Gorge or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook and Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 dayTiger Leaping Gorge $28Aoraki Mount Cook $46
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiger Leaping Gorge $15Aoraki Mount Cook $23
Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.
- Moeraki Boulders Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Gibbston Valley Wines - Cave Tour : $17
- Guided Tour with Cheese & Wine Pairing: $21
- Twizel Stargazing Experience with a Guide (Carbon Positive): $59
- Half-Day Self-Guided Ride and Wine Bike Tour from Arrowtown: $59
- Queenstown Sightseeing Tour: Highlights of Queenstown: $89
- Tekapo to Mt. Cook National Park Day Tour with Driver: $97
- Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo Small Group Tour (one-way): $98
- Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $107
- Mt Cook to Queenstown Small Group Tour (One-Way): $107
- Day Tours from Mount Cook: $119
- Mt Cook Small Group Scenic Day Tour from Queenstown: $149
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiger Leaping Gorge $6.46Aoraki Mount Cook $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:
- Kinross Winery: Classic Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $15
- Gibbston Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided Audio Tour: $24
- Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiger Leaping Gorge and Aoraki Mount Cook, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiger Leaping Gorge is in Asia and Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Aoraki Mount Cook would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aoraki Mount Cook than you might in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive? and Is Aoraki Mount Cook Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.