Which place is cheaper, Hofn or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Wellington or Hofn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington or Hofn? 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: Wellington or Hofn?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
Hofn
Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland.
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Wellington Prices
New Zealand PricesHofn Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $124Hofn $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $124, while the average daily cost in Hofn is $207. 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 Wellington and Hofn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $60Hofn $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $120Hofn $226
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Hofn
Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Hofn? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Wellington Hotel Prices and Hofn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Hofn $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Hofn?
Prices for flights to both Hofn and Wellington 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
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Food Meals for one dayWellington $51Hofn $73
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wellington $16Hofn $20
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Craft beers & car museum - Half Day Tour incl beverage samples: $99
- Craft beers & car museums - Full Day Tour incl beverage samples: $168
- Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour : $53
- From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $108
- From Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour: $289
- From Martinborough Winery Tour: $111
- From Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Tour: $127
- Full Day Guided Wellington Tour including Cable Car: $150
- Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $177
- Full Day Tour of Wellington: $177
Tours and Activities in Hofn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.
- 3 Hours Blue Ice Experience in Vatnajokull : $214
- Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $203
- Crystal Ice Cave Tour from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: $182
- Frozen Wonders : Small Group Ice Cave Tour: $200
- Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $157
- Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
- Sindri’s Ice Cave Photography Tour: A Local’s Perspective: $215
- The Orignal Ice Cave Tour in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWellington $12Hofn $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and Hofn, we can see that Hofn is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific and Hofn is in Europe, 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 Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington 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 Hofn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hofn than you might in Wellington.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wellington Expensive? and Is Hofn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Hofn?
Wellington has a larger population, and is about 230 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Hofn, 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 Wellington or Hofn?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Hofn has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Wellington or Hofn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Hofn. Many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Wellington is much warmer than Hofn in the summer. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Hofn fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
In January, Wellington usually receives less rain than Hofnin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyWellington 18°C (64°F)Hofn 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Hofn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Hofn. Many visitors come to Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Hofn can be very cold during autumn. In the autumn, Wellington is much warmer than Hofn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wellington in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Hofn averages at about 4°C (40°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Hofn. Wellington usually gets less rain in April than Hofnin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberWellington 15°C (58°F)Hofn 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Hofn in the Winter?
Both Hofn and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In July, Wellington is generally much warmer than Hofnin January. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 10°C (49°F), and Hofn fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hofn. It's quite rainy in Wellington. In July, Wellington usually receives less rain than Hofnin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryWellington 10°C (49°F)Hofn -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Hofn in the Spring?
Both Hofn and Wellington during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches.
It's quite cold in Hofn in the spring. Wellington is much warmer than Hofn in the spring. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Hofn fluctuates around 2°C (36°F)in April.
Wellington usually gets more rain in October than Hofnin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilWellington 13°C (55°F)Hofn 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Hofn and Wellington
| Wellington | Hofn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
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.