Haha, I just got back from a three-week trip to New Zealand in March, and now that I’m sitting here calculating the costs, I’m actually pretty shocked, guys 😅

Actually, at first I thought around 2,000–2,500 USD would be enough, but in the end I ended up spending 3,200 USD. I’ll share the details here for everyone’s reference~

Flight from Seoul: Jetstar round-trip to Auckland: $850; Domestic flights Auckland–Christchurch–Auckland: $280; Total: $1,130 (quite expensive since I booked so close to the departure date)

Accommodation: A mix of hostels and Airbnb: $65/night on average × 21 nights = $1,365 (The most expensive was in Auckland at $90/night; in Queenstown, it was also $80+)

Vehicles: 18-day car rental: $720 (full insurance included) Gas: $180 Wellington–Picton ferry: $65

Food: Groceries + cooking: $25/day; Occasional dining out: $15/day; Total: $840

Activities: Milford Sound tour: $85; Skydiving in Queenstown: $320; Rotorua geothermal tour: $45; Franz Josef Glacier walk: $35; Bay of Islands tour: $65; Total: $550

Overall, New Zealand really isn’t cheap at all. Food is ridiculously expensive, and even the supermarkets are twice as expensive as in South Korea. But the beautiful scenery is definitely worth it!

Here are a few tips based on my experience: - Book your accommodations early, especially in Queenstown and Auckland. - When renting a car, be sure to choose full insurance—there are many mountain roads. - Pak'nSave has the cheapest groceries. - You absolutely must visit Milford Sound—it’s breathtakingly beautiful!

If anyone is planning a trip to New Zealand, feel free to ask me—I’d be happy to share a more detailed itinerary~ 😊