Is New Zealand really as expensive as people say?
Yes, New Zealand can be expensive, especially once transport, accommodation, fuel, ferries and activities are added. The trick is not pretending it is cheap; it is spending on the parts that actually make the trip.
Answer
New Zealand’s cost problem is not one shocking bill; it is the way ordinary trip parts stack up. A rental car or campervan, fuel, accommodation, groceries, ferries, paid activities and remote-region logistics can make even a simple-looking itinerary feel expensive. That does not mean the country is poor value. Many of the best moments are free or low-cost once you are there: walks, lakes, roads, coastlines, small towns and weather clearing over mountains. The planning question is where paid convenience genuinely improves the trip. Spend on the vehicle, base or activity that unlocks the route; be less sentimental about stops added only because the map looks empty.