Tonga Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Tonga Cost? [2024]

The Cost of Travelling to Tonga + How to Plan a Budget for Tonga

How much does it cost to travel to Tonga? Well, everyone has their own style of travel, from the budgeting backpacker to the family of four. Tonga is not your high-end luxury destination but what it does offer are some once-in-a-lifetime activities that will likely be a larger expense while in the country. Food, accommodation and transport can be extremely affordable if you want it to be, but there’s always the opportunity to splurge a little.

So to give you an idea of the cost of travelling in Tonga, we’ve put together a list of typical prices in Tonga, so you can determine what prices are likely to apply to you. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

Tonga Travel Budget Examples

We can’t stress enough how everyone’s budget will be different for a trip to Tonga. That’s why we strongly encourage you to look at the prices in the below guide to determine what prices apply to your trip so that you can budget more accurately. Regardless, because we know that many of you like the average cost of a trip to Tonga, we have put together an example of a Tonga travel budget.

The Daily Cost of a Trip to Tonga

Here are a few averages for a daily budget for Tonga. This includes accommodation, food and transport and takes into account that you might do one paid activity each day. This does not include flights or anything else not previously mentioned. Each price is per person per day.

Budget daily budget: TOP$250
Mid-range daily budget: TOP$545
Luxury daily budget: TOP$960+

How much does it cost to go to Tonga for one week?

Budget trip – TOP$1,750, Mid-range trip – TOP$3,815, Luxury trip – TOP$6,720+.

How much does it cost to go to Tonga for 10 days?

Budget trip – TOP$2,500, Mid-range trip – TOP$5,450, Luxury trip – TOP$9,600+.

How much does it cost to go to Tonga for two weeks?

Budget trip – TOP$3,500, Mid-range trip – TOP$7,630, Luxury trip – TOP$13,440+.

For more advice on your daily expenses, take a look at How Much Spending Money Do You Need for Tonga?

What is the Cost of Travelling in Tonga?

Typical Costs Before You Arrive in Tonga

There are a few things to think about purchasing in preparation for your trip, from the essential flight ticket to the optional travel insurance.

The Cost of Flights to Tonga

Because travellers to Tonga are coming from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe and beyond, it would be inappropriate to give an average flight cost here. However, you can head over to How to Book a Cheap Flight to Tonga for advice on reducing the cost of your airfare.

The Cost of Visas for Tonga

Note that most tourists will not need to pay for a visa to enter Tonga. Find out more in Do You Need a Visa to Visit Tonga?

The Cost of Items to Pack for Tonga

Finally, you might want to consider making a few purchases for your Tonga wardrobe, as well as getting essential gear like sunscreen or reef shoes if you’re heading out to the islands. Check out The Complete Packing List for Tonga for more advice.

The Cost of Accommodation in Tonga

Accommodation is available in Tonga, ranging from budget guesthouses to four-star resorts. Check out our complete Accommodation category to browse the type of accommodation available in Tonga.

Here are your typical accommodation costs in Tonga. Note that these prices do not include any compulsory meal plans and boat transfers that might be offered at some remote island resorts.

Accommodation Prices in Tonga

Dorm bed/night – TOP$40-$70
Guesthouse double room/night – TOP$70-$90
Guesthouse double ensuite/night – TOP$100-$120
Guesthouse family room/night – TOP$120-$200
3-star hotel double ensuite/night – TOP$240-$360
4-star hotel double ensuite/night – TOP$400-$600
Budget resort fale double room/night – TOP$80-$150
3/4-star resort fale double room/night – TOP$250-$1,200
Resort fale family room/night – TOP$290-$1,200
Sailing charter/night – TOP$1,860.

Take a look at Where to Stay in Tonga: The Best Accommodations in Tonga to start finding a place to stay categorised by budget.

The Cost of Food in Tonga

Food prices in restaurants are fairly even across the country, with the cheaper grocery prices in Tongatapu, cheap dining in ‘Eua and Ha’apai, and the most expensive restaurants in Vava’u. Self-catering is an option in each island group’s main town, while those staying at island resorts often will only have little choice but to eat at the resort.

See a quick rundown below or head over to The Cost of Food in Tonga: Restaurant & Grocery Prices for a full cost breakdown.

Restaurant Prices in Tonga

Main breakfast meal – TOP$9-$29
Main lunch meal – TOP$15-$30
Main dinner meal – TOP$22-$60
Dessert – TOP$10-$15
Cultural show and buffet – TOP$50-$100
Pint of beer – TOP$8-$12
Glass of wine – TOP$15.50-$19
Small coffee – TOP$5-$8
Soft drink – TOP$5-$7
Resort meal plan full-board/day – TOP$170-$290.

Supermarket Food Prices in Tonga

1.5 l (50 fl. oz) bottle of water – TOP$2.50
1.5 l (50 fl. oz) box of milk – TOP$3.50-$4.50
1 egg – TOP$1-$1.20
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of rice – TOP$3.50-$4
500 g (1.1 lbs) of pasta – TOP$5-$5.50
A loaf of sliced bread – TOP$1.30-$3.50
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of cheese – TOP$20
50 g (1.7 oz) of dry freeze coffee – TOP$5-$6.50
25 bags of tea – TOP$2.50-$3
Bag of chips – TOP$5-$9
Can of coke – TOP$3
Box of cereal – TOP$7.50-$15
1 kg (2.2 lbs) chicken – TOP$5-$5.50
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of beef mince – TOP$12
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of pork – TOP$15-$17
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of lamb – TOP$18-$20
1 kg (2.2 lbs) of sausages – TOP$15
Bag of fish (4 small/medium) – TOP$50.

Produce Market Prices

Bunch of bananas – TOP$5-$6 (tourists are usually charged around TOP$10 so watch out for this)
Watermelon – TOP$1-$15
Bag of 6-8 papaya – TOP$10
Bag of tomatoes – TOP$5-$10
3 apples – TOP$5
Cucumbers – TOP$5
Bag of onions – TOP$3.

Find out more about shopping for food in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Tonga.

The Cost of Activities in Tonga

A large part of your budget once you arrive in Tonga will be your activities. While there are plenty of free and cheap things to do in Tonga, other activities from whale swimming to cultural shows have a price attached. Note that some resorts also offer free use of non-motorised watersports gear.

See if you can afford your bucket list activities with this list of Samoa’s activity prices (plus, check out what there is to do in the 101 Best Things to Do in Tonga).

Land Activity Prices in Tonga

All activity prices are per person unless stated otherwise.

Guided land sightseeing tour – TOP$100-$300
Guided land sightseeing tour/vehicle – TOP$350-$600
Guided hike– TOP$50-$70 (usually donation)
Culture tour or workshop/3 hours – TOP$20-$75
Botanical garden tour – TOP$150
Cultural show & buffet – TOP$50-$100
‘Anahulu Cave entry – TOP$15
Tonga National Museum entry – TOP$5
Vanilla plantation tour – TOP$20
Horse riding – TOP$60
Massage/60 minutes – TOP$90-$160.

Water Activity Prices in Tonga

All activity prices are per person unless stated otherwise.

Whale swimming tour – TOP$400-$700
Scuba diving/two-tank – TOP$250-$420
Spearfishing and fishing – TOP$150-$370
Game fishing/half-day charter – TOP$2,360-$2,540
Boat sightseeing/snorkelling tour – TOP$150-$200
Pangaimotu Island day trip – TOP$50
Kayak tour/day – TOP$220.

Free Activities

A trip to Tonga also has plenty of attractions and activities to enjoy free of charge! For activities that you can enjoy 100% free, check out the 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Tonga!

The Cost of Transport in Tonga

From road transport to ferries and flights, there are many ways to get around Tonga. While transport in Tonga is quite affordable, the cost mainly depends on how far you are travelling. Discover all of your transport options in the Tonga Transport Guide: 15 Best Ways to Get Around Tonga.

Road Transport Prices

Bicycle rental/day – TOP$0-$35
Scooter rental/day – TOP$50-$55
Car rental/day – TOP$50-$200
Public bus/trip – TOP$0.80-$3.50
Taxi/first kilometre – TOP$3.50-$4.10/
Continuous km – TOP$1.20-1.40/km
Accommodation/airport transfers/person – TOP$0-$100

Water and Air Transport Prices

Ferry/ ‘Eua to Tongatapu – TOP$30
Ha’apai to Tongatapu – TOP$70-$80
Vava’u to Tongatapu – TOP$90-$100
Tongatapu to The Niuas – TOP$150
Vava’u to Ha’apai – TOP$80-$90
Boat charter/ Lifuka to Uoleva – TOP$250
Island resort airport transfer – TOP$50-$200
Flight/Tongatapu to Vava’u – Around TOP$340-$390/adult, TOP$230-$295/child, TOP$35/infant
Tongatapu to Ha’apai – Around TOP$240-$260/adult, TOP$160-$180/child, TOP$25/infant
Tongatapu to ‘Eua – Around TOP$100/adult, TOP$50/child, TOP$10/infant.

The cost of transport is included in each of our guides to specific transportation methods, such as The Cost of Renting a Car in Tonga (including fuel prices), How Much Do Ferries Cost in Tonga? and How Much Do Flights Cost in Tonga?

Tonga Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Tonga Cost? [2023]

The Cost of WiFi, SIM Cards, Credit Card Fees, Toiletries etc.

And for those miscellaneous costs, including phones, WiFi, credit card transaction fees, laundry services and toiletries, here are a few approximate costs that may or may not apply to your holiday.

Phone and Internet Prices

WiFi Voucher/10 Gb – TOP$0-$15
/hour – TOP$0-$5
/400 Mb – TOP$4
SIM Card + Bundle – TOP$30
Portable modem rental – TOP$180

Overseas Bank Card Fee

Overseas card transaction fee – 4-5%
ATM overseas card withdrawal fee – TOP$8-$15

Laundry

Accommodation wash and tumble dry/load – TOP$10-$25
Laundromat/machine – TOP$14-$20.

Toiletries and Pharmaceuticals

Deodorant – TOP$6.50-$7.80
Bar of soap – TOP$2.50
Shampoo – TOP$8
Toothpaste – STOP$3.80
Sunscreen (125 ml) – TOP$44-$45
Insect repellent (125 ml) – TOP$22-$23
Sanitary towels/pads (8/9) – TOP$2.50-$7.50.

So, Is Tonga Expensive or Cheap to Visit?

Tonga can be enjoyed on a tight budget but there are certainly opportunities to splurge if you want to. While not as cheap as backpacking in Southeast Asia, Tonga is cheaper than many other South Pacific Islands and arguably cheaper than vacations in New Zealand and Australia.

More About the Cost of Travelling in Tonga

So that’s how much it costs for a trip to Tonga. If you need more budgeting advice, take a look at the following guides:

Finally, plan more of your trip with our itinerary compilations: The Best Tonga Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Tonga Itineraries for a Weekend.

Author

Robin (Lopini) C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with the Ministry of Tourism of Tonga. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

Contact Robin via our contact page