Cost of Living in Auckland - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,051 (excluding rent), and $2,358 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,568 (excluding rent), and $4,605 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.22 NZ$26.58

$10.96 NZ$19.13

$27.4 NZ$47.84

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 NZ$139

$48.87 NZ$85.3

$122 NZ$213

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 NZ$16.67

$8.35 NZ$14.58

$10.73 NZ$18.74

Cappuccino

$3.5 NZ$6.11

$2.98 NZ$5.21

$4.27 NZ$7.45

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 NZ$4.01

$1.8 NZ$3.14

$3.3 NZ$5.76

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NZ$3.82

$1.77 NZ$3.09

$3.54 NZ$6.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.18 NZ$12.53

$5.38 NZ$9.4

$8.96 NZ$15.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 NZ$12.72

$5.47 NZ$9.54

$8.49 NZ$14.83

Milk (1 liter)

$1.8 NZ$3.15

$1.23 NZ$2.14

$2.44 NZ$4.26

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 NZ$3.61

$1.2 NZ$2.1

$2.99 NZ$5.22

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.42

$1.2 NZ$2.09

$2.98 NZ$5.2

Eggs

$6.87 NZ$11.99

$4.26 NZ$7.44

$8.77 NZ$15.31

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 NZ$15.6

$5.58 NZ$9.75

$12.4 NZ$21.65

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 NZ$16.84

$6.08 NZ$10.61

$12.15 NZ$21.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.13 NZ$22.93

$7.92 NZ$13.83

$17.05 NZ$29.77

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 NZ$4.94

$1.79 NZ$3.13

$4.18 NZ$7.29

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 NZ$3.81

$1.76 NZ$3.08

$2.93 NZ$5.12

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 NZ$5.67

$2.38 NZ$4.16

$4.76 NZ$8.31

Tomato (1kg)

$4.21 NZ$7.34

$2.16 NZ$3.78

$6.19 NZ$10.8

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 NZ$3.6

$1.23 NZ$2.15

$3.68 NZ$6.43

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 NZ$2.88

$0.95 NZ$1.65

$2.38 NZ$4.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 NZ$3.42

$1.23 NZ$2.15

$3.06 NZ$5.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 NZ$2.16

$0.59 NZ$1.03

$2.37 NZ$4.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.78 NZ$45.01

$22.09 NZ$38.58

$30.68 NZ$53.6

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 NZ$19.83

$8.52 NZ$14.88

$14.2 NZ$24.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 NZ$5.39

$1.6 NZ$2.79

$6.21 NZ$10.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 NZ$6.7

$1.79 NZ$3.13

$7.16 NZ$12.51

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 NZ$4.92

$1.84 NZ$3.22

$3.69 NZ$6.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 NZ$225

$120 NZ$209

$138 NZ$240

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 NZ$3.62

$1.78 NZ$3.11

$2.96 NZ$5.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2 NZ$3.49

$1.54 NZ$2.69

$3.89 NZ$6.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.77 NZ$62.5

$30.58 NZ$53.4

$36.69 NZ$64.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 NZ$2.86

$1.49 NZ$2.6

$1.75 NZ$3.06

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K NZ$48.5K

$23.6K NZ$41.3K

$31.9K NZ$55.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K NZ$38.1K

$20.8K NZ$36.3K

$22.6K NZ$39.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 NZ$251

$97.1 NZ$169

$211 NZ$368

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.25 NZ$52.8

$11.97 NZ$20.9

$47.87 NZ$83.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.01 NZ$83.8

$38.55 NZ$67.3

$64.7 NZ$113

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.66 NZ$62.3

$12.02 NZ$20.98

$72.1 NZ$126

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 NZ$29.38

$12.24 NZ$21.37

$21.41 NZ$37.39

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 NZ$26.6

$10.36 NZ$18.09

$18.28 NZ$31.93

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$906 NZ$1,583

$797 NZ$1,392

$1,257 NZ$2,195

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K NZ$24K

$12.2K NZ$21.2K

$17K NZ$29.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 NZ$124

$42.72 NZ$74.6

$97.6 NZ$170

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 NZ$88.4

$30.53 NZ$53.3

$73.3 NZ$128

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 NZ$170

$59.7 NZ$104

$119 NZ$208

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 NZ$220

$78.8 NZ$138

$212 NZ$370

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 NZ$2,203

$996 NZ$1,740

$1,661 NZ$2,899

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 NZ$2,010

$853 NZ$1,490

$1,524 NZ$2,661

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,439 NZ$4,258

$1,881 NZ$3,284

$3,114 NZ$5,437

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 NZ$3,197

$1,544 NZ$2,697

$2,140 NZ$3,737

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,475 NZ$11.3K

$5,238 NZ$9,146

$7,897 NZ$13.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,456 NZ$9,526

$4,261 NZ$7,440

$8,410 NZ$14.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,121 NZ$5,449

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 24, 2025

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Cost of Living in Auckland - Frequently Asked Questions

Auckland offers a cosmopolitan setup with varied options, from quiet coastal suburbs to vibrant inner-city neighborhoods. You'll find a mix of established apartments and family homes, and costs reflect location, lifestyle, and transport access more than a single rate. For many, lifestyle amenities - coffee culture, parks, trails, and easy access to nature - offset higher rents compared with smaller towns. Housing remains the main budget driver, while groceries and dining sit mid-to-high relative to regional peers. For a quick snapshot, consider the Cost of Living in Auckland and how it aligns with your visa status, work pattern, and weekend plans. Tip: map commute times before choosing a base.

In daily life, you'll likely balance a flexible work setup with a mix of urban and walkable neighborhoods. Start your housing search in neighborhoods that suit your pace - central, river, or coast - and use short-term rentals to test areas. Food options range from fresh markets to diverse eateries; cooking at home helps control costs, while coffee breaks offer easy social glue. Public transport is practical, with trains and buses linking key hubs, though some rideshare options simplify errands. Auckland living cost is influenced by location, season, and personal habits; plan grocery trips and peak-traffic times to save time and money. Tip: try a two-week trial in a neighborhood before committing.

A practical budgeting framework helps you balance housing, groceries, and play. Start with a flexible rent plan - look for leases with renewal options and utilities included to avoid spikes. Build a monthly split: housing, groceries, transport, and local activities, then add a buffer for leisure, gear, or travel. Seasonality matters: summers may bring higher energy use for cooling and more outdoor events; winters can favor walking and public transit with occasional rain. Neighborhood fit matters too - aim for a base near groceries, cafes, and a transit line to minimize extra trips. Tip: rotate weekend rituals across neighborhoods to spread costs and keep life fresh.