Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Palmerston North Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Palmerston North

😐 Solo nomad: Auckland is 12.9% more expensive than Palmerston North without rent, and 41.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Auckland is 13.3% more expensive than Palmerston North without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02 NZ$24.78
$16.86 NZ$27.81
-10.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 NZ$132
$72.1 NZ$119
10.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 NZ$16.1
$12.27 NZ$20.23
-20.46%
Cappuccino
$3.54 NZ$5.83
$3.44 NZ$5.67
2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 NZ$3.75
$2.37 NZ$3.91
-4.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.59
$2.08 NZ$3.43
4.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 NZ$11.8
$7.32 NZ$12.07
-2.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 NZ$12.1
$6.32 NZ$10.42
16.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 NZ$2.87
$1.92 NZ$3.16
-9.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.1 NZ$3.46
$2.05 NZ$3.39
2.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 NZ$3.33
$1.81 NZ$2.99
11.60%
Eggs
$6.69 NZ$11.03
$5.41 NZ$8.92
23.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 NZ$14.2
$8.35 NZ$13.77
3.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.66 NZ$15.94
$9.37 NZ$15.46
3.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.97 NZ$21.39
$12.3 NZ$20.28
5.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 NZ$4.67
$2.52 NZ$4.16
12.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 NZ$3.74
$1.81 NZ$2.99
25.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 NZ$5.3
$2.56 NZ$4.22
25.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 NZ$6.64
$3.41 NZ$5.63
18.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2 NZ$3.31
$2.17 NZ$3.57
-7.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 NZ$2.69
$2.18 NZ$3.59
-25.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$2.14 NZ$3.53
-9.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 NZ$2.12
$1 NZ$1.66
29.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.57 NZ$42.17
$20.09 NZ$33.14
27.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.73 NZ$19.34
$8.77 NZ$14.47
33.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 NZ$4.82
$2.46 NZ$4.06
18.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 NZ$6.45
$5.25 NZ$8.66
-25.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 NZ$4.5
$4.64 NZ$7.65
-41.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$129 NZ$213
$30.49 NZ$50.3
322.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 NZ$3.43
$2.36 NZ$3.89
-11.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NZ$3.16
$1.8 NZ$2.97
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.83 NZ$57.5
$17.23 NZ$28.42
102.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.71
$1.65 NZ$2.73
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K NZ$47K
$18.8K NZ$31K
51.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K NZ$36K
$21.6K NZ$35.7K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 NZ$241
$89.5 NZ$148
63.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.75 NZ$50.7
$38 NZ$62.7
-19.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.23 NZ$81.2
$48.26 NZ$79.6
2.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.1 NZ$57.9
$35 NZ$57.7
0.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.78 NZ$27.67
$12.95 NZ$21.37
29.58%
Cinema Ticket
$15.31 NZ$25.24
$8.9 NZ$14.68
72.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 NZ$1,512
$999 NZ$1,648
-8.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K NZ$22.4K
$6,262 NZ$10.3K
116.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2 NZ$116
$56.2 NZ$92.7
24.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.41 NZ$81.5
$38.3 NZ$63.2
29.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 NZ$160
$92.6 NZ$153
4.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 NZ$207
$93.4 NZ$154
34.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 NZ$2,101
$836 NZ$1,379
52.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 NZ$1,900
$695 NZ$1,146
65.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,492 NZ$4,110
$1,565 NZ$2,581
59.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,853 NZ$3,056
$1,386 NZ$2,286
33.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,281 NZ$12K
$2,102 NZ$3,466
246.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,886 NZ$9,708
$2,444 NZ$4,032
140.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Auckland
Palmerston North
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,219 NZ$5,309
$2,487 NZ$4,101
29.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.69
-4.78%

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

Last update for Auckland: October 27, 2025

Last update for Palmerston North: October 29, 2025

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