Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Timaru Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Timaru

😐 Solo nomad: Auckland is 1.2% more expensive than Timaru without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Auckland is 16.4% cheaper than Timaru without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.10 NZ$25.67
$15.18 NZ$25.81
-0.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 NZ$134
$78.8 NZ$134
0.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 NZ$16.07
$9.52 NZ$16.18
-0.74%
Cappuccino
$3.52 NZ$5.99
$3.33 NZ$5.66
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 NZ$3.95
$2.15 NZ$3.65
7.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 NZ$3.71
$1.97 NZ$3.36
10.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.10 NZ$12.07
$6.14 NZ$10.44
15.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 NZ$12.00
$5.95 NZ$10.11
18.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 NZ$3.10
$1.64 NZ$2.79
10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 NZ$3.44
$1.96 NZ$3.33
3.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 NZ$3.28
$1.19 NZ$2.02
62.18%
Eggs
$6.83 NZ$11.61
$6.38 NZ$10.84
7.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.91 NZ$15.14
$10.18 NZ$17.30
-12.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.85 NZ$16.74
$10.58 NZ$17.99
-6.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 NZ$21.76
$17.04 NZ$28.97
-24.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 NZ$4.72
$2.51 NZ$4.27
10.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 NZ$3.83
$2.49 NZ$4.23
-9.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 NZ$5.68
$3.08 NZ$5.24
8.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.20 NZ$7.14
$5.76 NZ$9.79
-27.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 NZ$3.55
$2.62 NZ$4.45
-20.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 NZ$2.76
$2.30 NZ$3.91
-29.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 NZ$3.33
$2.94 NZ$4.99
-33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 NZ$2.20
$1.15 NZ$1.95
12.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.40 NZ$43.18
$29.48 NZ$50.1
-13.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.25 NZ$17.43
$7.49 NZ$12.74
36.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 NZ$5.24
$4.85 NZ$8.25
-36.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 NZ$6.44
$7.16 NZ$12.18
-47.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 NZ$4.58
$2.13 NZ$3.63
26.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$128 NZ$218
$65.1 NZ$111
97.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.07 NZ$3.51
$2.77 NZ$4.71
-25.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 NZ$3.24
$1.15 NZ$1.95
66.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.55 NZ$60.4
$31.45 NZ$53.5
13.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.77
$1.67 NZ$2.83
-2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K NZ$47.6K
$29.5K NZ$50.2K
-5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K NZ$37.4K
$17.7K NZ$30.1K
24.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 NZ$240
$187 NZ$319
-24.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.79 NZ$52.3
$24.26 NZ$41.24
26.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.52 NZ$84.2
$59.8 NZ$102
-17.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.66 NZ$60.6
$37.28 NZ$63.4
-4.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.36 NZ$27.80
$12.22 NZ$20.78
33.88%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06 NZ$25.60
$13.03 NZ$22.15
15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$920 NZ$1,564
$497 NZ$844
85.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K NZ$23.6K
$6,932 NZ$11.8K
99.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 NZ$118
$86.7 NZ$147
-19.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.31 NZ$83.8
$49.89 NZ$84.8
-1.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.6 NZ$166
$98.0 NZ$167
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 NZ$209
$282 NZ$480
-56.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,283 NZ$2,181
$973 NZ$1,654
31.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,150 NZ$1,955
$776 NZ$1,319
48.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,450 NZ$4,166
$1,577 NZ$2,681
55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,880 NZ$3,196
$1,442 NZ$2,451
30.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,596 NZ$12.9K
$5,057 NZ$8,596
50.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,334 NZ$9,067
$3,472 NZ$5,902
53.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Auckland
Timaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,207 NZ$5,452
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.74
-5.49%

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

Last update for Auckland: April 12, 2026

Last update for Timaru: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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