Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Invercargill Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Invercargill

😐 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 18.2% more expensive than Invercargill without rent, and 43.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Christchurch is 0.7% more expensive than Invercargill without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.56 NZ$27.32
$12.2 NZ$20.13
35.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 NZ$118
$72 NZ$119
-0.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 NZ$15.53
$8.59 NZ$14.16
9.55%
Cappuccino
$3.34 NZ$5.52
$3.51 NZ$5.79
-4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 NZ$3.8
$1.73 NZ$2.86
32.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NZ$3.34
$1.46 NZ$2.41
39.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.31 NZ$12.06
$5.93 NZ$9.79
23.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 NZ$11.87
$4.84 NZ$7.99
48.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 NZ$3.16
$1.49 NZ$2.46
28.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$1.73 NZ$2.86
12.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 NZ$2.85
$1.76 NZ$2.91
-1.70%
Eggs
$6.26 NZ$10.33
$5.7 NZ$9.4
9.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.18 NZ$13.48
$8.17 NZ$13.48
0.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 NZ$15.91
$9.38 NZ$15.48
2.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 NZ$21.17
$13.31 NZ$21.95
-3.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.04
$2.84 NZ$4.69
7.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 NZ$4.46
$2.27 NZ$3.74
19.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 NZ$4.87
$2.57 NZ$4.24
14.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NZ$9.11
$3.66 NZ$6.03
50.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 NZ$3.54
$2 NZ$3.29
7.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.64
$1.78 NZ$2.93
24.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NZ$4.91
$2.48 NZ$4.09
20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NZ$2.4
$1.07 NZ$1.77
35.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 NZ$39.02
$21.97 NZ$36.23
7.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$14.72
$8.55 NZ$14.1
4.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NZ$6.29
$4.06 NZ$6.69
-5.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 NZ$8
$3.66 NZ$6.03
32.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 NZ$2.05
$1.6 NZ$2.63
-22.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.94 NZ$69.2
$63.2 NZ$104
-33.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 NZ$4.34
$2.35 NZ$3.88
11.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 NZ$2.7
$1.95 NZ$3.21
-15.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.26 NZ$49.91
$30.23 NZ$49.86
0.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.81
$1.63 NZ$2.69
4.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K NZ$44.5K
$25.5K NZ$42.1K
5.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K NZ$33K
$20.2K NZ$33.3K
-1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NZ$191
$101 NZ$167
14.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.15 NZ$53
$35.1 NZ$57.9
-8.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 NZ$86.8
$49.5 NZ$81.7
6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 NZ$57.1
$29.19 NZ$48.15
18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 NZ$25.51
$11.93 NZ$19.67
29.67%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 NZ$17.83
$9.71 NZ$16.02
11.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$653 NZ$1,077
$584 NZ$963
11.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
-24.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64 NZ$105
$65.6 NZ$108
-2.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 NZ$71.1
$35.5 NZ$58.6
21.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 NZ$150
$82 NZ$135
10.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NZ$247
$83.9 NZ$138
78.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 NZ$2,534
$649 NZ$1,071
136.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 NZ$1,911
$586 NZ$966
97.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 NZ$3,395
$873 NZ$1,439
135.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 NZ$2,453
$1,081 NZ$1,783
37.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,194 NZ$6,918
$5,707 NZ$9,413
-26.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,361 NZ$5,543
$3,429 NZ$5,655
-1.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
Invercargill
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,736 NZ$4,512
$2,804 NZ$4,624
-2.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
6.87
-1.89%

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

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

Last update for Invercargill: October 28, 2025

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