Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Lower Hutt Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Lower Hutt

😐 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 8.8% more expensive than Lower Hutt without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Christchurch is 11.1% cheaper than Lower Hutt without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.56 NZ$27.32
$17.65 NZ$29.11
-6.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 NZ$118
$85 NZ$140
-15.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 NZ$15.53
$10.75 NZ$17.73
-12.47%
Cappuccino
$3.34 NZ$5.52
$3.64 NZ$6.01
-8.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 NZ$3.8
$2.41 NZ$3.98
-4.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NZ$3.34
$2.26 NZ$3.73
-10.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.31 NZ$12.06
$7.43 NZ$12.26
-1.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 NZ$11.87
$6.44 NZ$10.63
11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 NZ$3.16
$1.87 NZ$3.09
2.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$2.11 NZ$3.47
-8.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 NZ$2.85
$1.9 NZ$3.13
-8.95%
Eggs
$6.26 NZ$10.33
$7.04 NZ$11.61
-11.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.18 NZ$13.48
$8.44 NZ$13.91
-3.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 NZ$15.91
$9.18 NZ$15.14
5.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 NZ$21.17
$13.11 NZ$21.62
-2.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.04
$2.48 NZ$4.09
23.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 NZ$4.46
$2.1 NZ$3.46
29.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 NZ$4.87
$2.63 NZ$4.33
12.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NZ$9.11
$4.84 NZ$7.98
14.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 NZ$3.54
$1.99 NZ$3.28
8.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.64
$1.78 NZ$2.93
24.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NZ$4.91
$2.24 NZ$3.7
33.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NZ$2.4
$1.29 NZ$2.12
12.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 NZ$39.02
$21.82 NZ$35.99
8.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$14.72
$9.62 NZ$15.87
-7.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NZ$6.29
$3.67 NZ$6.05
4.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 NZ$8
$3.15 NZ$5.2
53.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 NZ$2.05
$2.64 NZ$4.35
-53.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.94 NZ$69.2
$60.2 NZ$99.2
-30.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 NZ$4.34
$2.66 NZ$4.38
-1.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 NZ$2.7
$1.85 NZ$3.05
-11.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.26 NZ$49.91
$60.9 NZ$100
-50.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.81
$1.72 NZ$2.84
-0.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K NZ$44.5K
$28.2K NZ$46.5K
-4.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K NZ$33K
$24.9K NZ$41.1K
-19.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NZ$191
$160 NZ$264
-27.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.15 NZ$53
$37.37 NZ$61.6
-13.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 NZ$86.8
$52 NZ$85.8
1.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 NZ$57.1
$41.15 NZ$67.9
-15.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 NZ$25.51
$12.07 NZ$19.91
28.17%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 NZ$17.83
$10.9 NZ$17.97
-0.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$653 NZ$1,077
$732 NZ$1,207
-10.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
$11.7K NZ$19.3K
-21.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64 NZ$105
$73 NZ$120
-12.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 NZ$71.1
$58.3 NZ$96.2
-26.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 NZ$150
$116 NZ$192
-22.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NZ$247
$141 NZ$232
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 NZ$2,534
$1,374 NZ$2,267
11.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 NZ$1,911
$1,106 NZ$1,825
4.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 NZ$3,395
$2,328 NZ$3,839
-11.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 NZ$2,453
$1,657 NZ$2,732
-10.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,194 NZ$6,918
$6,755 NZ$11.1K
-37.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,361 NZ$5,543
$5,110 NZ$8,427
-34.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
Lower Hutt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,736 NZ$4,512
$3,394 NZ$5,598
-19.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
6.94
-2.88%

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

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

Last update for Lower Hutt: October 28, 2025

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