Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Nelson Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Nelson

😐 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 2.4% more expensive than Nelson without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Christchurch is 3.9% more expensive than Nelson without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.56 NZ$27.32

$20.86 NZ$34.41

-20.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.4 NZ$118

$85.7 NZ$141

-16.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.41 NZ$15.53

$9.4 NZ$15.5

0.11%

Cappuccino

$3.34 NZ$5.52

$3.17 NZ$5.22

5.36%

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

$2.3 NZ$3.8

$2.66 NZ$4.39

-13.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NZ$3.34

$2.76 NZ$4.56

-26.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.31 NZ$12.06

$7.34 NZ$12.1

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.2 NZ$11.87

$5.95 NZ$9.82

21.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 NZ$3.16

$2.34 NZ$3.86

-18.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 NZ$3.2

$2.32 NZ$3.82

-16.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 NZ$2.85

$2.25 NZ$3.71

-23.11%

Eggs

$6.26 NZ$10.33

$6.11 NZ$10.07

2.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.18 NZ$13.48

$9.87 NZ$16.28

-17.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 NZ$15.91

$8.07 NZ$13.31

19.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.83 NZ$21.17

$16.25 NZ$26.8

-21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.04

$3.6 NZ$5.94

-15.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 NZ$4.46

$2.61 NZ$4.31

3.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 NZ$4.87

$2.97 NZ$4.9

-0.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.52 NZ$9.11

$6.46 NZ$10.66

-14.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 NZ$3.54

$3.73 NZ$6.15

-42.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 NZ$3.64

$2.58 NZ$4.25

-14.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 NZ$4.91

$2.5 NZ$4.13

19.20%

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

$29.66 NZ$48.91

-20.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 NZ$14.72

$10.11 NZ$16.67

-11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.82 NZ$6.29

$3.2 NZ$5.28

19.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 NZ$8

$4.39 NZ$7.24

10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 NZ$2.05

$2.38 NZ$3.92

-47.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.94 NZ$69.2

$63.3 NZ$104

-33.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 NZ$4.34

$4.25 NZ$7.01

-38.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 NZ$2.7

$1.81 NZ$2.98

-9.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.26 NZ$49.91

$35.25 NZ$58.1

-14.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 NZ$2.81

$1.72 NZ$2.83

-0.58%

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

$27K NZ$44.5K

$18.6K NZ$30.7K

44.89%

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

$20K NZ$33K

$22K NZ$36.2K

-8.95%

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

$116 NZ$191

$222 NZ$367

-48.02%

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

$32.15 NZ$53

$36.1 NZ$59.5

-10.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 NZ$86.8

$49.67 NZ$81.9

5.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.61 NZ$57.1

$48.98 NZ$80.8

-29.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 NZ$25.51

$20.68 NZ$34.11

-25.19%

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 NZ$17.83

$10.13 NZ$16.7

6.71%

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

$653 NZ$1,077

$473 NZ$780

37.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,249 NZ$15.3K

$12.1K NZ$20K

-23.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64 NZ$105

$59.5 NZ$98.2

7.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.12 NZ$71.1

$66.8 NZ$110

-35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 NZ$150

$133 NZ$220

-31.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 NZ$247

$112 NZ$185

34.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,536 NZ$2,534

$967 NZ$1,594

58.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 NZ$1,911

$749 NZ$1,235

54.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,059 NZ$3,395

$1,446 NZ$2,384

42.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 NZ$2,453

$1,209 NZ$1,994

23.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,194 NZ$6,918

$2,910 NZ$4,799

44.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,361 NZ$5,543

$2,354 NZ$3,883

42.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,736 NZ$4,512

$2,850 NZ$4,701

-4.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.74

6.82

-1.17%

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

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

Last update for Nelson: October 29, 2025

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