Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and New Plymouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and New Plymouth

🙂 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 6.7% cheaper than New Plymouth without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Christchurch is 4.6% more expensive than New Plymouth without rent, and 6.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 NZ$29.03
$15.20 NZ$25.84
12.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 NZ$125
$78.7 NZ$134
-6.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 NZ$16.80
$10.75 NZ$18.27
-8.09%
Cappuccino
$3.49 NZ$5.93
$3.68 NZ$6.25
-5.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 NZ$3.92
$2.26 NZ$3.84
2.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 NZ$3.33
$2.07 NZ$3.52
-5.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.38 NZ$12.55
$5.34 NZ$9.08
38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43 NZ$12.64
$7.40 NZ$12.57
0.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 NZ$3.12
$1.97 NZ$3.36
-6.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 NZ$3.38
$1.49 NZ$2.53
33.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 NZ$2.87
$1.76 NZ$2.99
-3.98%
Eggs
$6.51 NZ$11.06
$6.25 NZ$10.62
4.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 NZ$13.66
$7.28 NZ$12.37
10.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 NZ$16.41
$13.49 NZ$22.94
-28.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.11 NZ$22.28
$13.05 NZ$22.18
0.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 NZ$5.18
$2.15 NZ$3.66
41.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 NZ$4.40
$1.98 NZ$3.37
30.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 NZ$5.06
$3.14 NZ$5.34
-5.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.66 NZ$9.62
$6.74 NZ$11.46
-16.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 NZ$3.63
$2.51 NZ$4.28
-15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 NZ$3.78
$1.60 NZ$2.71
38.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.93 NZ$4.98
$1.93 NZ$3.29
51.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 NZ$2.43
$1.43 NZ$2.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 NZ$40.23
$21.12 NZ$35.90
12.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.09 NZ$15.45
$8.70 NZ$14.78
4.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NZ$6.49
$3.86 NZ$6.57
-1.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 NZ$8.18
$4.41 NZ$7.50
9.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 NZ$2.10
$1.83 NZ$3.12
-32.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 NZ$70.7
$62.9 NZ$107
-33.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 NZ$4.64
$1.77 NZ$3.01
54.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 NZ$2.81
$3.32 NZ$5.65
-50.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.27 NZ$51.5
$36.43 NZ$61.9
-16.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.77
$1.65 NZ$2.80
-1.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K NZ$46.6K
$49.1K NZ$83.4K
-44.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K NZ$33.3K
$23.7K NZ$40.4K
-17.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 NZ$196
$214 NZ$363
-45.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.15 NZ$53.0
$29.89 NZ$50.8
4.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 NZ$91.8
$30.19 NZ$51.3
78.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.49 NZ$60.3
$35.59 NZ$60.5
-0.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 NZ$26.45
$12.00 NZ$20.40
29.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.12 NZ$18.90
$10.90 NZ$18.52
2.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$641 NZ$1,089
$727 NZ$1,236
-11.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,245 NZ$15.7K
$12.1K NZ$20.6K
-23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 NZ$106
$91.3 NZ$155
-31.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 NZ$73.3
$36.76 NZ$62.5
17.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 NZ$157
$70.9 NZ$121
30.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NZ$254
$65.3 NZ$111
129.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 NZ$2,616
$740 NZ$1,259
107.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 NZ$1,984
$675 NZ$1,147
72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,038 NZ$3,464
$1,331 NZ$2,263
53.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 NZ$2,450
$1,184 NZ$2,013
21.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,018 NZ$8,530
$3,340 NZ$5,678
50.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,772 NZ$4,712
$2,789 NZ$4,742
-0.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
New Plymouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,691 NZ$4,574
$2,653 NZ$4,510
1.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
5.93
13.66%

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

Last update for Christchurch: March 2, 2026

Last update for New Plymouth: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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