Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Thames Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Thames

😐 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 15.2% more expensive than Thames without rent, and 18.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Christchurch is 6.7% more expensive than Thames without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.56 NZ$27.32
$15.31 NZ$25.25
8.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 NZ$118
$79.9 NZ$132
-10.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 NZ$15.53
$9.94 NZ$16.39
-5.33%
Cappuccino
$3.34 NZ$5.52
$3.52 NZ$5.8
-5.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 NZ$3.8
$2.26 NZ$3.73
1.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NZ$3.34
$2.29 NZ$3.78
-11.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.31 NZ$12.06
$7.12 NZ$11.75
2.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 NZ$11.87
$7.29 NZ$12.02
-1.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 NZ$3.16
$1.8 NZ$2.96
6.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$2.07 NZ$3.41
-6.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 NZ$2.85
$1.99 NZ$3.29
-13.07%
Eggs
$6.26 NZ$10.33
$6.88 NZ$11.35
-9.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.18 NZ$13.48
$8.48 NZ$13.99
-3.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 NZ$15.91
$9.8 NZ$16.16
-1.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 NZ$21.17
$12.97 NZ$21.4
-1.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.04
$2.93 NZ$4.83
4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 NZ$4.46
$2.18 NZ$3.59
24.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 NZ$4.87
$3.37 NZ$5.56
-12.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NZ$9.11
$4.12 NZ$6.79
33.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 NZ$3.54
$1.99 NZ$3.29
8.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.64
$1.69 NZ$2.79
30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NZ$4.91
$1.94 NZ$3.21
53.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NZ$2.4
$1.27 NZ$2.1
14.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 NZ$39.02
$24.93 NZ$41.11
-5.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$14.72
$11.35 NZ$18.73
-21.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NZ$6.29
$2.98 NZ$4.92
28.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 NZ$8
$3.93 NZ$6.49
23.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 NZ$2.05
$2.06 NZ$3.4
-39.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.94 NZ$69.2
$64.8 NZ$107
-35.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 NZ$4.34
$2.16 NZ$3.56
21.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 NZ$2.7
$2.01 NZ$3.32
-18.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.26 NZ$49.91
$35.55 NZ$58.6
-14.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.81
$1.71 NZ$2.82
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K NZ$44.5K
$28.7K NZ$47.3K
-5.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K NZ$33K
$21.8K NZ$35.9K
-8.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NZ$191
$144 NZ$237
-19.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.15 NZ$53
$29.96 NZ$49.41
7.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 NZ$86.8
$49.04 NZ$80.9
7.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 NZ$57.1
$36.59 NZ$60.4
-5.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 NZ$25.51
$12.04 NZ$19.86
28.49%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 NZ$17.83
$14.99 NZ$24.72
-27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$653 NZ$1,077
$893 NZ$1,472
-26.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
$13.5K NZ$22.3K
-31.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64 NZ$105
$70.2 NZ$116
-8.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 NZ$71.1
$50.6 NZ$83.5
-14.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 NZ$150
$96.7 NZ$159
-6.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NZ$247
$126 NZ$208
18.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 NZ$2,534
$958 NZ$1,581
60.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 NZ$1,911
$773 NZ$1,275
49.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 NZ$3,395
$1,590 NZ$2,622
29.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 NZ$2,453
$1,416 NZ$2,335
5.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,194 NZ$6,918
$4,813 NZ$7,937
-12.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,361 NZ$5,543
$3,741 NZ$6,169
-10.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
Thames
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,736 NZ$4,512
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
6.37
5.81%

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

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

Last update for Thames: October 28, 2025

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