Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Wanaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Wanaka

😐 Solo nomad: Christchurch is 12.6% more expensive than Wanaka without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Christchurch is 6.3% more expensive than Wanaka without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.56 NZ$27.32
$12.03 NZ$19.84
37.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 NZ$118
$60.5 NZ$99.7
18.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.41 NZ$15.53
$9.16 NZ$15.11
2.73%
Cappuccino
$3.34 NZ$5.52
$3.27 NZ$5.4
2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 NZ$3.8
$1.74 NZ$2.87
32.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NZ$3.34
$1.94 NZ$3.2
4.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.31 NZ$12.06
$7.29 NZ$12.02
0.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 NZ$11.87
$5.99 NZ$9.88
20.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 NZ$3.16
$2.07 NZ$3.41
-7.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$1.88 NZ$3.1
3.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 NZ$2.85
$1.91 NZ$3.15
-9.42%
Eggs
$6.26 NZ$10.33
$5.57 NZ$9.18
12.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.18 NZ$13.48
$8.28 NZ$13.65
-1.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 NZ$15.91
$10.64 NZ$17.56
-9.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 NZ$21.17
$13.19 NZ$21.75
-2.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.04
$2.96 NZ$4.89
3.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 NZ$4.46
$2.17 NZ$3.58
24.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 NZ$4.87
$3.28 NZ$5.4
-10.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.52 NZ$9.11
$4.42 NZ$7.29
24.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 NZ$3.54
$1.99 NZ$3.29
8.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.64
$2.08 NZ$3.43
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 NZ$4.91
$2.46 NZ$4.05
21.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 NZ$2.4
$1.11 NZ$1.82
30.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.66 NZ$39.02
$24.45 NZ$40.32
-3.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.93 NZ$14.72
$8.51 NZ$14.04
4.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 NZ$6.29
$2.6 NZ$4.29
46.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 NZ$8
$3.71 NZ$6.11
30.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 NZ$2.05
$2.08 NZ$3.43
-40.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.94 NZ$69.2
$63.3 NZ$104
-33.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 NZ$4.34
$2.64 NZ$4.35
-0.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 NZ$2.7
$1.14 NZ$1.88
43.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.26 NZ$49.91
$29.78 NZ$49.11
1.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.81
$1.74 NZ$2.86
-1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K NZ$44.5K
$19.6K NZ$32.4K
37.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K NZ$33K
$25.7K NZ$42.4K
-22.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 NZ$191
$104 NZ$171
11.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.15 NZ$53
$35.34 NZ$58.3
-9.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 NZ$86.8
$56.1 NZ$92.6
-6.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.61 NZ$57.1
$41.88 NZ$69.1
-17.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 NZ$25.51
$11.98 NZ$19.76
29.13%
Cinema Ticket
$10.81 NZ$17.83
$9.84 NZ$16.23
9.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$653 NZ$1,077
$582 NZ$960
12.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
-24.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64 NZ$105
$65.4 NZ$108
-2.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 NZ$71.1
$35.05 NZ$57.8
23.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 NZ$150
$73.6 NZ$121
23.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 NZ$247
$79.3 NZ$131
89.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 NZ$2,534
$1,056 NZ$1,741
45.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 NZ$1,911
$855 NZ$1,411
35.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 NZ$3,395
$1,982 NZ$3,269
3.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 NZ$2,453
$1,752 NZ$2,890
-15.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,194 NZ$6,918
$4,252 NZ$7,012
-1.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,361 NZ$5,543
$3,842 NZ$6,336
-12.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Christchurch
Wanaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,736 NZ$4,512
$4,747 NZ$7,830
-42.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
4
68.50%

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

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

Last update for Wanaka: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.