Cost of Living Comparison Between Dunedin and Cromwell Cost of Living Comparison Between Dunedin and Cromwell

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,872 in Dunedin versus $1,904 in Cromwell.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,733 in Dunedin versus $2,826 in Cromwell.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,595 in Dunedin versus $3,748 in Cromwell.

Living in Dunedin costs roughly 2% less than in Cromwell, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dunedin 37% above, Cromwell 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.32 NZ$25.04

$14.63 NZ$25.58

-2.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 NZ$110

$63.9 NZ$112

-1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.37 NZ$19.88

$11.45 NZ$20.02

-0.70%

Cappuccino

$3.50 NZ$6.12

$3.44 NZ$6.02

1.74%

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

$2.20 NZ$3.85

$2.13 NZ$3.72

3.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 NZ$3.69

$2.10 NZ$3.68

0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 NZ$12.42

$7.12 NZ$12.45

-0.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 NZ$10.95

$6.19 NZ$10.82

1.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 NZ$3.72

$2.23 NZ$3.89

-4.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 NZ$3.60

$1.98 NZ$3.46

4.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 NZ$3.05

$1.73 NZ$3.02

0.58%

Eggs

$5.83 NZ$10.19

$5.87 NZ$10.27

-0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 NZ$15.33

$8.39 NZ$14.67

4.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.80 NZ$17.13

$9.43 NZ$16.49

3.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 NZ$29.13

$16.69 NZ$29.18

-0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 NZ$5.14

$3.11 NZ$5.43

-5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 NZ$4.24

$2.35 NZ$4.12

3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 NZ$5.64

$3.30 NZ$5.77

-2.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 NZ$9.06

$5.30 NZ$9.26

-2.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 NZ$3.25

$1.94 NZ$3.39

-4.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 NZ$3.20

$1.82 NZ$3.17

0.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 NZ$4.24

$2.34 NZ$4.10

3.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 NZ$1.00

$0.62 NZ$1.08

-8.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.71 NZ$37.96

$21.54 NZ$37.65

0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.25 NZ$16.18

$8.97 NZ$15.69

3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 NZ$5.55

$3.21 NZ$5.61

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 NZ$2.15

$1.29 NZ$2.25

-4.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 NZ$1.97

$1.99 NZ$3.47

-43.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.5 NZ$123

$80.9 NZ$141

-12.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 NZ$10.11

$2.32 NZ$4.06

149.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 NZ$2.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 NZ$51.0

$28.30 NZ$49.48

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 NZ$3.02

$1.75 NZ$3.06

-1.14%

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

$26.0K NZ$45.5K

$26.5K NZ$46.3K

-1.69%

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

$25.7K NZ$45.0K

$25.8K NZ$45.0K

-0.17%

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

$113 NZ$197

0.09%

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

$28.94 NZ$50.6

$29.78 NZ$52.1

-2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 NZ$92.4

$53.2 NZ$93.0

-0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.64 NZ$86.8

$40.40 NZ$70.6

22.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 NZ$11.77

Cinema Ticket

$10.52 NZ$18.40

$8.89 NZ$15.54

18.34%

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

$610 NZ$1,066

$828 NZ$1,447

-26.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K NZ$21.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 NZ$106

$59.4 NZ$104

1.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.21 NZ$63.3

$35.45 NZ$62.0

2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 NZ$166

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 NZ$246

$140 NZ$245

0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 NZ$1,560

$932 NZ$1,629

-4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 NZ$1,328

$865 NZ$1,512

-12.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 NZ$2,640

$1,686 NZ$2,947

-10.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 NZ$2,091

$1,351 NZ$2,362

-11.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,999 NZ$8,739

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,242 NZ$3,919

$3,434 NZ$6,003

-34.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,586 NZ$4,521

$3,087 NZ$5,397

-16.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.07

6.6

7.12%

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

Last update for Dunedin: September 12, 2026

Last update for Cromwell: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $893 in Dunedin and $932 in Cromwell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cromwell pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Dunedin vs $64.0 in Cromwell. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $327, with Cromwell cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dunedin vs Cromwell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dunedin is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Cromwell. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $893 in Dunedin versus $932 in Cromwell. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Cromwell pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Dunedin – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $64.0 in Cromwell. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,872 in Dunedin versus $1,904 in Cromwell, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Dunedin but tight or insufficient in Cromwell. The gap between the two cities makes Dunedin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dunedin and Cromwell are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dunedin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Cromwell. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.