Cost of Living Comparison Between Dunedin and Lower Hutt Cost of Living Comparison Between Dunedin and Lower Hutt

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Dunedin is 7.7% more expensive than Lower Hutt without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Dunedin is 12.8% cheaper than Lower Hutt without rent, and 16.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.25 NZ$20.2
$17.65 NZ$29.11
-30.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 NZ$122
$85 NZ$140
-13.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 NZ$18.07
$10.75 NZ$17.73
1.86%
Cappuccino
$3.46 NZ$5.7
$3.64 NZ$6.01
-4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 NZ$3.63
$2.41 NZ$3.98
-8.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 NZ$3.38
$2.26 NZ$3.73
-9.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.2 NZ$11.87
$7.43 NZ$12.26
-3.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 NZ$10.03
$6.44 NZ$10.63
-5.59%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 NZ$3.44
$1.87 NZ$3.09
11.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 NZ$3.22
$2.11 NZ$3.47
-7.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$2.99
$1.9 NZ$3.13
-4.74%
Eggs
$5.67 NZ$9.35
$7.04 NZ$11.61
-19.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.36 NZ$13.8
$8.44 NZ$13.91
-0.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.62 NZ$17.52
$9.18 NZ$15.14
15.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 NZ$21.53
$13.11 NZ$21.62
-0.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 NZ$4.72
$2.48 NZ$4.09
15.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 NZ$3.69
$2.1 NZ$3.46
6.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.3 NZ$5.45
$2.63 NZ$4.33
25.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.54 NZ$7.49
$4.84 NZ$7.98
-6.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 NZ$3.15
$1.99 NZ$3.28
-4.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 NZ$3.37
$1.78 NZ$2.93
14.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 NZ$4.09
$2.24 NZ$3.7
10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 NZ$1.76
$1.29 NZ$2.12
-17.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.01 NZ$39.6
$21.82 NZ$35.99
10.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.7 NZ$14.34
$9.62 NZ$15.87
-9.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 NZ$4.27
$3.67 NZ$6.05
-29.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 NZ$5.99
$3.15 NZ$5.2
15.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 NZ$2.05
$2.64 NZ$4.35
-52.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.8 NZ$120
$60.2 NZ$99.2
21.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 NZ$10.15
$2.66 NZ$4.38
131.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.1 NZ$1.81
$1.85 NZ$3.05
-40.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.44 NZ$50.2
$60.9 NZ$100
-49.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 NZ$2.84
$1.72 NZ$2.84
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K NZ$32.5K
$28.2K NZ$46.5K
-30.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K NZ$42.3K
$24.9K NZ$41.1K
2.79%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.8 NZ$165
$160 NZ$264
-37.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.84 NZ$59.1
$37.37 NZ$61.6
-4.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6 NZ$91.8
$52 NZ$85.8
6.94%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 NZ$85.7
$41.15 NZ$67.9
26.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13 NZ$10.12
$12.07 NZ$19.91
-49.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.74 NZ$16.06
$10.9 NZ$17.97
-10.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 NZ$952
$732 NZ$1,207
-21.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
$11.7K NZ$19.3K
4.13%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 NZ$111
$73 NZ$120
-7.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.49 NZ$58.5
$58.3 NZ$96.2
-39.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 NZ$155
$116 NZ$192
-19.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 NZ$203
$141 NZ$232
-12.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$879 NZ$1,450
$1,374 NZ$2,267
-36.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 NZ$1,277
$1,106 NZ$1,825
-30.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,512 NZ$2,493
$2,328 NZ$3,839
-35.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 NZ$2,217
$1,657 NZ$2,732
-18.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,880 NZ$4,751
$6,755 NZ$11.1K
-57.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,002 NZ$3,303
$5,110 NZ$8,427
-60.81%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,565 NZ$4,230
$3,394 NZ$5,598
-24.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.07
6.94
1.87%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dunedin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lower Hutt: October 28, 2025

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