Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hastings and Noumea

For one person, living is cheaper in Hastings: $1,731 a month against $2,391 in Noumea, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Hastings
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,731
/mo nomad
Noumea
🇳🇨 New Caledonia
$2,391
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hastings and in Noumea

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hastings and in Noumea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,731 per month in Hastings vs $2,391 in Noumea, rent included.

  • Hastings $1,731
  • Noumea $2,391

A couple spends around $2,526 per month in Hastings vs $3,791 in Noumea, rent included.

  • Hastings $2,526
  • Noumea $3,791

A family of three spends $3,322 per month in Hastings vs $5,191 in Noumea, rent included.

  • Hastings $3,322
  • Noumea $5,191

Hastings is about 28% cheaper than Noumea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hastings and Noumea sit above the global median – Hastings by 28%, Noumea by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05 NZ$19.55
$20.61 CFPF 2,180
-46.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 NZ$98.5
$111 CFPF 11.8K
-50.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.05 NZ$16.00
$14.29 CFPF 1,512
-36.67%
Cappuccino
$3.06 NZ$5.41
$4.50 CFPF 477
-32.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 NZ$3.31
$1.92 CFPF 203
-2.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 NZ$2.41
$1.27 CFPF 135
7.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.34 NZ$7.67
$9.28 CFPF 982
-53.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51 NZ$9.75
$7.04 CFPF 745
-21.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 NZ$2.50
$1.22 CFPF 129
15.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 NZ$2.28
$3.50 CFPF 370
-63.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 NZ$3.05
$2.20 CFPF 233
-21.82%
Eggs
$5.45 NZ$9.64
$6.02 CFPF 637
-9.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.72 NZ$10.11
$29.56 CFPF 3,128
-80.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 NZ$12.90
$28.42 CFPF 3,007
-74.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.45 NZ$20.26
$28.43 CFPF 3,007
-59.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 NZ$4.71
$4.70 CFPF 497
-43.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 NZ$3.40
$7.18 CFPF 759
-73.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.42
$6.04 CFPF 639
-49.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.30 NZ$5.84
$8.19 CFPF 866
-59.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$3.21
$5.41 CFPF 572
-66.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 NZ$1.85
$3.63 CFPF 384
-71.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 NZ$2.56
$4.07 CFPF 430
-64.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 NZ$1.60
$1.50 CFPF 158
-39.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.62 NZ$31.16
$19.12 CFPF 2,023
-7.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 NZ$16.06
$16.93 CFPF 1,792
-46.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.02 NZ$7.11
$5.80 CFPF 614
-30.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 NZ$5.14
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 NZ$4.79
$4.59 CFPF 486
-40.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 NZ$145
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 NZ$6.46
$6.87 CFPF 726
-46.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.75 NZ$4.87
$1.11 CFPF 117
147.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.32 NZ$58.9
$21.45 CFPF 2,269
55.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 NZ$2.82
$1.58 CFPF 167
1.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K NZ$47.7K
$32.2K CFPF 3.4M
-16.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K NZ$40.1K
$37.1K CFPF 3.9M
-38.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 NZ$335
$201 CFPF 21.3K
-5.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.05 NZ$63.8
$42.95 CFPF 4,544
-16.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 NZ$105
$49.00 CFPF 5,185
21.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.98 NZ$49.48
$49.91 CFPF 5,280
-43.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.60 CFPF 910
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.93 NZ$17.55
$13.91 CFPF 1,472
-28.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 NZ$1,200
$762 CFPF 80.6K
-10.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K NZ$38.9K
$9,253 CFPF 978.9K
137.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.05 NZ$81.4
$107 CFPF 11.4K
-57.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.74 NZ$66.7
$64.7 CFPF 6,844
-41.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 NZ$168
$96.9 CFPF 10.3K
-2.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 NZ$161
$249 CFPF 26.3K
-63.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 NZ$1,426
$751 CFPF 79.4K
7.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 NZ$1,243
$773 CFPF 81.8K
-9.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 NZ$2,687
$1,494 CFPF 158.1K
1.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 NZ$1,997
$1,359 CFPF 143.7K
-16.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,051 NZ$8,933
$4,622 CFPF 489.0K
9.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,061 NZ$5,414
$3,488 CFPF 369.1K
-12.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hastings
Noumea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,589 NZ$2,810
$2,663 CFPF 281.7K
-40.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
3.13
118.21%

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

Last update for Hastings: October 12, 2026

Last update for Noumea: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hastings
$703
Noumea
$773 10.1% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
$285
Noumea
$293 2.6% $7.6
Groceries & Markets
Hastings
$266
Noumea
$648 * 144% $383
Eating Out
Hastings
$198
Noumea
$335 69.2% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
$121
Noumea
$233 92.2% $112
Getting Around
Hastings
$110
Noumea
$31 * 72% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
$48
Noumea
$78 62.5% $30

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $806 in Hastings versus $751 in Noumea. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 68% higher in Noumea, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Hastings versus $111 in Noumea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $648 – making Hastings the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Hastings
🇳🇨 Noumea
🕒 Local time
04:02 4:02 AM
02:02 2:02 AM
2 h behind Hastings
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,100
91,386 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hastings Noumea 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hastings
  • Noumea

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hastings vs Noumea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hastings or Noumea?
Noumea costs about 38% more than Hastings, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hastings and in Noumea?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,596 per month in Hastings and $3,587 in Noumea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hastings or Noumea?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hastings, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Hastings and in Noumea?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Hastings and $111 in Noumea. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Hastings or in Noumea?
Groceries cost about 144% more in Noumea, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Hastings or in Noumea?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hastings, where all-in costs run around $1,731, than in Noumea at $2,391. In Hastings it covers expenses comfortably, while in Noumea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hastings or Noumea?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hastings costs $1,731 versus $2,391 in Noumea. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hastings compared to Noumea?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Hastings or to Noumea?
If budget matters most, go with Hastings. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Noumea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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