Cost of Living Comparison Between Invercargill and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Invercargill and Christchurch

🙂 Solo nomad: Invercargill is 15.4% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 30.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Invercargill is 0.7% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.2 NZ$20.13
$16.56 NZ$27.32
-26.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72 NZ$119
$71.4 NZ$118
0.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.59 NZ$14.16
$9.41 NZ$15.53
-8.71%
Cappuccino
$3.51 NZ$5.79
$3.34 NZ$5.52
5.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 NZ$2.86
$2.3 NZ$3.8
-24.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 NZ$2.41
$2.03 NZ$3.34
-28.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 NZ$9.79
$7.31 NZ$12.06
-18.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 NZ$7.99
$7.2 NZ$11.87
-32.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 NZ$2.46
$1.91 NZ$3.16
-21.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 NZ$2.86
$1.94 NZ$3.2
-10.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 NZ$2.91
$1.73 NZ$2.85
1.73%
Eggs
$5.7 NZ$9.4
$6.26 NZ$10.33
-8.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.17 NZ$13.48
$8.18 NZ$13.48
-0.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.38 NZ$15.48
$9.65 NZ$15.91
-2.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.31 NZ$21.95
$12.83 NZ$21.17
3.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 NZ$4.69
$3.06 NZ$5.04
-7.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 NZ$3.74
$2.71 NZ$4.46
-16.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 NZ$4.24
$2.95 NZ$4.87
-12.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 NZ$6.03
$5.52 NZ$9.11
-33.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2 NZ$3.29
$2.15 NZ$3.54
-6.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 NZ$2.93
$2.21 NZ$3.64
-19.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 NZ$4.09
$2.98 NZ$4.91
-16.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 NZ$1.77
$1.45 NZ$2.4
-26.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.97 NZ$36.23
$23.66 NZ$39.02
-7.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.55 NZ$14.1
$8.93 NZ$14.72
-4.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.06 NZ$6.69
$3.82 NZ$6.29
6.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 NZ$6.03
$4.85 NZ$8
-24.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.6 NZ$2.63
$1.24 NZ$2.05
29.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.2 NZ$104
$41.94 NZ$69.2
50.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 NZ$3.88
$2.63 NZ$4.34
-10.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 NZ$3.21
$1.64 NZ$2.7
18.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.23 NZ$49.86
$30.26 NZ$49.91
-0.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 NZ$2.69
$1.71 NZ$2.81
-4.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K NZ$42.1K
$27K NZ$44.5K
-5.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K NZ$33.3K
$20K NZ$33K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 NZ$167
$116 NZ$191
-12.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.1 NZ$57.9
$32.15 NZ$53
9.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.5 NZ$81.7
$52.6 NZ$86.8
-5.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.19 NZ$48.15
$34.61 NZ$57.1
-15.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.93 NZ$19.67
$15.47 NZ$25.51
-22.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.71 NZ$16.02
$10.81 NZ$17.83
-10.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$584 NZ$963
$653 NZ$1,077
-10.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
31.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.6 NZ$108
$64 NZ$105
2.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.5 NZ$58.6
$43.12 NZ$71.1
-17.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82 NZ$135
$90.8 NZ$150
-9.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9 NZ$138
$150 NZ$247
-44.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$649 NZ$1,071
$1,536 NZ$2,534
-57.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$586 NZ$966
$1,158 NZ$1,911
-49.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 NZ$1,439
$2,059 NZ$3,395
-57.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 NZ$1,783
$1,488 NZ$2,453
-27.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,707 NZ$9,413
$4,194 NZ$6,918
36.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,429 NZ$5,655
$3,361 NZ$5,543
2.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Invercargill
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,804 NZ$4,624
$2,736 NZ$4,512
2.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.87
6.74
1.93%

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

Last update for Invercargill: October 28, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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