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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lower Hutt is 8.1% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lower Hutt is 12.5% more expensive than Christchurch without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65 NZ$29.11
$16.56 NZ$27.32
6.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85 NZ$140
$71.4 NZ$118
18.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 NZ$17.73
$9.41 NZ$15.53
14.24%
Cappuccino
$3.64 NZ$6.01
$3.34 NZ$5.52
8.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 NZ$3.98
$2.3 NZ$3.8
4.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.73
$2.03 NZ$3.34
11.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.43 NZ$12.26
$7.31 NZ$12.06
1.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.44 NZ$10.63
$7.2 NZ$11.87
-10.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 NZ$3.09
$1.91 NZ$3.16
-2.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 NZ$3.47
$1.94 NZ$3.2
8.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.9 NZ$3.13
$1.73 NZ$2.85
9.83%
Eggs
$7.04 NZ$11.61
$6.26 NZ$10.33
12.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 NZ$13.91
$8.18 NZ$13.48
3.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.18 NZ$15.14
$9.65 NZ$15.91
-4.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.11 NZ$21.62
$12.83 NZ$21.17
2.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 NZ$4.09
$3.06 NZ$5.04
-18.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.1 NZ$3.46
$2.71 NZ$4.46
-22.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 NZ$4.33
$2.95 NZ$4.87
-10.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 NZ$7.98
$5.52 NZ$9.11
-12.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.28
$2.15 NZ$3.54
-7.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 NZ$2.93
$2.21 NZ$3.64
-19.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 NZ$3.7
$2.98 NZ$4.91
-24.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 NZ$2.12
$1.45 NZ$2.4
-11.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.82 NZ$35.99
$23.66 NZ$39.02
-7.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.62 NZ$15.87
$8.93 NZ$14.72
7.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.67 NZ$6.05
$3.82 NZ$6.29
-3.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 NZ$5.2
$4.85 NZ$8
-35.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 NZ$4.35
$1.24 NZ$2.05
112.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.2 NZ$99.2
$41.94 NZ$69.2
43.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 NZ$4.38
$2.63 NZ$4.34
1.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 NZ$3.05
$1.64 NZ$2.7
12.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.9 NZ$100
$30.26 NZ$49.91
101.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 NZ$2.84
$1.71 NZ$2.81
0.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K NZ$46.5K
$27K NZ$44.5K
4.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K NZ$41.1K
$20K NZ$33K
24.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 NZ$264
$116 NZ$191
38.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.37 NZ$61.6
$32.15 NZ$53
16.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52 NZ$85.8
$52.6 NZ$86.8
-1.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.15 NZ$67.9
$34.61 NZ$57.1
18.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.07 NZ$19.91
$15.47 NZ$25.51
-21.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.9 NZ$17.97
$10.81 NZ$17.83
0.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$732 NZ$1,207
$653 NZ$1,077
12.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K NZ$19.3K
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
26.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73 NZ$120
$64 NZ$105
14.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3 NZ$96.2
$43.12 NZ$71.1
35.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 NZ$192
$90.8 NZ$150
28.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 NZ$232
$150 NZ$247
-6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 NZ$2,267
$1,536 NZ$2,534
-10.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 NZ$1,825
$1,158 NZ$1,911
-4.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,328 NZ$3,839
$2,059 NZ$3,395
13.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,657 NZ$2,732
$1,488 NZ$2,453
11.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,755 NZ$11.1K
$4,194 NZ$6,918
61.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,110 NZ$8,427
$3,361 NZ$5,543
52.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lower Hutt
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,394 NZ$5,598
$2,736 NZ$4,512
24.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.94
6.74
2.97%

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

Last update for Lower Hutt: October 28, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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