Cost of Living Comparison Between Nelson and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Nelson and Christchurch

🙂 Solo nomad: Nelson is 2.3% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Nelson is 3.7% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 5.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.86 NZ$34.41

$16.56 NZ$27.32

25.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.7 NZ$141

$71.4 NZ$118

20.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.4 NZ$15.5

$9.41 NZ$15.53

-0.11%

Cappuccino

$3.17 NZ$5.22

$3.34 NZ$5.52

-5.09%

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

$2.66 NZ$4.39

$2.3 NZ$3.8

15.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 NZ$4.56

$2.03 NZ$3.34

35.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 NZ$12.1

$7.31 NZ$12.06

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 NZ$9.82

$7.2 NZ$11.87

-17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 NZ$3.86

$1.91 NZ$3.16

22.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 NZ$3.82

$1.94 NZ$3.2

19.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 NZ$3.71

$1.73 NZ$2.85

30.06%

Eggs

$6.11 NZ$10.07

$6.26 NZ$10.33

-2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 NZ$16.28

$8.18 NZ$13.48

20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.07 NZ$13.31

$9.65 NZ$15.91

-16.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 NZ$26.8

$12.83 NZ$21.17

26.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.6 NZ$5.94

$3.06 NZ$5.04

17.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 NZ$4.31

$2.71 NZ$4.46

-3.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 NZ$4.9

$2.95 NZ$4.87

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 NZ$10.66

$5.52 NZ$9.11

17.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.73 NZ$6.15

$2.15 NZ$3.54

73.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 NZ$4.25

$2.21 NZ$3.64

16.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.5 NZ$4.13

$2.98 NZ$4.91

-16.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 NZ$2.12

$1.45 NZ$2.4

-11.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$29.66 NZ$48.91

$23.66 NZ$39.02

25.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.11 NZ$16.67

$8.93 NZ$14.72

13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.2 NZ$5.28

$3.82 NZ$6.29

-16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 NZ$7.24

$4.85 NZ$8

-9.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 NZ$3.92

$1.24 NZ$2.05

91.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 NZ$104

$41.94 NZ$69.2

50.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 NZ$7.01

$2.63 NZ$4.34

61.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 NZ$2.98

$1.64 NZ$2.7

10.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.25 NZ$58.1

$30.26 NZ$49.91

16.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 NZ$2.83

$1.71 NZ$2.81

0.58%

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

$18.6K NZ$30.7K

$27K NZ$44.5K

-30.98%

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

$22K NZ$36.2K

$20K NZ$33K

9.83%

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

$222 NZ$367

$116 NZ$191

92.40%

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

$36.1 NZ$59.5

$32.15 NZ$53

12.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.67 NZ$81.9

$52.6 NZ$86.8

-5.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 NZ$80.8

$34.61 NZ$57.1

41.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.68 NZ$34.11

$15.47 NZ$25.51

33.68%

Cinema Ticket

$10.13 NZ$16.7

$10.81 NZ$17.83

-6.29%

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

$473 NZ$780

$653 NZ$1,077

-27.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K NZ$20K

$9,249 NZ$15.3K

31.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 NZ$98.2

$64 NZ$105

-6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.8 NZ$110

$43.12 NZ$71.1

55.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NZ$220

$90.8 NZ$150

46.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 NZ$185

$150 NZ$247

-25.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 NZ$1,594

$1,536 NZ$2,534

-37.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$749 NZ$1,235

$1,158 NZ$1,911

-35.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,446 NZ$2,384

$2,059 NZ$3,395

-29.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 NZ$1,994

$1,488 NZ$2,453

-18.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,910 NZ$4,799

$4,194 NZ$6,918

-30.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,354 NZ$3,883

$3,361 NZ$5,543

-29.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,850 NZ$4,701

$2,736 NZ$4,512

4.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

6.74

1.19%

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

Last update for Nelson: October 29, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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