Cost of Living Comparison Between New Zealand and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between New Zealand and United States

🙂 Solo nomad: New Zealand is 12.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 27.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: New Zealand is 9.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 24.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.19 NZ$25.05
$20.33 $20.33
-25.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 NZ$130
$74.4 $74.4
6.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 NZ$15.64
$11.49 $11.49
-17.49%
Cappuccino
$3.55 NZ$5.86
$5.09 $5.09
-30.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.72
$2.54 $2.54
-11.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 NZ$3.49
$2.11 $2.11
0.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 NZ$11.27
$6.09 $6.09
12.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73 NZ$11.1
$7.1 $7.1
-5.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 NZ$3.08
$1.08 $1.08
73.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 NZ$3.25
$3.7 $3.7
-46.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.8 NZ$2.97
$4.65 $4.65
-61.29%
Eggs
$6.64 NZ$10.96
$4.21 $4.21
57.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.41 NZ$13.87
$12.75 $12.75
-34.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.8 NZ$16.16
$12.24 $12.24
-19.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 NZ$21.69
$16.08 $16.08
-18.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 NZ$4.61
$5.41 $5.41
-48.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 NZ$3.66
$1.73 $1.73
28.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.02 NZ$4.98
$4.37 $4.37
-30.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 NZ$7.68
$4.94 $4.94
-5.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 NZ$3.32
$2.88 $2.88
-30.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 NZ$2.93
$3.07 $3.07
-42.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 NZ$3.92
$2.25 $2.25
5.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 NZ$1.91
$2.21 $2.21
-47.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.23 NZ$39.96
$10.09 $10.09
140.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.04 NZ$14.91
$14.73 $14.73
-38.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 NZ$4.96
$1.91 $1.91
57.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 NZ$5.97
$3.54 $3.54
2.26%
🚌 Getting Around
New Zealand
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 NZ$3.99
$2.56 $2.56
-5.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 NZ$178
$63.9 $63.9
69.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 NZ$4.03
$3.81 $3.81
-35.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 NZ$3.23
$1.77 $1.77
10.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.71 NZ$60.6
$30.4 $30.4
20.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.82
$0.94 $0.94
81.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K NZ$45.7K
$30K $30K
-7.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K NZ$35.7K
$25.8K $25.8K
-16.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 NZ$230
$209 $209
-33.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.76 NZ$59
$57.9 $57.9
-38.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9 NZ$84
$71.1 $71.1
-28.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.96 NZ$61
$45.88 $45.88
-19.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.8 NZ$24.41
$22.25 $22.25
-33.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.84 NZ$19.53
$14.14 $14.14
-16.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$757 NZ$1,249
$1,373 $1,373
-44.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K NZ$19.4K
$22.4K $22.4K
-47.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67 NZ$110
$51.5 $51.5
30.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.8 NZ$70.6
$41.96 $41.96
2.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.1 NZ$162
$88.3 $88.3
11.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 NZ$194
$112 $112
5.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Zealand
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 NZ$1,787
$1,731 $1,731
-37.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$911 NZ$1,502
$1,446 $1,446
-37.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 NZ$2,941
$2,846 $2,846
-37.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,532 NZ$2,527
$2,366 $2,366
-35.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,893 NZ$8,071
$3,245 $3,245
50.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,027 NZ$6,642
$2,667 $2,667
51.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Zealand
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,009 NZ$4,963
$4,312 $4,312
-30.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
6.51
3.53%

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

Last update for New Zealand: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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