Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Noumea and Hastings

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.

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

How much you'll spend in Noumea and in Hastings

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

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

  • Noumea $2,391
  • Hastings $1,731

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

  • Noumea $3,791
  • Hastings $2,526

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

  • Noumea $5,191
  • Hastings $3,322

Noumea costs about 38% more than Hastings, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 CFPF 2,180
$11.05 NZ$19.55
86.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 CFPF 11.8K
$55.7 NZ$98.5
100.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.29 CFPF 1,512
$9.05 NZ$16.00
57.90%
Cappuccino
$4.50 CFPF 477
$3.06 NZ$5.41
47.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CFPF 203
$1.87 NZ$3.31
2.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 CFPF 135
$1.36 NZ$2.41
-6.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.28 CFPF 982
$4.34 NZ$7.67
113.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 CFPF 745
$5.51 NZ$9.75
27.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CFPF 129
$1.41 NZ$2.50
-13.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 CFPF 370
$1.29 NZ$2.28
171.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 CFPF 233
$1.72 NZ$3.05
27.91%
Eggs
$6.02 CFPF 637
$5.45 NZ$9.64
10.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.56 CFPF 3,128
$5.72 NZ$10.11
416.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.42 CFPF 3,007
$7.30 NZ$12.90
289.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.43 CFPF 3,007
$11.45 NZ$20.26
148.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 CFPF 497
$2.66 NZ$4.71
76.69%
Banana (1kg)
$7.18 CFPF 759
$1.92 NZ$3.40
273.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.04 CFPF 639
$3.06 NZ$5.42
97.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.19 CFPF 866
$3.30 NZ$5.84
148.18%
Potato (1kg)
$5.41 CFPF 572
$1.81 NZ$3.21
198.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 CFPF 384
$1.05 NZ$1.85
245.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.07 CFPF 430
$1.45 NZ$2.56
180.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CFPF 158
$0.91 NZ$1.60
64.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.12 CFPF 2,023
$17.62 NZ$31.16
8.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.93 CFPF 1,792
$9.08 NZ$16.06
86.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.80 CFPF 614
$4.02 NZ$7.11
44.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.91 NZ$5.14
-
🚌 Getting Around
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.59 CFPF 486
$2.71 NZ$4.79
69.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$81.8 NZ$145
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 CFPF 726
$3.65 NZ$6.46
88.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 CFPF 117
$2.75 NZ$4.87
-59.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.45 CFPF 2,269
$33.32 NZ$58.9
-35.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 CFPF 167
$1.60 NZ$2.82
-1.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K CFPF 3.4M
$27.0K NZ$47.7K
19.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K CFPF 3.9M
$22.7K NZ$40.1K
63.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 CFPF 21.3K
$190 NZ$335
5.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.95 CFPF 4,544
$36.05 NZ$63.8
19.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.00 CFPF 5,185
$59.6 NZ$105
-17.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.91 CFPF 5,280
$27.98 NZ$49.48
78.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.60 CFPF 910
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 CFPF 1,472
$9.93 NZ$17.55
40.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$762 CFPF 80.6K
$679 NZ$1,200
12.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,253 CFPF 978.9K
$22.0K NZ$38.9K
-57.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 CFPF 11.4K
$46.05 NZ$81.4
133.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.7 CFPF 6,844
$37.74 NZ$66.7
71.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 CFPF 10.3K
$94.8 NZ$168
2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$249 CFPF 26.3K
$90.8 NZ$161
173.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$751 CFPF 79.4K
$806 NZ$1,426
-6.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 CFPF 81.8K
$703 NZ$1,243
10.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 CFPF 158.1K
$1,519 NZ$2,687
-1.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 CFPF 143.7K
$1,129 NZ$1,997
20.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,622 CFPF 489.0K
$5,051 NZ$8,933
-8.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,488 CFPF 369.1K
$3,061 NZ$5,414
13.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Noumea
Hastings
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,663 CFPF 281.7K
$1,589 NZ$2,810
67.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.13
6.83
-54.17%

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

Last update for Noumea: October 10, 2026

Last update for Hastings: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Noumea
$773
Hastings
$703 9.1% $71
Groceries & Markets
Noumea
$648 *
Hastings
$266 59% $383
Eating Out
Noumea
$335
Hastings
$198 40.9% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
$293
Hastings
$285 2.6% $7.6
Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
$233
Hastings
$121 48% $112
Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
$78
Hastings
$48 38.5% $30
Getting Around
Noumea
$31 *
Hastings
$110 258% $79

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $751 in Noumea versus $806 in Hastings. 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 $111 in Noumea versus $56.0 in Hastings. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $648 vs $266 – making Hastings the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇨 Noumea
🇳🇿 Hastings
🕒 Local time
06:14 6:14 AM
08:14 8:14 AM
2 h ahead of Noumea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
91,386 Capital
50,100
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.45 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.41 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

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

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
Noumea vs Hastings: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Noumea or Hastings?
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 Noumea and in Hastings?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,587 per month in Noumea and $2,596 in Hastings. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Noumea or Hastings?
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 Noumea and in Hastings?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $111 in Noumea and $56.0 in Hastings. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Noumea or in Hastings?
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 Noumea or in Hastings?
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, Noumea or Hastings?
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 Noumea compared to Hastings?
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 Noumea or to Hastings?
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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