Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Noumea and Kerikeri

For one person, living is cheaper in Kerikeri: $1,817 a month against $2,391 in Noumea, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Noumea
🇳🇨 New Caledonia
$2,391
/mo nomad
Kerikeri
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,817
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Noumea and in Kerikeri

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 Kerikeri actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,391 per month in Noumea vs $1,817 in Kerikeri, rent included.

  • Noumea $2,391
  • Kerikeri $1,817

A couple spends around $3,791 per month in Noumea vs $2,923 in Kerikeri, rent included.

  • Noumea $3,791
  • Kerikeri $2,923

A family of three spends $5,191 per month in Noumea vs $4,030 in Kerikeri, rent included.

  • Noumea $5,191
  • Kerikeri $4,030

Noumea costs about 32% more than Kerikeri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Noumea and Kerikeri sit above the global median – Noumea by 77%, Kerikeri by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 CFPF 2,180
$14.08 NZ$24.90
46.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 CFPF 11.8K
$66.1 NZ$117
68.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.29 CFPF 1,512
$9.18 NZ$16.24
55.66%
Cappuccino
$4.50 CFPF 477
$3.46 NZ$6.12
30.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CFPF 203
$2.01 NZ$3.56
-4.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 CFPF 135
$1.74 NZ$3.07
-27.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.28 CFPF 982
$6.76 NZ$11.95
37.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 CFPF 745
$6.72 NZ$11.89
4.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CFPF 129
$1.89 NZ$3.34
-35.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 CFPF 370
$2.17 NZ$3.84
61.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 CFPF 233
$1.79 NZ$3.16
22.91%
Eggs
$6.02 CFPF 637
$6.40 NZ$11.32
-5.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.56 CFPF 3,128
$7.97 NZ$14.09
270.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.42 CFPF 3,007
$9.78 NZ$17.29
190.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.43 CFPF 3,007
$17.24 NZ$30.50
64.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 CFPF 497
$2.83 NZ$5.00
66.08%
Banana (1kg)
$7.18 CFPF 759
$2.13 NZ$3.78
237.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.04 CFPF 639
$2.93 NZ$5.18
106.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.19 CFPF 866
$5.76 NZ$10.19
42.19%
Potato (1kg)
$5.41 CFPF 572
$2.14 NZ$3.79
152.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.63 CFPF 384
$1.56 NZ$2.76
132.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.07 CFPF 430
$1.97 NZ$3.48
106.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CFPF 158
$0.54 NZ$0.95
177.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.12 CFPF 2,023
$27.04 NZ$47.81
-29.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.93 CFPF 1,792
$10.10 NZ$17.86
67.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.80 CFPF 614
$2.83 NZ$5.00
104.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.22 NZ$5.70
-
🚌 Getting Around
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.59 CFPF 486
$1.48 NZ$2.62
210.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$70.4 NZ$125
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 CFPF 726
$1.71 NZ$3.02
301.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 CFPF 117
$1.67 NZ$2.95
-33.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.45 CFPF 2,269
$31.64 NZ$56.0
-32.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 CFPF 167
$1.64 NZ$2.91
-3.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K CFPF 3.4M
$24.6K NZ$43.6K
30.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K CFPF 3.9M
$22.4K NZ$39.6K
65.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 CFPF 21.3K
$119 NZ$211
68.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.95 CFPF 4,544
$25.78 NZ$45.58
66.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.00 CFPF 5,185
$50.0 NZ$88.5
-2.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.91 CFPF 5,280
$37.66 NZ$66.6
32.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.60 CFPF 910
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 CFPF 1,472
$10.40 NZ$18.39
33.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$762 CFPF 80.6K
$1,137 NZ$2,010
-32.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,253 CFPF 978.9K
$19.0K NZ$33.6K
-51.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 CFPF 11.4K
$79.4 NZ$140
35.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.7 CFPF 6,844
$33.95 NZ$60.0
90.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 CFPF 10.3K
$90.9 NZ$161
6.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$249 CFPF 26.3K
$109 NZ$194
127.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$751 CFPF 79.4K
$943 NZ$1,667
-20.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 CFPF 81.8K
$762 NZ$1,347
1.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,494 CFPF 158.1K
$1,605 NZ$2,838
-6.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 CFPF 143.7K
$1,610 NZ$2,847
-15.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,622 CFPF 489.0K
$5,039 NZ$8,912
-8.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,488 CFPF 369.1K
$2,827 NZ$5,000
23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Noumea
Kerikeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,663 CFPF 281.7K
$5,630 NZ$9,957
-52.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.13
5.37
-41.71%

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

Last update for Noumea: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kerikeri: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Noumea
$773
Kerikeri
$762 1.5% $12
Groceries & Markets
Noumea
$648 *
Kerikeri
$330 49.1% $318
Eating Out
Noumea
$335
Kerikeri
$244 27.2% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Noumea
$293
Kerikeri
$195 33.3% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Noumea
$233
Kerikeri
$141 39.4% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Noumea
$78
Kerikeri
$58 24.8% $19
Getting Around
Noumea
$31 *
Kerikeri
$86 181% $56

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 $943 in Kerikeri. 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 111% higher in Kerikeri, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $111 in Noumea versus $66.0 in Kerikeri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $648 vs $330 – making Kerikeri the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇨 Noumea
🇳🇿 Kerikeri
🕒 Local time
05:36 5:36 AM
07:36 7:36 AM
2 h ahead of Noumea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
91,386 Capital
8,000
💱 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 Kerikeri 1,610 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Noumea
  • Kerikeri

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 Kerikeri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Noumea or Kerikeri?
Noumea costs about 32% more than Kerikeri, 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 Kerikeri?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,587 per month in Noumea and $2,725 in Kerikeri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Noumea or Kerikeri?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kerikeri, 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 Kerikeri?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $111 in Noumea and $66.0 in Kerikeri. 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 Kerikeri?
Groceries cost about 97% 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 Kerikeri?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kerikeri, where all-in costs run around $1,817, than in Noumea at $2,391. In Kerikeri 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 Kerikeri?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kerikeri costs $1,817 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 Kerikeri?
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 Kerikeri?
If budget matters most, go with Kerikeri. 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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