Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Christchurch

🙂 Solo nomad: Thames is 13.2% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Thames is 6.3% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.31 NZ$25.25
$16.56 NZ$27.32
-7.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 NZ$132
$71.4 NZ$118
11.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 NZ$16.39
$9.41 NZ$15.53
5.63%
Cappuccino
$3.52 NZ$5.8
$3.34 NZ$5.52
5.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.73
$2.3 NZ$3.8
-1.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 NZ$3.78
$2.03 NZ$3.34
12.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.12 NZ$11.75
$7.31 NZ$12.06
-2.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 NZ$12.02
$7.2 NZ$11.87
1.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.8 NZ$2.96
$1.91 NZ$3.16
-5.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 NZ$3.41
$1.94 NZ$3.2
6.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.29
$1.73 NZ$2.85
15.03%
Eggs
$6.88 NZ$11.35
$6.26 NZ$10.33
9.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.48 NZ$13.99
$8.18 NZ$13.48
3.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.8 NZ$16.16
$9.65 NZ$15.91
1.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.97 NZ$21.4
$12.83 NZ$21.17
1.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 NZ$4.83
$3.06 NZ$5.04
-4.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 NZ$3.59
$2.71 NZ$4.46
-19.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 NZ$5.56
$2.95 NZ$4.87
14.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 NZ$6.79
$5.52 NZ$9.11
-25.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.29
$2.15 NZ$3.54
-7.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 NZ$2.79
$2.21 NZ$3.64
-23.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 NZ$3.21
$2.98 NZ$4.91
-34.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 NZ$2.1
$1.45 NZ$2.4
-12.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.93 NZ$41.11
$23.66 NZ$39.02
5.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.35 NZ$18.73
$8.93 NZ$14.72
27.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 NZ$4.92
$3.82 NZ$6.29
-21.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 NZ$6.49
$4.85 NZ$8
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 NZ$3.4
$1.24 NZ$2.05
66.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 NZ$107
$41.94 NZ$69.2
54.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 NZ$3.56
$2.63 NZ$4.34
-17.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 NZ$3.32
$1.64 NZ$2.7
22.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.55 NZ$58.6
$30.26 NZ$49.91
17.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.82
$1.71 NZ$2.81
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K NZ$47.3K
$27K NZ$44.5K
6.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K NZ$35.9K
$20K NZ$33K
8.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 NZ$237
$116 NZ$191
24.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 NZ$49.41
$32.15 NZ$53
-6.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.04 NZ$80.9
$52.6 NZ$86.8
-6.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 NZ$60.4
$34.61 NZ$57.1
5.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.04 NZ$19.86
$15.47 NZ$25.51
-22.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.99 NZ$24.72
$10.81 NZ$17.83
38.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$893 NZ$1,472
$653 NZ$1,077
36.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K NZ$22.3K
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
45.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2 NZ$116
$64 NZ$105
9.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 NZ$83.5
$43.12 NZ$71.1
17.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 NZ$159
$90.8 NZ$150
6.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 NZ$208
$150 NZ$247
-15.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$958 NZ$1,581
$1,536 NZ$2,534
-37.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 NZ$1,275
$1,158 NZ$1,911
-33.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 NZ$2,622
$2,059 NZ$3,395
-22.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 NZ$2,335
$1,488 NZ$2,453
-4.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,813 NZ$7,937
$4,194 NZ$6,918
14.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,741 NZ$6,169
$3,361 NZ$5,543
11.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thames
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,736 NZ$4,512
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.74
-5.49%

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

Last update for Thames: October 28, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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