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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 13.7% more expensive than New Zealand without rent, and 38.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 10.5% more expensive than New Zealand without rent, and 32.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$15.19 NZ$25.05
33.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$79.1 NZ$130
-5.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$9.48 NZ$15.64
21.20%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$3.55 NZ$5.86
43.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.26 NZ$3.72
12.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.12 NZ$3.49
-0.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$6.84 NZ$11.27
-10.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$6.73 NZ$11.1
5.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.87 NZ$3.08
-42.25%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.97 NZ$3.25
87.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$1.8 NZ$2.97
158.33%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$6.64 NZ$10.96
-36.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$8.41 NZ$13.87
51.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$9.8 NZ$16.16
24.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$13.15 NZ$21.69
22.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$2.79 NZ$4.61
93.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.22 NZ$3.66
-22.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.02 NZ$4.98
44.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$4.66 NZ$7.68
6.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.01 NZ$3.32
43.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.77 NZ$2.93
73.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.38 NZ$3.92
-5.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.16 NZ$1.91
90.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$24.23 NZ$39.96
-58.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$9.04 NZ$14.91
62.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$3.01 NZ$4.96
-36.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.62 NZ$5.97
-2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
New Zealand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.42 NZ$3.99
5.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$108 NZ$178
-40.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.44 NZ$4.03
56.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.96 NZ$3.23
-9.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$36.71 NZ$60.6
-17.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.71 NZ$2.82
-45.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$27.7K NZ$45.7K
8.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$21.6K NZ$35.7K
19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$140 NZ$230
49.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$35.76 NZ$59
61.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$50.9 NZ$84
39.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$36.96 NZ$61
24.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$14.8 NZ$24.41
50.34%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$11.84 NZ$19.53
19.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$757 NZ$1,249
81.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$11.8K NZ$19.4K
89.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$67 NZ$110
-23.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 $41.96
$42.8 NZ$70.6
-1.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$98.1 NZ$162
-9.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$118 NZ$194
-5.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
New Zealand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 $1,731
$1,083 NZ$1,787
59.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$911 NZ$1,502
58.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,846 $2,846
$1,783 NZ$2,941
59.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$1,532 NZ$2,527
54.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,245 $3,245
$4,893 NZ$8,071
-33.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,667 $2,667
$4,027 NZ$6,642
-33.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,312 $4,312
$3,009 NZ$4,963
43.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.74
-3.41%

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

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Last update for New Zealand: October 28, 2025

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