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 17.6% more expensive than New Zealand without rent, and 36% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 10.4% more expensive than New Zealand without rent, and 29.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$15.21 NZ$26.77
29.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 $74.5
$79.7 NZ$140
-6.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 $11.69
$9.82 NZ$17.28
19.04%
Cappuccino
$5.10 $5.10
$3.53 NZ$6.21
44.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.27 NZ$3.99
11.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.20 NZ$3.87
-2.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$6.94 NZ$12.21
-11.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.73 NZ$11.84
1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.79 NZ$3.14
-39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.97 NZ$3.48
82.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.82 NZ$3.20
157.69%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$6.34 NZ$11.17
-33.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.87 $12.87
$8.13 NZ$14.31
58.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.99 $11.99
$9.64 NZ$16.96
24.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.12 $16.12
$13.43 NZ$23.64
20.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.90 NZ$5.11
77.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.27 NZ$3.99
-25.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$3.12 NZ$5.48
46.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.67 NZ$8.22
2.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.04 NZ$3.58
48.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.81 NZ$3.19
66.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.31 NZ$4.06
-5.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.15 NZ$2.03
92.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$23.88 NZ$42.02
-57.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 $15.30
$8.88 NZ$15.62
72.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$3.04 NZ$5.35
-36.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.56 NZ$6.27
3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
New Zealand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.35 NZ$4.13
8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$107 NZ$189
-39.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.34 NZ$4.11
56.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.95 NZ$3.42
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$35.46 NZ$62.4
-16.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.64 NZ$2.89
-42.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$27.4K NZ$48.2K
11.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$21.6K NZ$37.9K
22.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$140 NZ$246
50.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.2 $58.2
$34.57 NZ$60.9
68.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3 $71.3
$51.1 NZ$90.0
39.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.20 $45.20
$37.45 NZ$65.9
20.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.81 $21.81
$14.87 NZ$26.17
46.67%
Cinema Ticket
$13.94 $13.94
$12.04 NZ$21.19
15.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,376 $1,376
$755 NZ$1,329
82.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$11.5K NZ$20.3K
97.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 $52.2
$67.7 NZ$119
-22.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.35 $43.35
$42.28 NZ$74.4
2.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 $91.7
$99.1 NZ$174
-7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$120 NZ$211
-6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
New Zealand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 $1,759
$1,104 NZ$1,943
59.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$936 NZ$1,648
51.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,930 $2,930
$1,779 NZ$3,131
64.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,359 $2,359
$1,495 NZ$2,631
57.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,371 $3,371
$5,457 NZ$9,604
-38.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,685 $2,685
$3,682 NZ$6,480
-27.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
New Zealand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,390 $4,390
$2,905 NZ$5,112
51.14%
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: March 30, 2026

Last update for New Zealand: March 29, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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