Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wanaka and Agana Heights

For one person, living is cheaper in Agana Heights: $1,006 a month against $1,666 in Wanaka, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wanaka
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,666
/mo nomad
Agana Heights
🇬🇺 Guam
$1,006
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wanaka and in Agana Heights

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,666 in Wanaka versus $1,006 in Agana Heights.

  • Wanaka $1,666
  • Agana Heights $1,006

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,631 in Wanaka versus $1,356 in Agana Heights.

  • Wanaka $2,631
  • Agana Heights $1,356

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,596 in Wanaka versus $1,707 in Agana Heights.

  • Wanaka $3,596
  • Agana Heights $1,707

Living in Wanaka is roughly 66% more expensive than in Agana Heights, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Wanaka is 23% above, Agana Heights is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.13 NZ$24.98
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.3 NZ$99.6
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 NZ$14.53
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.00 NZ$5.31
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 NZ$2.99
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 NZ$3.42
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.53 NZ$11.56
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16 NZ$10.90
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 NZ$3.78
$1.70 $1.70
25.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 NZ$3.38
$4.65 $4.65
-58.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 NZ$3.09
$1.70 $1.70
2.94%
Eggs
$5.93 NZ$10.49
$4.08 $4.08
45.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 NZ$14.94
$25.94 $25.94
-67.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 NZ$16.57
$6.60 $6.60
41.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.30 NZ$28.82
$17.90 $17.90
-8.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 NZ$5.30
$3.99 $3.99
-24.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 NZ$3.73
$1.20 $1.20
75.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 NZ$5.73
$1.92 $1.92
68.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.92 NZ$8.70
$6.72 $6.72
-26.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 NZ$3.16
$2.82 $2.82
-36.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$3.21
$2.85 $2.85
-36.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 NZ$3.97
$4.07 $4.07
-44.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 NZ$0.97
$2.02 $2.02
-72.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.98 NZ$38.87
$9.81 $9.81
124.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.05 NZ$16.00
$12.18 $12.18
-25.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 NZ$5.42
$1.84 $1.84
66.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 NZ$2.20
$1.54 $1.54
-19.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.95 $2.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$60.8 $60.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 NZ$10.01
$10.08 $10.08
-43.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.07 NZ$49.64
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 NZ$3.18
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K NZ$45.2K
$38.9K $38.9K
-34.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K NZ$44.1K
$35.7K $35.7K
-30.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 NZ$194
$339 $339
-67.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.11 NZ$49.71
$75.9 $75.9
-62.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.3 NZ$92.4
$97.4 $97.4
-46.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 NZ$17.86
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$591 NZ$1,045
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 NZ$104
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.64 NZ$61.3
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.3 NZ$121
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8 NZ$130
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$970 NZ$1,716
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$793 NZ$1,403
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,852 NZ$3,275
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 NZ$2,821
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,611 NZ$9,923
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wanaka
Agana Heights
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 NZ$7,597
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
0
-

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

Last update for Wanaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Agana Heights: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wanaka
$793
Agana Heights
–
Groceries & Markets
Wanaka
$318
Agana Heights
–
Eating Out
Wanaka
$233
Agana Heights
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wanaka
$190
Agana Heights
–
Clothing & Footwear
Wanaka
$106
Agana Heights
–
Sport & Entertainment
Wanaka
$20 *
Agana Heights
–
Getting Around
Wanaka
$5.7 *
Agana Heights
–

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

Good to know
🇳🇿 Wanaka
🇬🇺 Agana Heights
🕒 Local time
11:09 11:09 AM
08:09 8:09 AM
3 h behind Wanaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,600
3,940
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wanaka Agana Heights 6,920 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wanaka
  • Agana Heights

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
Wanaka vs Agana Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wanaka or Agana Heights?
Agana Heights wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Wanaka. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Agana Heights the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Wanaka and in Agana Heights?
You'd need roughly $2,499 in Wanaka and $1,509 in Agana Heights to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Are groceries more expensive in Wanaka or in Agana Heights?
Shoppers in Wanaka pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Wanaka compared to Agana Heights?
All in, you'll spend $1,666 per month in Wanaka versus $1,006 in Agana Heights – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Wanaka or in Agana Heights?
At $1,006 in Agana Heights versus $1,666 in Wanaka, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Agana Heights but tight or insufficient in Wanaka. The gap between the two cities makes Agana Heights the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wanaka or Agana Heights?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agana Heights delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,006 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agana Heights hard to pass up.
How safe is Wanaka compared to Agana Heights?
Safety-wise, Wanaka and Agana Heights are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Agana Heights gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Wanaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Wanaka vs other spots: cost of living compared

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