Cost of Living Comparison Between Wanaka and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Wanaka and Christchurch

🙂 Solo nomad: Wanaka is 11.2% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Wanaka is 5.9% cheaper than Christchurch without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03 NZ$19.84
$16.56 NZ$27.32
-27.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 NZ$99.7
$71.4 NZ$118
-15.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.16 NZ$15.11
$9.41 NZ$15.53
-2.66%
Cappuccino
$3.27 NZ$5.4
$3.34 NZ$5.52
-2.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 NZ$2.87
$2.3 NZ$3.8
-24.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 NZ$3.2
$2.03 NZ$3.34
-4.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.29 NZ$12.02
$7.31 NZ$12.06
-0.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99 NZ$9.88
$7.2 NZ$11.87
-16.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 NZ$3.41
$1.91 NZ$3.16
8.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 NZ$3.1
$1.94 NZ$3.2
-3.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 NZ$3.15
$1.73 NZ$2.85
10.40%
Eggs
$5.57 NZ$9.18
$6.26 NZ$10.33
-11.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 NZ$13.65
$8.18 NZ$13.48
1.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.64 NZ$17.56
$9.65 NZ$15.91
10.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.19 NZ$21.75
$12.83 NZ$21.17
2.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 NZ$4.89
$3.06 NZ$5.04
-3.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 NZ$3.58
$2.71 NZ$4.46
-19.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 NZ$5.4
$2.95 NZ$4.87
11.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 NZ$7.29
$5.52 NZ$9.11
-19.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.29
$2.15 NZ$3.54
-7.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 NZ$3.43
$2.21 NZ$3.64
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 NZ$4.05
$2.98 NZ$4.91
-17.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 NZ$1.82
$1.45 NZ$2.4
-23.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.45 NZ$40.32
$23.66 NZ$39.02
3.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.51 NZ$14.04
$8.93 NZ$14.72
-4.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 NZ$4.29
$3.82 NZ$6.29
-31.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 NZ$6.11
$4.85 NZ$8
-23.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 NZ$3.43
$1.24 NZ$2.05
67.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.3 NZ$104
$41.94 NZ$69.2
50.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 NZ$4.35
$2.63 NZ$4.34
0.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 NZ$1.88
$1.64 NZ$2.7
-30.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.78 NZ$49.11
$30.26 NZ$49.91
-1.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 NZ$2.86
$1.71 NZ$2.81
1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K NZ$32.4K
$27K NZ$44.5K
-27.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K NZ$42.4K
$20K NZ$33K
28.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 NZ$171
$116 NZ$191
-10.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.34 NZ$58.3
$32.15 NZ$53
9.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 NZ$92.6
$52.6 NZ$86.8
6.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.88 NZ$69.1
$34.61 NZ$57.1
21.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.98 NZ$19.76
$15.47 NZ$25.51
-22.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 NZ$16.23
$10.81 NZ$17.83
-8.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$582 NZ$960
$653 NZ$1,077
-10.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K NZ$20.1K
$9,249 NZ$15.3K
31.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 NZ$108
$64 NZ$105
2.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.05 NZ$57.8
$43.12 NZ$71.1
-18.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 NZ$121
$90.8 NZ$150
-18.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3 NZ$131
$150 NZ$247
-47.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 NZ$1,741
$1,536 NZ$2,534
-31.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$855 NZ$1,411
$1,158 NZ$1,911
-26.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,982 NZ$3,269
$2,059 NZ$3,395
-3.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,752 NZ$2,890
$1,488 NZ$2,453
17.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,252 NZ$7,012
$4,194 NZ$6,918
1.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,842 NZ$6,336
$3,361 NZ$5,543
14.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wanaka
Christchurch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,747 NZ$7,830
$2,736 NZ$4,512
73.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
6.74
-40.65%

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

Last update for Wanaka: October 27, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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