Cost of Living in New Zealand - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: New Zealand
Address: NZ

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $985 (excluding rent), and $2,090 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,514 (excluding rent), and $4,140 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.99 NZ$25.19

$8.99 NZ$15.11

$26.99 NZ$45.34

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 NZ$132

$54.2 NZ$91.1

$121 NZ$202

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 NZ$16.04

$8.94 NZ$15.02

$11.04 NZ$18.55

Cappuccino

$3.55 NZ$5.96

$2.78 NZ$4.67

$4.33 NZ$7.27

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 NZ$3.97

$1.85 NZ$3.11

$3.08 NZ$5.17

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 NZ$3.50

$1.65 NZ$2.76

$2.93 NZ$4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 NZ$11.56

$4.28 NZ$7.19

$9.17 NZ$15.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 NZ$10.92

$5.03 NZ$8.45

$8.87 NZ$14.89

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 NZ$3.14

$1.24 NZ$2.08

$2.78 NZ$4.67

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 NZ$3.33

$1.15 NZ$1.94

$3.08 NZ$5.17

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 NZ$3.04

$1.12 NZ$1.89

$2.94 NZ$4.94

Eggs

$6.59 NZ$11.08

$4.00 NZ$6.73

$8.75 NZ$14.70

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 NZ$13.93

$5.99 NZ$10.06

$12.09 NZ$20.32

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.62 NZ$16.16

$5.40 NZ$9.08

$14.09 NZ$23.67

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 NZ$21.77

$8.90 NZ$14.95

$17.80 NZ$29.91

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 NZ$4.63

$1.18 NZ$1.97

$3.81 NZ$6.40

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 NZ$3.87

$1.83 NZ$3.07

$3.65 NZ$6.14

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 NZ$5.17

$1.82 NZ$3.06

$4.85 NZ$8.14

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 NZ$8.17

$1.84 NZ$3.10

$8.03 NZ$13.48

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 NZ$3.52

$1.23 NZ$2.06

$3.68 NZ$6.18

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 NZ$2.91

$0.89 NZ$1.49

$2.96 NZ$4.98

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 NZ$3.97

$1.52 NZ$2.55

$3.66 NZ$6.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 NZ$1.93

$0.59 NZ$0.99

$2.37 NZ$3.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.41 NZ$41.02

$21.97 NZ$36.92

$30.52 NZ$51.3

Wine (Bottle)

$9.47 NZ$15.90

$7.39 NZ$12.42

$13.02 NZ$21.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 NZ$5.18

$1.54 NZ$2.59

$6.16 NZ$10.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 NZ$6.09

$1.53 NZ$2.57

$7.34 NZ$12.33

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 NZ$4.07

$1.22 NZ$2.05

$3.64 NZ$6.12

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 NZ$183

$48.08 NZ$80.8

$141 NZ$237

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 NZ$4.00

$1.79 NZ$3.00

$4.76 NZ$8.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 NZ$3.11

$1.42 NZ$2.39

$2.73 NZ$4.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.71 NZ$61.7

$30.59 NZ$51.4

$61.2 NZ$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 NZ$2.91

$1.60 NZ$2.69

$1.85 NZ$3.10

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.6K NZ$46.3K

$24.0K NZ$40.3K

$32.4K NZ$54.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.7K NZ$36.5K

$19.9K NZ$33.5K

$24.2K NZ$40.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$139 NZ$233

$86.1 NZ$145

$243 NZ$409

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.71 NZ$60.0

$18.32 NZ$30.77

$48.85 NZ$82.1

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 NZ$85.3

$41.37 NZ$69.5

$65.6 NZ$110

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 NZ$62.1

$12.07 NZ$20.27

$67.6 NZ$114

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.81 NZ$24.88

$5.98 NZ$10.05

$23.94 NZ$40.21

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 NZ$20.14

$8.99 NZ$15.10

$14.98 NZ$25.17

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$768 NZ$1,290

$445 NZ$747

$1,209 NZ$2,031

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K NZ$19.4K

$7,709 NZ$13.0K

$15.4K NZ$25.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 NZ$116

$42.74 NZ$71.8

$104 NZ$174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.55 NZ$73.2

$24.48 NZ$41.13

$73.4 NZ$123

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 NZ$166

$60.9 NZ$102

$146 NZ$245

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 NZ$203

$66.9 NZ$112

$213 NZ$357

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 NZ$1,859

$667 NZ$1,121

$1,577 NZ$2,649

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$925 NZ$1,554

$484 NZ$814

$1,392 NZ$2,339

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 NZ$2,949

$1,186 NZ$1,992

$2,846 NZ$4,780

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 NZ$2,571

$968 NZ$1,627

$2,118 NZ$3,558

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,668 NZ$9,522

$3,856 NZ$6,478

$8,426 NZ$14.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,869 NZ$6,500

$2,536 NZ$4,261

$5,967 NZ$10.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,022 NZ$5,077

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.74

5.59

7.3

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

Last update: March 1, 2026

By City in New Zealand

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Ashburton	20500	94	$1,018	$1,853	$2,311	$3,861	140.3	108.34
2	Auckland	1463000	116	$1,038	$2,282	$2,533	$4,663	174.02	249.44
3	Blenheim	28800	78	$1,059	$1,544	$2,561	$3,454	18.51	147.71
4	Cambridge	21400	112	$818	$2,267	$1,826	$3,783	140.79	197.56
5	Canterbury	-	88	$916	$1,758	$2,104	$3,630	180.48	203.8
6	Christchurch	380600	113	$965	$2,261	$2,409	$3,953	201.67	267
7	Cromwell	5000	91	$868	$1,826	$2,182	$3,792	43.45	155.93
8	Dargaville	4600	94	$803	$1,861	$2,067	$3,997	61.88	165.6
9	Dunedin	105000	92	$968	$1,807	$2,389	$3,795	239.82	240.51
10	Feilding	17350	94	$965	$1,856	$2,613	$4,023	150.35	157.05
11	Fox Glacier	-	94	$1,085	$1,902	$2,397	$4,010	107.25	103.03
12	Gisborne	37300	98	$966	$1,952	$2,030	$3,927	92.98	106.02
13	Gore	3100	94	$896	$1,885	$2,444	$3,911	65.31	200.1
14	Greymouth	4000	95	$892	$1,918	$2,113	$4,008	136.93	186.3
15	Hamilton	169500	94	$920	$1,909	$2,304	$4,001	115.36	274.65
16	Hastings	50100	72	$807	$1,431	$2,107	$3,135	429.96	196.1
17	Invercargill	56200	78	$778	$1,579	$2,404	$3,361	36.33	228.38
18	Kerikeri	8000	92	$1,035	$1,844	$2,013	$3,843	44.84	140.59
19	Levin	18800	94	$1,015	$1,904	$2,601	$4,075	157.88	125.78
20	Lower Hutt	111800	114	$979	$2,322	$2,919	$4,469	131.89	269.89
21	Manukau	-	92	$812	$1,865	$1,998	$3,871	34.11	244.04
22	Masterton	26800	76	$873	$1,501	$2,284	$3,346	22.56	163.77
23	Napier	65000	97	$872	$1,901	$2,709	$4,348	53.23	194.85
24	Nelson	51100	102	$1,109	$1,993	$2,727	$4,158	148.27	220.39
25	New Plymouth	58400	91	$1,034	$1,800	$2,304	$3,727	89.61	205.17
26	North Shore	-	91	$822	$1,778	$2,373	$3,698	111.64	293.59
27	Oamaru	13850	88	$928	$1,788	$2,467	$3,673	47.34	89.2
28	Paeroa	4000	94	$1,055	$1,843	$2,403	$3,985	46.99	146.98
29	Paihia	1800	95	$905	$1,928	$2,540	$3,826	86.32	140.59
30	Palmerston North	90500	84	$899	$1,685	$2,292	$3,704	61.34	171.35
31	Papamoa Beach	25272	94	$814	$1,885	$2,403	$3,919	108.59	229.31
32	Porirua	61900	96	$892	$1,955	$2,144	$4,071	65.46	266.73
33	Pukekohe	26900	87	$716	$1,756	$2,002	$3,435	171.21	244.04
34	Queenstown	15450	139	$1,195	$2,773	$2,941	$5,834	22.07	159.42
35	Rolleston	28000	93	$1,069	$1,818	$2,126	$3,551	50.07	219.13
36	Rotorua	58400	73	$823	$1,453	$1,692	$3,026	135.69	187.69
37	Taupo	26000	95	$836	$1,922	$2,778	$3,996	11.83	173.68
38	Tauranga	155200	108	$846	$2,166	$2,471	$3,992	127.25	229.31
39	Te Awamutu	13350	83	$697	$1,675	$1,794	$3,594	92.22	197.56
40	Thames	7500	95	$961	$1,883	$2,480	$3,933	275.68	159.36
41	Timaru	28600	102	$1,090	$2,007	$2,286	$4,185	42.27	94
42	Upper Hutt	44600	95	$947	$1,876	$2,225	$4,035	351.21	255.08
43	Waiheke Island	-	94	$853	$1,866	$2,254	$3,946	328.33	249.83
44	Waihi	4700	94	$1,040	$1,865	$2,213	$3,901	16.49	146.98
45	Wairoa	4300	94	$908	$1,887	$2,716	$3,983	309.57	53.26
46	Waitakere	-	94	$901	$1,893	$2,174	$3,960	110.93	150.18
47	Wanaka	11600	93	$1,001	$1,876	$2,267	$4,005	169.41	159.42
48	Wellington	215900	116	$1,076	$2,341	$2,646	$4,824	199.91	268.35
49	Whakatane	16700	91	$781	$1,830	$1,990	$3,777	252.03	141.83
50	Whanganui	42300	87	$948	$1,746	$2,032	$3,717	234.74	222.14

New Zealand Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in New Zealand - Frequently Asked Questions

New Zealand offers a mixed affordability picture. In general, essentials and services feel well priced for quality, but housing in cities like Auckland and Wellington can push the overall cost higher. If you’re flexible about location, you’ll often find more value in regional centers and in longer stays that reduce daily costs. Transport is efficient, dining out ranges widely by neighborhood, and you’ll find abundant markets and outdoor recreation that lower leisure expenses. Cost of Living in New Zealand serves as a useful reference, yet your personal budget depends on where you live and how you move. Tip: start with a longer trial stay in several neighborhoods to gauge true costs.

For daily life, expect a practical mix: housing searches focus on lease terms and proximity to work hubs or outdoor escapes. In cities, you’ll find flats, townhouses, and houses with good light and space, but demand can be brisk. Food options span farmers markets, dairies, and bigger supermarkets; cooking at home saves money and supports a healthy routine. Transport varies by city: reliable buses and trains exist, while many people cycle or use car sharing for weekend trips. Co-working spaces are common near universities and tech zones, making it easy to meet people. New Zealand living cost is influenced by city choice and transport needs. Tip: map errands to a neighborhood with a grocery store, pharmacy, and post office nearby.

Quality of life improves when you budget around essentials and flexible discretionary spending, and when you tailor your schedule to local seasons and pace. Use a simple framework that prioritizes housing, groceries, transport, and experiences, then adjust as you settle in. In practice, neighborhood fit matters: urban cores give quick access to coworking, services, and social scenes, while regional towns offer space, nature, and slower rhythms. Seasonality can affect energy use and outdoor activities, so factor those shifts into your planning. Tap into local groups, markets, and regional events to stretch value without sacrificing experience. Tip: pick a base with easy access to both work and nature, and rotate neighborhoods to stay inspired.