Cost of Living in North Shore - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $909 (excluding rent), and $1,793 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,268 (excluding rent), and $3,705 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.33 NZ$26.76

$9.19 NZ$16.05

$30.66 NZ$53.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 NZ$140

$49.18 NZ$85.9

$123 NZ$215

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 NZ$15.16

$7.45 NZ$13.01

$11.16 NZ$19.49

Cappuccino

$3.54 NZ$6.18

$3.02 NZ$5.27

$4.32 NZ$7.54

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

$2.15 NZ$3.75

$1.84 NZ$3.22

$3.38 NZ$5.91

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 NZ$3.07

$3.51 NZ$6.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 NZ$12.81

$5.5 NZ$9.61

$9.16 NZ$16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 NZ$12.56

$5.39 NZ$9.42

$8.39 NZ$14.64

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 NZ$3.05

$1.17 NZ$2.05

$2.39 NZ$4.18

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 NZ$2.6

$1.11 NZ$1.94

$2.95 NZ$5.16

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 NZ$3.39

$1.19 NZ$2.07

$2.96 NZ$5.16

Eggs

$5.94 NZ$10.38

$4.2 NZ$7.34

$8.64 NZ$15.09

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 NZ$14.47

$5.37 NZ$9.37

$11.92 NZ$20.82

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 NZ$16.28

$5.88 NZ$10.26

$18.21 NZ$31.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 NZ$15.97

$7.93 NZ$13.85

$17.08 NZ$29.83

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 NZ$4.84

$1.85 NZ$3.23

$4.32 NZ$7.53

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 NZ$3.79

$1.85 NZ$3.22

$3.07 NZ$5.36

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 NZ$5.83

$2.44 NZ$4.27

$4.89 NZ$8.54

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 NZ$7.19

$2.13 NZ$3.72

$6.1 NZ$10.65

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 NZ$3.52

$1.2 NZ$2.1

$3.6 NZ$6.28

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 NZ$2.84

$0.94 NZ$1.63

$2.35 NZ$4.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.9 NZ$3.32

$1.19 NZ$2.08

$3.56 NZ$6.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 NZ$1.26

$0.63 NZ$1.1

$2.52 NZ$4.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.83 NZ$43.36

$21.86 NZ$38.17

$30.36 NZ$53

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 NZ$19.12

$8.65 NZ$15.1

$14.4 NZ$25.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 NZ$3.36

$1.59 NZ$2.77

$6.17 NZ$10.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 NZ$2.19

$7.32 NZ$12.78

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 NZ$4.22

$2.33 NZ$4.06

$2.5 NZ$4.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.4 NZ$112

$8.09 NZ$14.12

$64.4 NZ$112

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 NZ$3.78

$1.86 NZ$3.24

$3.09 NZ$5.39

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 NZ$3.37

$1.49 NZ$2.6

$3.76 NZ$6.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.86 NZ$60.9

$29.8 NZ$52

$35.76 NZ$62.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 NZ$2.81

$1.43 NZ$2.49

$1.92 NZ$3.36

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

$27.9K NZ$48.8K

$23.8K NZ$41.5K

$32.1K NZ$56K

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

$22.2K NZ$38.8K

$21.2K NZ$36.9K

$23K NZ$40.1K

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

$146 NZ$255

$98.7 NZ$172

$214 NZ$374

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

$14.82 NZ$25.87

$11.86 NZ$20.71

$47.43 NZ$82.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.32 NZ$77.4

$39.46 NZ$68.9

$66.2 NZ$116

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.61 NZ$49.95

$11.92 NZ$20.82

$38.14 NZ$66.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.09 NZ$21.11

$4.83 NZ$8.44

$15.72 NZ$27.45

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 NZ$18.87

$9.61 NZ$16.78

$18.02 NZ$31.46

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

$916 NZ$1,599

$805 NZ$1,406

$1,270 NZ$2,217

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K NZ$23.7K

$12K NZ$21K

$16.8K NZ$29.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.2 NZ$123

$42.13 NZ$73.6

$96.3 NZ$168

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 NZ$87.7

$30.28 NZ$52.9

$90.8 NZ$159

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 NZ$163

$59.8 NZ$104

$119 NZ$209

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 NZ$160

$79.6 NZ$139

$214 NZ$374

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 NZ$1,821

$331 NZ$578

$1,483 NZ$2,590

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$810 NZ$1,415

$249 NZ$435

$1,203 NZ$2,101

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,987 NZ$5,216

$2,237 NZ$3,907

$3,974 NZ$6,938

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 NZ$2,450

$416 NZ$726

$1,960 NZ$3,422

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 NZ$7,168

$2,256 NZ$3,938

$4,229 NZ$7,385

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,041 NZ$5,310

$2,060 NZ$3,598

$4,774 NZ$8,337

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,846 NZ$4,970

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

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

Last update: December 2, 2025

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Cost of Living in North Shore - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in North Shore, New Zealand includes a mix of options. You'll find strong value in daily essentials if you shop where locals do, plus a range of housing choices that suit budgets from compact apartments to family friendly homes in quieter bays. Utilities and transport are practical considerations; some areas cluster around easy ferry or bus access, while others offer faster road links by car. Dining out can be reasonable on weekdays and more upscale in popular precincts. Overall value depends on your neighborhood choice, lifestyle pace, and whether you prioritize proximity to beaches, parks, or coworking spaces. Tip: map out a simple monthly plan and test a few neighborhoods before deciding.

Daily life on the North Shore tends to balance coastal charm with suburb energy. For housing, look beyond the first online listing and walk streets to gauge noise, parking, and access to parks. Expect a mix of modern apartments near thriving hubs and quieter family streets a short drive from beaches. Food shopping spans budget-friendly markets, chain supermarkets, and boutique grocers – great for cooking at home or quick cafe meals. For getting around, buses connect popular towns and ferries link to central Auckland; cycling and car sharing are common extras. North Shore, New Zealand living cost tends to vary by neighborhood and transport access, so plan a two-week trial. Tip: Try a two-week housing trial to compare noise levels, transit times, and access to groceries.

Quality of life here hinges on pacing and place. Start with a simple budgeting framework, like a flexible plan that splits spending into essentials, options for discretionary costs, and a safety buffer, and build a small reserve for seasonal shifts in activities and transport costs. Neighborhood fit matters: Takapuna offers nightlife and beaches, Devonport stitches history with compact housing, while Glenfield or Albany deliver value with longer commutes to central Auckland. Seasonality affects events, outdoor options, and crowd levels at popular spots, so target midweek outings to avoid peak jams. Leverage shared workspaces and community groups to ease social disruptors. Tip: Choose a neighborhood you can walk or bike to daily errands, then test it across a week to feel the cadence.