Cost of living in New Zealand
New Zealand is a developed and not a cheap country. The cost of living is comparable with other developed countries in Europe, or, for example, with Australia. Prices for many products and even services can vary depending on the season.
We will try to cover a wide range of information about prices in New Zealand. How much do various products cost? What’s the price for the Internet and electricity? The costs of transportation and entertainment. And how much does it cost to rent a house in Auckland and other cities in New Zealand. Prices are relevant for 2024.
Content
- Groceries
- Dine out
- Car and service
- Transport
- Cost of other services
- Entertainment
- Rent
- Utilities
- Salaries
- Cost planning and results
Cost of Groceries
You can buy groceries in large supermarket chains, which are available in big cities and almost all small New Zealand towns. Prices in supermarkets can differ from place to place, from season to season, and some supermarkets are more expensive than others. Nevertheless, we will arrange them in approximate order of decreasing prices on average: New World, Woolworths, Pak n Save.
Next in line are Asian supermarkets, the prices in which may be slightly lower, though not always and the choice of goods there are more modest. And again, in the approximate order of price decrease: Fruit World, Tai Ping, Whenuapai, Dahua, Lim, Fresh and Save.
Smaller stores (corner stores) are also available, but groceries are usually more expensive in them. For example Four Square, Supervalue and various dairies.
Below is an approximate shopping cart for two people, if you shop in the Woolworths supermarket (which is not the cheapest) and during winter period (not the season for most crops and therefore prices are on its top).
Estimated weekly prices:
• Sausages — NZ$13 per 1 kg
• Beef steak — NZ$25 per 500 g
• Lamb steak — NZ$20 per 500 g
• Beef mince — NZ$13 per 500 g
• Chicken drumsticks — NZ$13 per 1 kg
• Chicken breast — NZ$16 per 1 kg
• Salmon fillet — NZ$23 per 500 g
• Milk — NZ$6 per 2 L
• Yogurt — NZ$7 per 1 kg
• Butter — NZ$8 per 500 g
• Sour cream — NZ$4 per 250 g
• Cream cheese — NZ$5 per 250 g
• Cheese — NZ$10 per 500 g
• Eggs — NZ$10 per 12
• Bread — NZ$4 per loaf
• Tomatoes — NZ$6 per 1 kg
• Cucumbers — NZ$7 for 2 large
• Capsicum (bell pepper) — NZ$5 for 2
• Carrots — NZ$3 per 1 kg
• Broccoli — NZ$6 for 2
• Celery — NZ$7 per bunch
• Potatoes — NZ$4 per 1 kg
• Avocados — NZ$8 for 2
• Bananas — NZ$4 per 1 kg
• Mandarins — NZ$9 per 1 kg
• Oranges — NZ$7 per 1 kg
• Apples — NZ$5 per 1 kg
• Canned beans — NZ$2 per 420 g can
• Juice — NZ$4 per 1 L
• Peanut butter — NZ$5 per 500 g
• Cookies — NZ$8 per 600 g
• Chocolate — NZ$8 per 250 g
• Bathroom essentials — around NZ$10 per week
• Beer — NZ$25 for 12 bottles
• Wine — NZ$15 per bottle
Total: approximately NZ$350 per week for two people, including hygiene products, assuming a good, varied and not overly budget-focused diet.
Dine out
Eating in cafes and restaurants can vary a lot. The cost of lunch in a cafe, for example, can strongly depend on the place itself. Here are average examples of prices for different food options:
• Main dish at a shopping mall food court — NZ$15
• Main dish at a regular café — NZ$30
• Main dish at a restaurant — NZ$40
• Pizza — NZ$15
• Coffee — NZ$6
• Glass of beer — NZ$12
• Glass of wine — NZ$14
Total: approximately NZ$200 per week, assuming two people go out a couple of times per week and have drinks.
Cost of Cars and Service
Cars in New Zealand are not a status symbol, but rather a practical necessity for comfortable everyday life. Vehicle prices tend to decrease with age much faster than, for example, in Russia. However, maintenance costs can be relatively high:
• Toyota Corolla 2021 — NZ$23,000
• Toyota Corolla 2016 — NZ$13,000
• 91 petrol — NZ$2.6 per litre
• Diesel — NZ$1.8 per litre
• Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection — NZ$100
• Registration — NZ$150 per year
• Optional insurance — NZ$400–1,000 per year
• Regular servicing — around NZ$270 per year
Total: approximately NZ$100 per week on fuel (based on driving around 200 km per week) including setting money aside for servicing and insurance.
Cost of Transport
In New Zealand, you can use public transport, such as buses and trains. Schedules, cost and routes can always be conveniently viewed, both in Google Maps and on the website of the transport service. The cost will depend on the distance.
- Travel by bus or train – NZ $ 5 per trip on average
- Taxi within the city – NZ $ 50 per trip on average
- Taxi from the airport – NZ $ 80 per trip on average
Estimated weekly cost: from NZ$ 50 if one of the members of a family uses public transportation.
Cost of other services
Perhaps the most expensive thing in New Zealand is paying for people’s work. As a result, service costs can be quite high, although they still depend on the level and quality of the service provided. Here are some examples:
• Hairdresser — NZ$40 for a men’s haircut, NZ$60 for a women’s haircut
• Gym with a pool — NZ$25 per week
• Massage — NZ$100 per hour
• Manicure or pedicure — NZ$50 per session
• Nanny — from NZ$25.00 per hour
• Private tutor — NZ$40 per hour
• Childcare centre — from NZ$10 per hour + possible subsidies of up to 20 hours per week
Total: it is reasonable to budget at least NZ$50 per week for basic essential services.
Cost of Entertainment
In New Zealand, there are plenty of both paid and free entertainment options. The cost of entertainment depends entirely on your preferences and budget, but here are some common examples:
• Tours — from NZ$100 per person
• Cinema — NZ$15 per ticket
• Zoo, museum, theme park, etc. — around NZ$25 per ticket
• Kayak rental — NZ$70 per day
Total: from NZ$50 per week for simple entertainment like going to the cinema and buying popcorn.
Cost of Rent
Housing rental costs in New Zealand
Rental prices in Auckland and other cities across New Zealand can vary significantly. You can read about different cities on our website. Property listings are typically available on Trade Me.
You can also find more details about accommodation options in our separate article. Here, we will look at average rental prices in Auckland. In Tauranga, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and some other cities, rental costs may be 10–30% lower.
• Separate room — NZ$200–300 per week
• Studio — NZ$300–400 per week
• One-bedroom apartment — NZ$400–500 per week
• Two-bedroom apartment, unit or townhouse — NZ$500–700 per week
• House with 3 or more bedrooms — NZ$700–1,000 per week
Total: on average around NZ$600 per week for separate accommodation for two people.
Read more about accommodation options in our article.
Cost of Utilities
Paying household bills makes up a noticeable part of the cost of living in New Zealand. The prices below may vary depending on your living conditions, but here are average figures for a household of two people:
• Electricity — NZ$100–400 per month, depending on usage
• Internet — NZ$80–100 per month
• Water — NZ$30–50 per month
• Mobile phone plan — NZ$20–40 per month
Total: approximately NZ$100 per week for two people.
Cost planning and results
Let’s summarise the cost of living in New Zealand for a couple, assuming good living conditions, separate accommodation and regular expenses. In other words, a minimally comfortable weekly budget:
• Groceries — NZ$350
• Eating out — NZ$200
• Car expenses — NZ$100
• Public transport — NZ$50
• Services — NZ$50
• Entertainment — NZ$50
• Utilities — NZ$100
• Rent — NZ$600
Total: approximately NZ$900 per week for living expenses + NZ$600 per week for rent.
Overall, this comes to around NZ$1,500 per week, NZ$6,500 per month, or NZ$78,000 per year.
Average salaries in New Zealand
The average salary in New Zealand is around NZ$86,000 per year before tax, or approximately NZ$66,000 per year after tax – which is about NZ$5,500 per month. As everywhere, your salary will depend on your industry, work experience, level of competence, and the employer overall.
Here is Tahatu – a general website for checking salary information and career prospects by profession and industry, there is also the Trade Me Salary Guide. There you can assess the income potential for your specific role within your field.
You can read more about employment prospects and how to look for work in New Zealand in our dedicated section.
In reality, an average salary of one person may not be enough for a couple to live comfortably in a beautiful and safe country by the sea. To live freely and have room for additional expenses, which will definitely arise – you will either need to reduce spending, earn more, or have both partners working.
In the first months after arrival, many people manage to spend less than the estimated amounts without significantly affecting their quality of life: sharing accommodation, shopping at budget supermarkets, and keeping other expenses under control.
Salary growth and dual income significantly increase your opportunities. For example, the average combined net income of a couple starts from around NZ$132,000 per year, which allows not only comfortable living but also saving money and travelling.
We recommend that you carefully approach the issue of financial planning.
