New Zealand Cost of Living: What To Keep In Mind | A Detailed Guide [2021]

New Zealand Cost of Living – New Zealand is a country of two islands. It is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean and it consists of around three hundred and twenty-five thousand square kilometers (120,000 sq mi). New Zealand has a population of 4.8 million people. Auckland is the largest city and also the country’s economic centre.

English is the official language and New Zealand’s currency is called the New Zealand dollar (NZD). The cost of living in New Zealand is quite high compared to many other places in the world. The average cost of living in New Zealand for one month is NZ$ 3,200 which equals about $1,700 USD or €1,500 EURO at today’s exchange rates.

New Zealand cost of living is high. Goods and services are more expensive here than in other countries. Wages are not as high to match the cost of living, meaning that people often need two incomes to make ends meet.

New Zealand – Quick Overview

New Zealand is one of the most desirable nations to reside in. The price of life in New Zealand is quite expensive. Four people in a household will spend approximately 6000 NZD to 8000 NZD each month. If you’re thinking to relocate to New Zealand, keep in your mind the costs to live in New Zealand for Indians.

The cities that are the most expensive include Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. They are the largest as well. There is a shortage of housing in these cities which makes current properties more expensive. Prices for housing in Christchurch have slowed in recent years which makes it more appealing to expats. But, smaller cities such as Dunedin or Hamilton are quite affordable and have lots of jobs available.

Education is government-subsidized in New Zealand. This means that public schools are absolutely free. Parents are required to cover the cost of their child’s school uniform and school books. Some schools require an annual donation fee. Additionally, healthcare is subsidized by the state and covers primary, emergency, and preventative health care.

Alcohol, food, and some other items are costly since non-local items need to be imported from abroad.

Living Expenses in New Zealand

New Zealand is an island nation located in the south-western Pacific Ocean. Living expenses in New Zealand are comparable to other western countries, but lower in some cases. While housing costs for ex-pats in New Zealand are higher than in many parts of Asia, they are still cheaper than in most European cities.

Expected Living Expense | New Zealand Cost of Living

Many people who move to this country say that the biggest shock they experienced was the high cost of living in New Zealand.  The minimum wage is equivalent to $15/hr which is higher than in many Asian countries, but it is drastically affected by what industry you work in and where you live.  

For example, if your profession is a chef, your salary will be lower than a financial controller’s salary.  In the same industry in New Zealand, an experienced financial controller working in Auckland can easily earn $100k+ while a new-hire chef working in Dunedin may only earn $25k.

As it has been mentioned above, one of the biggest factors that affect Living Expenses is where you live. Prices vary greatly between cities and regions. For example, Living expenses for food are high in Whangarei compared to Invercargill due to their geographical locations.

While commuting from Whangarei to Auckland costs nearly nothing but takes more than 4 hours every day whereas living close to Invercargill and driving less than 1 hour back and forth to work is much cheaper, but it would be foolish to think that Living Expenses in NZ are not high.  

When you live in New Zealand, you will most likely travel less frequently than when you were living in your home country due to increased Living Expenses, but it is still important for budgeting purposes to understand Living Expenses.

Consumer goods tend to be more expensive than the USA or Canada due to import costs which mean Living expenses in New Zealand may seem high at first glance but often aren’t unreasonable if averaged out over a year. The Living wage in New Zealand is $19 per hour so an individual working full-time at minimum wage would earn around $41k/yr which provides plenty of wiggle room for Living Expenses.

Housing Cost In New Zealand

• => New Zealand Cost of Living – Housing is essential to life. Housing units range from tents to caravans, to homes in the suburbs. Housing costs are rising in New Zealand and have been for some time now. Housing in New Zealand is important because it can help people feel more comfortable living in a place or it can be a deterrent when the prices are too high.
• => Housing costs plaguing New Zealand is a serious concern and the government needs to take action. Housing costs in New Zealand are rising rapidly and becoming out of reach for many.

Utility Cost In New Zealand

• => It’s important to understand the true cost of utilities in New Zealand. Utility prices in New Zealand are relatively high, but they’re even higher in other countries. There are many factors that affect utility bills such as location and age of the property, but there’s one factor that is most likely to lead to a high bill: the size of your house.
• => The more living spaces you have, the more pricey utilities will be. Luckily, there are ways for you to save money on utilities. Here, we’ll talk about some common mistakes homeowners make and give you some tips on how you can reduce your bills and live more efficiently.
• => For New Zealand, utilities such as gas, electricity, and water aren’t included in the rent you pay each month. Prices differ based on the location you live in and the number of people living with you. On average, you should anticipate paying between 200-250 NZD. A subscription to the internet costs around 85 NZD per month, contingent on the internet speed. It is a cost for living and working within New Zealand for Indians.

Food Cost | New Zealand Cost of Living

• => Prices for alcohol and food items In New Zealand are relatively high in comparison to the US as well as European countries, mostly imported products as most of the items are imported due to the tax rates on imports that are high. If you are a fan of dining out, expect to spend around 60 NZD for a meal for two at a low-cost restaurant. A more luxurious restaurant will cost you around 100 NZD for two persons.

• => The cost of food varies from country to country. In New Zealand, the average cost of food ranges from $400 to $600 per month. This is an important consideration if you are moving there for work or studying abroad. It can also be useful to know the cost of groceries before you move abroad so that you have a sense of whether or not your salary will allow you to support yourself without being too reliant on credit cards and loans.

Travel and Transportation Cost

• => Transport throughout New Zealand is slow and costly. The nation’s transportation system is privately owned, and the prices are varying based on the location. Additionally, New Zealand does not have a common railway system. It is possible to travel by bus however they’re expensive too. Bus fare begins at just 10 NZD (6.50 USD).
• => Larger cities like Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in addition to Queenstown each have their own functioning public transportation system that is local to them A one-way ticket for transportation within the city costs 3.50 NZD and a monthly pass will cost you around 150 NZD. Because of the high import tax, purchasing a car within New Zealand can be a very expensive purchase .for instance, the cost for a brand new Volkswagen Golf is 35,000 NZD (21,000 USD).
• => Taxis and ride-hailing services like Uber, Green Cabs, are readily available across the nation. Taxi fares average in the region of three NZD. This is our guide to what it is like to live in New Zealand for Indians.