Struggling to decide where to settle in New Zealand?
While there are many factors to consider, none is going to affect your life quite as much cost of living.
In other words – can you afford to live in a particular area? To get to the answer, you have to look at the cost of rent, groceries and most certainly schooling if you’re a parent.
We’ve done the legwork for you by comparing the cost of living in New Zealand’s three biggest cities – Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.
Please note: All costs are in New Zealand dollars.
1. Rent
Many of us spend a considerable chunk of our salary on rent each month, so let’s start there, shall we?
1-Bedroom apartment in the city centre
Let’s say you’re a single person or a couple, and you love the hustle and bustle of the city. You’ll see that a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre is most affordable Christchurch.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
1-bedroom apartment in the city | 2,314.09 | 2,133.55 | 1,570.00 |
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage collection (85m² apartment) | 232.89 | 218.31 | 173.55 |
Internet (60 mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL) | 82.50 | 85.60 | 75.27 |
Total | 2,629.48 | 2,437.46 | 1,818.82 |
3-Bedroom apartment in the suburbs
You’re immigrating as a family, and you want a 3-bedroom apartment in the suburbs.
Auckland comes out tops again, with the average rental price at NZ$2,461.32 a month – nearly NZ$900 less than in Auckland, which comes in second place.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
3-bedroom apartment in the city | 3,101.00 | 3,017.92 | 2,212.50 |
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage collection (85m² apartment) | 232.89 | 218.31 | 173.55 |
Internet (60 mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL) | 82.50 | 85.60 | 75.27 |
Total | 3,419.09 | 3,321.83 | 2,461.32 |
3. Groceries
When comparing the cost of a basket with 12 everyday items, you’ll spend NZ$90.48 in Auckland, NZ$89.31 in Wellington, and NZ$83.75 in Christchurch.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
1L Milk | 2.94 | 3.14 | 2.78 |
Loaf of white bread | 3.12 | 3.30 | 2.16 |
1kg Rice | 3.25 | 3.23 | 3.28 |
12 Eggs | 6.31 | 7.06 | 5.93 |
1kg Local cheese | 14.74 | 13.38 | 13.11 |
1kg Chicken fillets | 14.77 | 14.79 | 14.27 |
1kg Beef round | 21.69 | 22.50 | 23.35 |
1kg Apples | 4.54 | 4.47 | 4.32 |
1kg Bananas | 3.33 | 3.20 | 3.26 |
1kg Tomatoes | 7.64 | 8.89 | 4.27 |
1kg Potatoes | 3.05 | 2.95 | 2.85 |
Lettuce | 3.93 | 3.57 | 4.17 |
Total | 89.31 | 90.48 | 83.75 |
4. School fees
Your child’s education is free at state schools if they’re a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.
Let’s say, however, that you choose to send your child to a private institution. Christchurch offers the most affordable primary schooling by far! The difference in daycare costs are much less, but Christchurch is still the most affordable.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
Private preschool (or kindergarten) - Monthly for 1 child (full day) | 1,157.14 | 1,245.45 | 1,138.33 |
International primary school - Yearly for 1 child | 18,142.86 | 19,888.89 | 14,500.00 |
5. Getting around
To go about your daily business in New Zealand, you can either take public transport or buy a car.
Taking public transport
Christchurch is the clear winner when it comes to the cost of public transport. Your one-way ticket is going to be NZ$2.80 while a monthly pass will cost you NZ$115.22.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
1-way Ticket (local transport) | 3.92 | 4.15 | 2.80 |
Monthly pass (regular price) | 150.00 | 215.00 | 115.22 |
Buying a car
You’ll notice that there aren’t massive variances between new car prices across the three cities. The same is true for the cost of a litre of petrol, but we all know those cents add up quickly when filling up a car.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (or equivalent new car) | 35,000.00 | 37,995.00 | 40,000.00 |
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (or equivalent new car) | 31,360.00 | 33,513.85 | 33,164.44 |
1L of Petrol | 2.81 | 2.82 | 2.76 |
6. Going out for a meal
Enjoying a meal with friends is a favourite pastime for many of us. You get to unwind, catch up on each other’s lives, and have a good laugh or two.
Lunch at your local restaurant
Christchurch is cheapest for local, laid-back restaurants and a simple meal. Your meal and two drinks are only going to set you back NZ$32.52. The same meal will only cost marginally more in Wellington at NZ$33.85.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 20.00 | 25.00 | 20.00 |
500ml Draught beer | 10.00 | 10.00 | 9.00 |
330ml Coke | 3.85 | 3.64 | 3.52 |
Total | 33.85 | 38.64 | 32.52 |
Dinner at an upmarket restaurant
Let’s imagine it’s your birthday. You want a three-course meal with a good bottle of wine. Your birthday dinner is going to cost the least in Christchurch.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
3-Course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant | 100.00 | 120.00 | 100.00 |
Bottle of wine | 16.00 | 17.00 | 15.00 |
Total | 116.00 | 137.00 | 115.00 |
7. Your 1morning coffee run
Grabbing a coffee on the way to work is such an integral part of our lives, and Auckland is the most affordable city for a cappuccino and that bottle of water you grab to go with it.
| Wellington | Auckland | Christchurch | |
|---|---|---|---|
Cappuccino | 5.03 | 5.35 | 5.42 |
Bottle of water | 3.58 | 2.71 | 2.94 |
Total | 8.61 | 8.06 | 8.36 |
In conclusion
When compared to Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch is the most affordable city in just about every instance.
In the end, though, it’s not only cost of living that’ll determine where you settle but also your lifestyle and priorities, so be sure to take those factors into consideration too.
Please note: Costs are from Numbeo (May 2022).
- Published in Family Immigration, Life in New Zealand
Your New Zealand visa application: This is how you prevent delays
Is this you – you’re eager to lodge your New Zealand visa application, because you want to get to New Zealand as quickly as possible?
Yes, it is?
Then let’s pause and remind you of the saying ‘haste makes waste’ – when you try to do things too quickly, sometimes you get them wrong or have to do them all over again.
Unfortunately it’s all too easy to ‘make waste’ when doing a visa application and the result often is unnecessary delays.
The best strategy is to take the necessary time and precautions to submit a complete and correct application.
Here’s our tips on how to do this:
1. Plan ahead
You have to start with an assessment to find out if you’re eligible to live in New Zealand. Book one as soon as possible if you haven’t done that yet.
The assessment will show which visa you stand to qualify for, which in turn will highlight the best way forward.
Knowing the emigration route available to you, means knowing which documentation you’ll need in future, whether or not you’ll have to do an English test, if you have to register with a professional body, etc. Essentially, all the parts of your application that you’ll have to submit.
2. Check that you’ve included all the required documentation
The one thing most applicants are guilty of, is neglecting to submit all the necessary documents. Our advisers often have to request documents a second time because it wasn’t included in the original pack.
The best thing to do is to have a checklist, to tick off documents as you go. Mark up also if documents should be photocopies, originals or certified copies.
If you’re working with an adviser, you should get a list of all required documentation. Your adviser should also check all documents once received, to ensure that you’ve sent them everything.
You may of course choose to do your New Zealand visa application on your own, but be aware that the experience might be more stressful, especially if you’re someone who gets stressed easily.
3. Check your passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires and have enough free pages for any required visa labels.
When our clients have a passports valid for only a couple of months, our advice is always to apply for a passport before starting any visa applications.
When you have to apply for a new passport in the middle of an application, it could lead to delays.
4. Apply for your visa in time
Visa application take time to be decided and there’s nothing you, or us, can do once an application is in the hands of Immigration New Zealand.
It is thus important to allow sufficient time for your application when making the rest of your plans.
Need professional help with your New Zealand visa application?
Like we said, you can do your visa application on your own, but if you suspect that it would be a more pleasant experience with a professional by your side, you are more than welcome to contact us.
You can speak to an adviser by booking a consultation call..
We’ll start with an assessment, the important first step, and then we’ll explain the best way forward – so that you can plan ahead and apply for your visa in time.
- Published in New Zealand Immigration Advice