City in Otago, New Zealand
Cost of living in Dunedin
How much a month costs in Dunedin
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,960–2,690 (NZ$3,500–4,800).
Prices in Dunedin
Typical 2026 ranges in NZD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | NZD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | NZ$1,500–2,200 | $842–1,240 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | NZ$1,200–1,800 | $674–1,010 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | NZ$32–55 | $18–31 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | NZ$130–220 | $73–124 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | NZ$14–22 | $7.9–12.4 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | NZ$30–52 | $17–29 |
| Cappuccino | NZ$4–5 | $2.2–2.8 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | NZ$8–12 | $4.5–6.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | NZ$2–4 | $1.1–2.2 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | NZ$14–24 | $7.9–13.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | NZ$50–90 | $28–51 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | NZ$30–60 | $17–34 |
Value for money: 53/100
A value score of 53/100 means Dunedin gives more quality of life per dollar than 52% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 84/100. It's the 3rd most affordable of 17 places we cover in New Zealand.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across New Zealand
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua | $1,960–2,690 | 56/100 |
| Taupo | $1,960–2,690 | 56/100 |
| Dunedin | $1,960–2,690 | 53/100 |
| Nelson | $1,960–2,690 | 57/100 |
| Bay of Islands | $2,020–2,810 | 55/100 |
| Christchurch | $2,130–2,810 | 51/100 |
| Tauranga | $2,130–2,920 | 51/100 |
| Wellington | $2,360–3,090 | 42/100 |
| Lake Tekapo | $2,360–3,140 | 41/100 |
| Auckland | $2,530–3,370 | 38/100 |
| Wanaka | $2,530–3,370 | 36/100 |
| Milford Sound | $2,530–3,370 | 34/100 |
| Coromandel | $2,530–3,370 | 38/100 |
| Kaikoura | $2,640–3,480 | 34/100 |
| Queenstown | $2,690–3,650 | 30/100 |
| Franz Josef | $2,810–3,650 | 28/100 |
| Waiheke Island | $2,920–3,930 | 26/100 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Dunedin?
About $1,120–1,570 on a lean budget, $1,960–2,690 for a comfortable month and $3,650–5,330 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Dunedin?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs NZ$1,500–2,200 ($842–1,240) a month in the center and NZ$1,200–1,800 ($674–1,010) outside it.
How much does food cost in Dunedin?
A local meal is NZ$14–22 ($7.9–12.4); a mid-range restaurant is NZ$30–52 ($17–29) per person.
Is New Zealand expensive?
Prices in New Zealand are about 86% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Dunedin
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Dunedin Airport
- Otago Regional Council (Orbus)
- Enterprise Dunedin
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.