Town in West Coast, New Zealand
Cost of living in Franz Josef
How much a month costs in Franz Josef
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,810–3,650 (NZ$5,000–6,500).
Prices in Franz Josef
Typical 2026 ranges in NZD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | NZD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | NZ$40–65 | $22–36 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | NZ$190–380 | $107–213 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | NZ$17–26 | $9.5–14.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | NZ$34–58 | $19–33 |
| Cappuccino | NZ$5–6.5 | $2.8–3.6 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | NZ$10–14 | $5.6–7.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | NZ$30–60 | $17–34 |
Value for money: 28/100
A value score of 28/100 means Franz Josef gives more quality of life per dollar than 27% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 86/100. It's the 16th 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 |
Cheaper alternatives to Franz Josef
Similar safety, lower cost, in Oceania.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Taupo | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Bay of Islands | New Zealand | $2,020–2,810 |
| Christchurch | New Zealand | $2,130–2,810 |
| Wellington | New Zealand | $2,360–3,090 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Franz Josef?
About $1,680–2,130 on a lean budget, $2,810–3,650 for a comfortable month and $4,490–6,740 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Franz Josef?
A local meal is NZ$17–26 ($9.5–14.6); a mid-range restaurant is NZ$34–58 ($19–33) per person.
Is New Zealand expensive?
Prices in New Zealand are about 86% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Franz Josef
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Department of Conservation (Franz Josef/Waiau)
- InterCity coaches
- Westland District Council
- Glacier Country tourism
- Health NZ: West Coast hospitals
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.