Oceania

Cost of living in New Zealand

Capital: WellingtonEnglish, MāoriUpdated October 2026

86%of US price level

Is New Zealand expensive?

Prices in New Zealand are about 86% of US price levels (World Bank PPP). The most affordable place we cover is Rotorua, at about $1,960–2,690 a month for a comfortable life.

Cost of living in New Zealand, by place

One person, rent included. SoloSquare estimates in US$.

Place	Month, comfortable	1-bed rent, center	Local meal	Value
Rotorua	$1,960–2,690	$842–1,180	$7.9–12.4	56/100
Taupo	$1,960–2,690	$842–1,240	$7.9–12.4	56/100
Dunedin	$1,960–2,690	$842–1,240	$7.9–12.4	53/100
Nelson	$1,960–2,690	$842–1,240	$7.9–12.4	57/100
Bay of Islands	$2,020–2,810	$842–1,240	$8.4–13.5	55/100
Christchurch	$2,130–2,810	$954–1,400	$7.9–12.4	51/100
Tauranga	$2,130–2,920	$954–1,400	$7.9–12.4	51/100
Wellington	$2,360–3,090	$1,120–1,680	$8.4–13.5	42/100
Lake Tekapo	$2,360–3,140	—	$9.0–14.6	41/100
Auckland	$2,530–3,370	$1,240–1,800	$8.4–14.0	38/100
Wanaka	$2,530–3,370	$1,180–1,800	$8.4–13.5	36/100
Milford Sound	$2,530–3,370	—	$10.1–15.7	34/100
Coromandel	$2,530–3,370	$786–1,290	$8.4–13.5	38/100
Kaikoura	$2,640–3,480	—	$8.4–14.0	34/100
Queenstown	$2,690–3,650	$1,290–1,960	$9.0–14.6	30/100
Franz Josef	$2,810–3,650	—	$9.5–14.6	28/100
Waiheke Island	$2,920–3,930	$1,120–1,800	$9–14	26/100

Cost of living by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.