Cost of Living in New Zealand – All You Need to Know

Cost of living in New Zealand Students wishing to pursue education in New Zealand must gather the basic knowledge of living cost in New Zealand before applying into any of its universities. Having a sound knowledge of the cost of living in New Zealand helps aspiring students to determine if they can afford to study in this country. The living cost in New Zealand is 126% as compared to that of India. Cities like Wellington, Auckland and Queenstown are quite expensive so students should make a comprehensive financial plan which takes into account accommodation cost, food expenses, transportation & communication expenses, internet and various other miscellaneous things. Also, the international students need to have at least NZD 15,000 in their bank account as proof that they can support themselves during the first academic year.

In this article, we will cover the details of various expenses incurred by international students while living in New Zealand. However, before that lets take a look at the average cost of living in different cities of New Zealand first.

Cost of Living in New Zealand City-wise Comparison of Average Cost

The international students must keep in mind that the cost of living in New Zealand varies from city to city. Find the city-wise average living cost of New Zealand in the table given below.

Comparison of Avg. Cost of Living in New Zealand Cities

* The rental costs mentioned above are tentative and the actual value might vary slightly based on a number of factors.

Now that you can roughly estimate the housing rent in New Zealand, lets take a look at the other components that constitute the total living cost of a student who is studying in New Zealand.

Cost of Living in New Zealand Average Monthly Expenses

Cost of living in New Zealand not only includes the housing rent but also food, clothing, travelling, internet, books and various other miscellaneous expenses. The table below gives an overview of all these expenses and more, knowing which can be beneficial for international students.

Average Monthly Expenses for International Students in NZ

* The expenses mentioned above can vary from place to place in New Zealand and the monthly expenditure can increase or decrease as per the living style of an individual.

Visit Top courses in New Zealand and know about the best undergraduate and post graduate courses you can pursue in New Zealand.

Also, click here to know about other countries where you can pursue education and then work without going through too much hassle.

Now, lets briefly discuss all these components which constitute as the living cost in New Zealand.

• Accommodation: The accommodation cost paid by international students in New Zealand depends on the region and area they choose to live in. For a one-room place, the average rent ranges from NZD 800 to NZD 1500. The prices may go up or down.
• Food: One of the most important components to be included while calculating the cost of living in New Zealand is food. The food expenses of a student depend on what he/she prefers to eat. The average expenses incurred on food can be around NZD 200 per month. It can increase or decrease as per the eating habits and preference of an individual.
• Transport: An average of NZD 120 per month is spent by a student on the commute if he/she uses public transport. Private transport can be expensive for students and subsequently add to their cost of living in New Zealand.
• Phone & internet: Phone calls and internet are also considered important while adding up the living expenses in a foreign land. Being away from family means the only way to stay in constant touch is calls, messages, emails and video calls. In fact, the internet is also an integral part of studies as many types of research can be done through it. So, a pre-paid plan of about NZD 50 per month that includes data, calling and texting is a great way to curtail phone and internet expenses.
• Entertainment: Getting a chance to explore new places and cultures is one of the most exciting parts of studying abroad. And, New Zealand is a place where international students get to explore its beaches, mountains, forests, culture and day-to-day life. Keeping aside NZD 50-100 will serve the purpose for students.
• Clothing: A pair of jeans can cost around NZD 110, shoes NZD 140 and a summer dress from a chain store around NZD 50-60. So, on average the students can keep aside a sum of NZD 200-300 on a monthly basis to purchase clothes and shoes. Going without shopping for a month or two can help to balance your living cost in New Zealand.
• Medical expenses: A student should keep an average amount of NZD 50-100 for medical expenses on a monthly basis.
• Outside eating: It gets tiring when you cook your meals on a daily basis. So, eating outside once-in-a-while is often on cards of a student living abroad. Keeping this in mind, students should keep at least NZD 100-150 per month for outside eating. Obviously, the cost can fluctuate based on the eating habits of an individual.
• Daily essentials: There are several expenses incurred by international students on a daily basis which includes many items of personal care. So, an amount of NZD 50 per month is enough to meet daily expenses.
• Miscellaneous expenses: Students must keep NZD 100 per month to spend on miscellaneous expenses.

Read ‘Study and Work in New Zealand‘ to know about working while studying options in New Zealand.

Also, read ‘Study Abroad – Immigration Friendly Countries for Indian Students‘ to know about other countries where you can pursue education and then work without going through too much hassle.