Cost Of Living For a Student in Auckland 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: NZD
Average monthly spending for students in Auckland
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Auckland?
Students in Auckland spend around 4,600 NZD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 710 NZD or as high as 51,000 NZD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Auckland
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 21,000 NZD | 42,000 NZD | 56,000 NZD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 850 NZD | 1,300 NZD | 3,400 NZD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,300 NZD | 2,100 NZD | 5,200 NZD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,800 NZD | 2,700 NZD | 7,100 NZD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 180,000 NZD | 270,000 NZD | 530,000 NZD |
| $110,000 | $160,000 | $320,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 220,000 NZD | 360,000 NZD | 1.4M NZD |
| $130,000 | $220,000 | $830,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 340,000 NZD | 1M NZD | 2M NZD |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 870 NZD | 1,100 NZD | 1,500 NZD |
Double Bed
| 590 NZD | 890 NZD | 1,100 NZD |
Single Bed
Living Room
| 1,000 NZD | 1,300 NZD | 4,700 NZD |
Dining Table
| 440 NZD | 580 NZD | 1,100 NZD |
Sofa or Couch
| 590 NZD | 810 NZD | 1,800 NZD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 600 NZD | 900 NZD | 1,800 NZD |
Fridge or Freezer
| 540 NZD | 830 NZD | 1,100 NZD |
Washing Machine
| 660 NZD | 950 NZD | 1,700 NZD |
Stove or Cooker
| 630 NZD | 800 NZD | 1,100 NZD |
Mobile Phone
| 750 NZD | 900 NZD | 1,300 NZD |
Laptop or Computer
| 830 NZD | 1,000 NZD | 1,800 NZD |
How do students spend their money in Auckland?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (16% to 27%)
| LOW | $100 170 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $670 1,100 NZD |
| HIGH | $7,500 12,000 NZD |
| Per Month |
Students in Auckland typically spend from 16% to 27% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 21% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,100 NZD with expenditure ranging from 170 NZD to 12,000 NZD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $15 25 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $100 160 NZD |
| HIGH | $1,100 1,800 NZD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Auckland ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 160 NZD with 25 NZD and 1,800 NZD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $29 48 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $190 310 NZD |
| HIGH | $2,100 3,400 NZD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 48 NZD to 3,400 NZD in a month on commuting with 310 NZD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $81 130 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $520 860 NZD |
| HIGH | $5,800 9,600 NZD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Auckland is 860 NZD. The cost of groceries can range between 130 NZD to 9,600 NZD. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $22 36 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $140 230 NZD |
| HIGH | $1,500 2,500 NZD |
| Per Month |
Students in Auckland allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 36 NZD to 2,500 NZD with 230 NZD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $20 33 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $130 220 NZD |
| HIGH | $1,500 2,400 NZD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 33 NZD to 2,400 NZD with 220 NZD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $77 130 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $500 820 NZD |
| HIGH | $5,500 9,100 NZD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 820 NZD per month with 130 NZD being the minimum spent amount and 9,100 NZD being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $64 100 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $410 680 NZD |
| HIGH | $4,600 7,500 NZD |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Auckland
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options63%
Few low-cost options37%
Based on the survey, 63% of the students living in Auckland have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 37% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Affordable living in Auckland
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Auckland?
Around 81% of surveyed students think that living in Auckland is affordable with proper budgeting while 19% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes80%
No20%
Based on the survey, 20% of the students living in Auckland said that they don't have an emergency fund while 80% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy76%
We asked student guardians and parents in Auckland whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 24% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 76% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 18% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 82% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance18%
Easily manages finances82%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Auckland
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Auckland
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 850 NZD | 1,300 NZD | 3,400 NZD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,300 NZD | 2,100 NZD | 5,200 NZD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,800 NZD | 2,700 NZD | 7,100 NZD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,200 NZD | 3,600 NZD | 9,900 NZD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,200 NZD | 10,000 NZD | 21,000 NZD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 3,400 NZD | 5,100 NZD | 15,000 NZD |
House monthly rent cost
| 4,200 NZD | 10,000 NZD | 21,000 NZD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 5,100 NZD | 13,000 NZD | 20,000 NZD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Auckland ranges between 850 NZD and 3,400 NZD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,300 NZD to 5,200 NZD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,800 NZD and 7,100 NZD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,200 NZD to 9,900 NZD. The average rent of a townhouse in Auckland is around 5,100 NZD while house rental costs can be as high as 10,000 NZD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,100 NZD to 20,000 NZD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Auckland
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 180,000 NZD | 270,000 NZD | 530,000 NZD |
| $110,000 | $160,000 | $320,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 220,000 NZD | 360,000 NZD | 1.4M NZD |
| $130,000 | $220,000 | $830,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 340,000 NZD | 1M NZD | 2M NZD |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.2M NZD | 1.7M NZD | 5.2M NZD |
Townhouse price
| 1.5M NZD | 3.6M NZD | 13M NZD |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Auckland can range from 180,000 NZD to 530,000 NZD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 220,000 NZD to 1.4M NZD. A villa can cost you 12M NZD on average with prices ranging from 2.2M NZD to 18M NZD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Auckland will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 61 | x181 monthly income | 299 |
Property prices in Auckland can be x181 to x299 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x181 multiples of the average monthly salary in Auckland.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Auckland is around 40%. This means that people pay 40% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 28% to 52% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
31% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Auckland
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Auckland
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 160 NZD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 46 NZD to 120 NZD with 92 NZD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 50 NZD but can range between 30 NZD and 150 NZD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Auckland is around 5.9%. This means that people pay 5.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.4% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Auckland
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Auckland
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Auckland is approximatly 18 NZD with meal cost ranging from 8.8 NZD to 29 NZD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 31 NZD and 92 NZD with 46 NZD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Auckland.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 59 NZD to 350 NZD with the average cost being 88 NZD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Auckland.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Auckland is around 12 NZD. Price ranges between 7.5 NZD and 18 NZD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Auckland is 7.3 NZD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 9.2 NZD and the minimum being 6.1 NZD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 5.8 NZD on average with 4.4 NZD and 8.7 NZD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Auckland is between 10 NZD and 19 NZD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 14 NZD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 19 NZD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Auckland costs around 6.3 NZD on average with prices rangeing between 4.6 NZD and 9 NZD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.8 NZD to 4.4 NZD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 4.2 NZD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 130 NZD to 9,600 NZD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: August 31, 2024 Last Update: May 19, 2025
