Cost Of Living For a Student in New Caledonia 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: XPF
Average monthly spending for students in New Caledonia
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in New Caledonia?
Students in New Caledonia spend around 44,000 XPF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 6,700 XPF or as high as 290,000 XPF. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
How do students spend their money in New Caledonia?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $15 1,600 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $96 11,000 XPF |
| HIGH | $640 71,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
Students in New Caledonia typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 11,000 XPF with expenditure ranging from 1,600 XPF to 71,000 XPF. 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 utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $2.4 270 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $16 1,800 XPF |
| HIGH | $110 12,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in New Caledonia ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,800 XPF with 270 XPF and 12,000 XPF being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $4.2 470 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $28 3,100 XPF |
| HIGH | $190 21,000 XPF |
| 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 470 XPF to 21,000 XPF in a month on commuting with 3,100 XPF being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $12 1,300 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $80 8,800 XPF |
| HIGH | $530 59,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in New Caledonia is 8,800 XPF. The cost of groceries can range between 1,300 XPF to 59,000 XPF. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $3.6 400 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $24 2,600 XPF |
| HIGH | $160 18,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
Students in New Caledonia allocate 6% to 12% 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 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 400 XPF to 18,000 XPF with 2,600 XPF being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3 330 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $20 2,200 XPF |
| HIGH | $130 15,000 XPF |
| 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 330 XPF to 15,000 XPF with 2,200 XPF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $12 1,300 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $76 8,400 XPF |
| HIGH | $510 56,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 8,400 XPF per month with 1,300 XPF being the minimum spent amount and 56,000 XPF being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $9.1 1,000 XPF |
| AVERAGE | $60 6,600 XPF |
| HIGH | $400 44,000 XPF |
| Per Month |
Prices and cost of goods and services in New Caledonia
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 590 XPF | 880 XPF | 3,500 XPF |
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
| 440 XPF | 590 XPF | 1,200 XPF |
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 220,000 XPF | 440,000 XPF | 590,000 XPF |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 590 XPF | 880 XPF | 1,800 XPF |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 270 XPF | 1,800 XPF | 12,000 XPF |
Internet and cable
| 440 XPF | 880 XPF | 1,200 XPF |
Mobile phone charges
| 350 XPF | 590 XPF | 1,800 XPF |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 700 XPF | 880 XPF | 1,800 XPF |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 520 XPF | 730 XPF | 1,100 XPF |
Woman dress
| 490 XPF | 680 XPF | 2,200 XPF |
Woman shoes
| 460 XPF | 630 XPF | 1,500 XPF |
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 440 XPF | 550 XPF | 2,900 XPF |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 7,300 XPF | 11,000 XPF | 29,000 XPF |
1-bedroom apartment
| 11,000 XPF | 18,000 XPF | 44,000 XPF |
2-bedroom apartment
| 15,000 XPF | 22,000 XPF | 59,000 XPF |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.5M XPF | 2.2M XPF | 4.4M XPF |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.8M XPF | 2.9M XPF | 11M XPF |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2.9M XPF | 8.8M XPF | 18M XPF |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 8,800 XPF | 11,000 XPF | 15,000 XPF |
Double Bed
| 5,900 XPF | 8,800 XPF | 11,000 XPF |
Single Bed
| 5,200 XPF | 6,800 XPF | 8,800 XPF |
Living Room
| 9,800 XPF | 13,000 XPF | 44,000 XPF |
Dining Table
| 4,400 XPF | 5,900 XPF | 11,000 XPF |
Sofa or Couch
| 5,900 XPF | 8,000 XPF | 18,000 XPF |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 5,900 XPF | 8,800 XPF | 18,000 XPF |
Fridge or Freezer
| 5,200 XPF | 8,000 XPF | 11,000 XPF |
Washing Machine
| 6,800 XPF | 9,800 XPF | 18,000 XPF |
Stove or Cooker
| 6,300 XPF | 8,000 XPF | 11,000 XPF |
Mobile Phone
| 7,300 XPF | 8,800 XPF | 13,000 XPF |
Laptop or Computer
| 8,000 XPF | 9,800 XPF | 18,000 XPF |
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.
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.
Yes55%
No45%
Based on the survey, 45% of the students living in New Caledonia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 55% said that they do.
Affordable living in New Caledonia
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in New Caledonia?
Around 56% of surveyed students think that living in New Caledonia is affordable with proper budgeting while 44% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in New Caledonia
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 options57%
Few low-cost options43%
Based on the survey, 57% of the students living in New Caledonia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
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 Leteracy51%
We asked student guardians and parents in New Caledonia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 49% 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 51% 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? 42% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 58% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance42%
Easily manages finances58%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in New Caledonia
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in New Caledonia
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 7,300 XPF | 11,000 XPF | 29,000 XPF |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 11,000 XPF | 18,000 XPF | 44,000 XPF |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 15,000 XPF | 22,000 XPF | 59,000 XPF |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 18,000 XPF | 29,000 XPF | 80,000 XPF |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 35,000 XPF | 88,000 XPF | 180,000 XPF |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 29,000 XPF | 44,000 XPF | 130,000 XPF |
House monthly rent cost
| 35,000 XPF | 88,000 XPF | 180,000 XPF |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 44,000 XPF | 110,000 XPF | 180,000 XPF |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in New Caledonia ranges between 7,300 XPF and 29,000 XPF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 11,000 XPF to 44,000 XPF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 15,000 XPF and 59,000 XPF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 18,000 XPF to 80,000 XPF. The average rent of a townhouse in New Caledonia is around 44,000 XPF while house rental costs can be as high as 88,000 XPF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 44,000 XPF to 180,000 XPF per month.
Apartment and house prices in New Caledonia
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.5M XPF | 2.2M XPF | 4.4M XPF |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.8M XPF | 2.9M XPF | 11M XPF |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 2.9M XPF | 8.8M XPF | 18M XPF |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $89,000 | $130,000 | $400,000 |
Townhouse price
| $110,000 | $270,000 | $1,000,000 |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in New Caledonia can range from 1.5M XPF to 4.4M XPF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.8M XPF to 11M XPF. A villa can cost you 98M XPF on average with prices ranging from 18M XPF to 150M XPF.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in New Caledonia 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
| 32 | x91 monthly income | 195 |
Property prices in New Caledonia can be x91 to x195 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x91 multiples of the average monthly salary in New Caledonia.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in New Caledonia is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% 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
27% 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.
| 130 XPF | 1,700 XPF | 17,000 XPF |
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 New Caledonia
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in New Caledonia
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 270 XPF | 1,800 XPF | 12,000 XPF |
Internet and cable cost
| 440 XPF | 880 XPF | 1,200 XPF |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 350 XPF | 590 XPF | 1,800 XPF |
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 1,800 XPF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 440 XPF to 1,200 XPF with 880 XPF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 590 XPF but can range between 350 XPF and 1,800 XPF 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 New Caledonia is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in New Caledonia
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in New Caledonia
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 New Caledonia is approximatly 180 XPF with meal cost ranging from 88 XPF to 290 XPF. 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 290 XPF and 880 XPF with 440 XPF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in New Caledonia.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 590 XPF | 880 XPF | 3,500 XPF |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 590 XPF to 3,500 XPF with the average cost being 880 XPF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in New Caledonia.
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 New Caledonia is around 120 XPF. Price ranges between 73 XPF and 180 XPF 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 New Caledonia is 70 XPF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 88 XPF and the minimum being 59 XPF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 59 XPF on average with 44 XPF and 88 XPF being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in New Caledonia is between 100 XPF and 180 XPF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 130 XPF.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 180 XPF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in New Caledonia costs around 65 XPF on average with prices rangeing between 47 XPF and 92 XPF depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 18 XPF to 44 XPF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 41 XPF 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 1,300 XPF to 59,000 XPF with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
