Cost Of Living For a Student in New Zealand 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: NZD
Average monthly spending for students in New Zealand
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in New Zealand?
Students in New Zealand spend around 3,400 NZD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 530 NZD or as high as 23,000 NZD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in New Zealand
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
| 19,000 NZD | 38,000 NZD | 50,000 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
| 630 NZD | 940 NZD | 2,500 NZD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 940 NZD | 1,500 NZD | 3,800 NZD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,300 NZD | 1,900 NZD | 5,000 NZD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 130,000 NZD | 190,000 NZD | 380,000 NZD |
| $76,000 | $110,000 | $230,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 150,000 NZD | 250,000 NZD | 940,000 NZD |
| $91,000 | $150,000 | $570,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 250,000 NZD | 750,000 NZD | 1.5M NZD |
| $150,000 | $460,000 | $910,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 750 NZD | 940 NZD | 1,300 NZD |
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 830 NZD | 1,100 NZD | 3,800 NZD |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
| 500 NZD | 680 NZD | 1,500 NZD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 500 NZD | 750 NZD | 1,500 NZD |
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
| 580 NZD | 830 NZD | 1,500 NZD |
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
| 630 NZD | 750 NZD | 1,100 NZD |
Laptop or Computer
| 680 NZD | 830 NZD | 1,500 NZD |
How do students spend their money in New Zealand?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (17% to 28%)
| LOW | $77 130 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $500 820 NZD |
| HIGH | $3,300 5,500 NZD |
| Per Month |
Students in New Zealand typically spend from 17% to 28% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 820 NZD with expenditure ranging from 130 NZD to 5,500 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 | $13 21 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $83 140 NZD |
| HIGH | $550 910 NZD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in New Zealand ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 140 NZD with 21 NZD and 910 NZD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel6%
6% of total expenses on average (5% to 12%)
| LOW | $23 37 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $150 240 NZD |
| HIGH | $970 1,600 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 37 NZD to 1,600 NZD in a month on commuting with 240 NZD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 12%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (15% to 25%)
| LOW | $64 110 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $410 680 NZD |
| HIGH | $2,800 4,600 NZD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in New Zealand is 680 NZD. The cost of groceries can range between 110 NZD to 4,600 NZD. Students spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 25% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare7%
7% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $19 32 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $120 200 NZD |
| HIGH | $830 1,400 NZD |
| Per Month |
Students in New Zealand allocate 4% to 10% 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 7%. The range of medical expenses range from 32 NZD to 1,400 NZD with 200 NZD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (3% to 8%)
| LOW | $16 26 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $100 170 NZD |
| HIGH | $690 1,100 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 26 NZD to 1,100 NZD with 170 NZD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% 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 | $61 100 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $390 650 NZD |
| HIGH | $2,600 4,300 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 650 NZD per month with 100 NZD being the minimum spent amount and 4,300 NZD being the maximum.
Other Expenses16%
16% of total expenses on average (10% to 22%)
| LOW | $48 79 NZD |
| AVERAGE | $310 510 NZD |
| HIGH | $2,100 3,400 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.
Affordable living in New Zealand
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 Zealand?
Around 81% of surveyed students think that living in New Zealand is affordable with proper budgeting while 19% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in New Zealand
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 New Zealand 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.
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 of New Zealand whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes80%
No20%
Based on the survey, 20% of the students living in New Zealand said that they don't have an emergency fund while 80% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in New Zealand
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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in New Zealand
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 630 NZD | 940 NZD | 2,500 NZD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 940 NZD | 1,500 NZD | 3,800 NZD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,300 NZD | 1,900 NZD | 5,000 NZD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,500 NZD | 2,500 NZD | 6,800 NZD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,000 NZD | 7,500 NZD | 15,000 NZD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 2,500 NZD | 3,800 NZD | 11,000 NZD |
House monthly rent cost
| 3,000 NZD | 7,500 NZD | 15,000 NZD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 3,800 NZD | 9,400 NZD | 15,000 NZD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in New Zealand ranges between 630 NZD and 2,500 NZD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 940 NZD to 3,800 NZD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,300 NZD and 5,000 NZD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,500 NZD to 6,800 NZD. The average rent of a townhouse in New Zealand is around 3,800 NZD while house rental costs can be as high as 7,500 NZD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,800 NZD to 15,000 NZD per month.
Apartment and house prices in New Zealand
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 130,000 NZD | 190,000 NZD | 380,000 NZD |
| $76,000 | $110,000 | $230,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 150,000 NZD | 250,000 NZD | 940,000 NZD |
| $91,000 | $150,000 | $570,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 250,000 NZD | 750,000 NZD | 1.5M NZD |
| $150,000 | $460,000 | $910,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 830,000 NZD | 1.3M NZD | 3.8M NZD |
Townhouse price
| 1.1M NZD | 2.5M NZD | 9.4M NZD |
House price
| 1.3M NZD | 7.5M NZD | 11M NZD |
Villa price
| 1.5M NZD | 8.3M NZD | 13M NZD |
The average price of a studio apartment in New Zealand can range from 130,000 NZD to 380,000 NZD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 150,000 NZD to 940,000 NZD. A villa can cost you 8.3M NZD on average with prices ranging from 1.5M NZD to 13M NZD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in New Zealand 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
| 45 | x133 monthly income | 220 |
Property prices in New Zealand can be x133 to x220 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x133 multiples of the average monthly salary in New Zealand.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in New Zealand is around 33%. This means that people pay 33% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 43% 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 New Zealand
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in New Zealand
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 140 NZD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 38 NZD to 100 NZD with 75 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 New Zealand is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in New Zealand
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in New Zealand
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 Zealand is approximatly 15 NZD with meal cost ranging from 7.5 NZD to 25 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 25 NZD and 75 NZD with 38 NZD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in New Zealand.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 50 NZD to 300 NZD with the average cost being 75 NZD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in New Zealand.
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 Zealand is around 10 NZD. Price ranges between 6.3 NZD and 15 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 New Zealand is 6 NZD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 7.5 NZD and the minimum being 5 NZD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 5 NZD on average with 3.8 NZD and 7.5 NZD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in New Zealand is between 8.5 NZD and 16 NZD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 11 NZD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 15 NZD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in New Zealand costs around 5.5 NZD on average with prices rangeing between 4 NZD and 7.8 NZD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.5 NZD to 3.8 NZD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 3.5 NZD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in New Zealand is around 25%. This means that students spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 31% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 110 NZD to 4,600 NZD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
