Cost of Living in New Zealand
The cost of living in New Zealand is very reasonable, but as in most countries, it does fluctuate depending on whether you live in a predominately urban or rural area. It also ranges depending on which of New Zealand's islands you live on. South Island is significantly cheaper than North Island.
Groceries are good value, especially if you buy local and take advantage of the special offers commonly run at supermarkets and convenience stores - follow the locals by buying in bulk. Expats from Europe and South Africa will find that car prices are relatively inexpensive compared to their home countries.
In order to compare the cost of living in New Zealand with other destinations, here are the prices of some common items (quoted in NZ$): Big Mac $5; litre of milk $2.30; movie ticket $15; a dozen beers $22; new CD $35.00; a cup of coffee $3.50; and a pair of jeans will set you back between $60 and $200. A mid-size family car such as a Ford Focus costs $35,000.
Supermarkets and restaurants in New Zealand make use of the Swedish Rounding System, which means that when the bill ends in one to four cents the total is rounded down; if it ends in six to nine cents the total is rounded up. (For example, a bill of NZ$21.13 would be rounded to NZ$21.10; a bill of NZ$21.16 would be rounded to NZ$21.20.) All goods and services are subject to a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 12.5 percent, which is usually included in the price. This tax tends to be reduced if goods are bought in bulk and shipped to your home address.
