Cost of Living in Auckland, New Zealand (Local’s Guide 2024)

Are you curious about the cost of living in Auckland, New Zealand, as you plan to relocate or travel there?

You’ve landed in the right place! In this post, we’ll do a breakdown of all you’ll need to know as you budget to spend an extended time in Auckland – which I highly recommend!

From housing costs to transportation to education during your time there, we’ll cover it all.

Auckland, the fifth largest city in Oceania is fairly expensive but draws people in with its art, beauty, and culture. With a mix of beautiful beaches, rich history, and metropolitan areas, it draws all kinds and is easy to see why it’s so popular.

If you can swing it, it’s a great place to spend some time, so let’s dive in!

Cost of Living in Auckland, New Zealand [2022]

Living in Auckland is more expensive than 88% of the cities across the world, so it will absolutely take some strategic planning as you budget to live in this stunning city.

Housing Costs

Here, we’ll talk about the difference in expenses as you choose to rent or buy. We’ll also break buying down between flats and houses.

Rent

Apartment Type & Location	Avg. Cost Per Month
One bedroom, city center	$2,124.73 NZ
One bedroom, outside city limits	$1,866.21 NZ
Two bedroom, city center	$2,952.50 NZ
Two bedroom, outside city limits	$2,473.15 NZ
Three bedroom, city center	$3,781.64 NZ
Three bedroom, outside city limits	$3,080.10 NZ

How much does it cost to buy a flat in Auckland? 

Apartment/Flat Location	Price Per Square Foot
City Center	$1,255.34 NZ
Outside City Limits	$925.07 NZ

Buying a House

Just like everywhere else, so many factors will influence the price you pay for a house, and, ultimately, your overall cost of living in Auckland. 

Location, age of the home, condition it’s in, and square footage all play a major role. 

Here, we’ll be talking averages, but keep all of this in mind as you begin your search!

In a post-pandemic market, housing prices have finally started to cool off after being at an average of over $1 million at the beginning of the year.

In the fall of 2022, the average asking price is now $921,187.

Utilities

Generally, utilities in Auckland, NZ will cost you around $283 NZ. Let’s break that down so you see where your money is going.

Electricity

Electricity should run you around $250 per month, depending on the season.

Gas

Currently, gas costs $2.66 per litre.

Water

Water should only cost around $30 per month.

Home Insurance Costs

Home insurance is incredibly important to protect all you own and your property. In Auckland, New Zealand it will cost you $1,200 NZ annually, which breaks down to $100 per month as you continue to budget for the cost of living in Auckland.

Food Costs

As you calculate your average cost of living in Auckland, groceries will play a significant role! 

Let’s take a look at the cost of some of the most popular items in the local stores so you can get a great idea of how this will impact your overall budget.

Prices in this table are based on the store Pak’NSave in October of 2022.

Grocery Item	Average Cost (October 2022)
Milk	$4.70/L
Bread (white loaf)	$1.15/600g
Rice	$1.79/1kg
Eggs	$6.99/dozen
Apples	$3.99/kg
Bananas	$3.29/kg
Oranges	$4.49/kg
Tomatoes	$6.49/kg
Potatoes	$3.79/kg
Lettuce	$2.49/head
Onions	$3.49/kg
Water	$0.89/bottle

Entertainment Costs

As you continue figuring out your living expenses in Auckland, you’ll need to budget in for a night out here and there. 

With the city being an expensive one, you’ll definitely need to take this into consideration and plan before heading out the door.

Activity	Average Cost
Dining Out	$14 NZ/meal at a fast food restaurant$25 NZ/meal at a casual restaurant$60 NZ/meal at an upscale restaurant
Clubbing	$10 NZ/beer$12 NZ/glass of wine
Movies (Cinestar)	$20 NZ/1 adult ticket
Sports Games	$30 NZ/1 adult ticket

Transportation 

Public Transportation

Bus and train fares in Auckland are broken done by zone, and you’ll pay by the amount of zones you need to go through to get where you are going.

For a single adult traveling through one zone, fares start at just $4.00 NZ, but can go up to around $13 NZ.

There are discounts for students, children, and seniors, as well as monthly passes so be sure to consult the government website regarding transportation before booking your trip.

Gas

Currently, gas costs $2.66 per litre.

Car Insurance

In New Zealand, car insurance is actually not a legal requirement to drive. However, having basic coverage is still highly recommended. For this, you’ll pay around $350 NZ per year.

Taxis/Ubers

Uber is not yet available everywhere in New Zealand, so it’s exciting that it is in Auckland! 

Booking with a flat rate fare is your best bet for saving a bit of money, and in Auckland Ubers and taxis run similar prices for these at $30-$40.

Healthcare Costs

While public healthcare is funded through taxation in New Zealand, it is still wise to have supplemental health insurance as it will get you treatment more readily.

If you choose to have private insurance in addition to what the public system provides, you’ll pay around $200 NZ per month.

Education

The University of Auckland is located in the city, and if you are a domestic student you may be eligible for a fees-free study! 

International students, however, can look to pay a fairly hefty price tag when attending this university.

Tuition

For international students, the cost of the University of Auckland is $13,200 per semester as you look at 2023 programs of study.

Books

Books, as almost everything else in Auckland are also relatively expensive, for a student these will cost up to $500 per semester.

Fitness

The average cost of the gym per month in Auckland is $71 NZ.

Phone + Internet Costs

Phone and internet together, on average, will cost $72 NZ per month.

Taxes

There are five PAYE tax brackets for the 2021-2022 tax year. Your tax bracket will depend on your total taxable income. These are the rates for taxes due in April 2022.

New Zealand’s system works quite differently to most countries, so make sure you do your research in order to not overpay! In NZ, the tax brackets come into play when the government divides your taxable income into chunks, with each chunk taxed at its corresponding rate. 

This means that whatever your tax bracket is, you won’t pay that tax rate on your entire taxable income. Instead, you’ll pay it in proportionally to the IRD’s tax bracket. 

Taxable Income Bracket	Tax Rate (in percentages)
$0-$14,000	10.5%
$14,001-$48,000	17.5%
$48,001-$70,000	30%
$70,001-$180,000	33%
$180,000+	39%

Alcohol 

For a .5L bottle of domestic beer at the local store, you’ll pay around $4.79, with imported beers being slightly more expensive at $5.46.

A mid-range bottle of wine will cost around $16, with choices both far less and more expensive depending on your personal tastes.

Coffee

At Remedy, one of the lovely local coffee shops in Auckland, you’ll pay $4 NZ for a regular cup of coffee and $6 NZ for a specialty one.

Childcare

Daycare and private preschool or kindergarten averages around $1200 NZ per month, so if you have children, this is a large expense you will need to factor into your plans when relocating to Auckland, NZ.

Average Salary in Auckland 

The average salary in Auckland, New Zealand is $56,160 NZ per annum based on a 40-hour week. You’ll need to account for your own particular lifestyle as you make the move here, as a 40-hour work week doesn’t suit everyone’s needs or tastes. It is easiest for comparison purposes, however, to use the most traditional form of a schedule.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Auckland?

To live comfortably in Auckland, it is recommended to have between $3,000-$4,000 per month budgeted for your general expenses. This takes into consideration rent or mortgage, groceries, transportation, and other incidentals that may occur as you go about your day to day activities. This may vary depending on your lifestyle.

Average Cost to Live in Auckland Per Month 

Whether you are looking at costs in Auckland as a single person, for a couple, or as an entire family unit, it is helpful to know exactly how much money you can expect to put out every month to maintain both necessities, and, if desired, your current lifestyle.

Cost of Living for One Person

One person’s estimated monthly costs in Auckland average out to about $1,653 NZ before rent or a mortgage payment.

Cost of Living for a Family of 4

For a family of 4 living in Auckland, the estimated monthly cost would be $5,996 NZ. This is before rent or mortgage payments are factored in, so keep this in mind as you are using this number to budget as where you choose to live will significantly impact your monthly expenses as well. 

Cost of Living for a Student 

In addition to your tuition, textbooks, and any other fees associated with attending university in Auckland, it is recommended to budget around $20,000- $25,000 per year to live comfortably as a student. This is something to take into consideration before applying to the University of Auckland or other nearby schools.

Cost of Living Compared

As we compare the cost of living in Auckland to other places, you’ll see that while expensive, it is fairly on par with other large cities in Australia and New Zealand. It is when compared with cities in other countries that you will find more of a discrepancy. 

The good news being that other major metropolitan hubs are usually more expensive to live in than Auckland.

Cost of living in Auckland vs. Sydney

Consumer prices in Sydney are 2.27% higher than in Auckland, so you’ll have a very similar experience in these places when it comes to finances. It truly depends on whether you want to be in Australia or New Zealand as you look at these places to live. Otherwise, when it comes to finances, it will be almost the same.

Cost of living in Auckland vs. Melbourne

The cost of living in Auckland is 4% more expensive than in Melbourne so similarly to the comparison between Auckland and Sydney, you aren’t going to see a massive shift as you plan out your budget between living in these two cities. Again, it depends on where you want to be and the kinds of experiences you want to have!

Cost of living in Auckland vs. London 

London is 18% more expensive than Auckland as of October 2022, which is great news if you are looking to move here! You can guarantee you are going to be spending less than if you were to move to London, and there will also be less rain and gloom! It is also far less expensive than other metropolitan hubs too.

Conclusion: How expensive is living in Auckland?

Cost of living is fairly high, but it’s ranked third most livable city in the world, so it’s worth it! 

There is a little bit of everything in Auckland from grand sporting events to beaches to an extremely rich, historical culture, so you can be sure to find activities and work that suit your tastes.

So, while your money will go further than in places like London and New York, there are definitely cheaper cities you could live in, but they don’t hold a candle to what Auckland can offer you in terms of the experience of a lifetime as you relocate there. 

Hope this was helpful for all your budgeting purposes as you research the cost of living in Auckland, New Zealand!

Learn More About Living in New Zealand:

• 25 Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand
• Living in Auckland vs. Wellington: Which Country Should You Move to in 2022?
• 19 Pros and Cons of Living in Auckland NZ
• What is the Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand?
• 13 Best Places to Live in New Zealand (and Where Not To!)
• What Does it Cost to Live in New Zealand in 2022?