| Innovative Capital |  |
| Lifestyle & Community | |
| Employment | |
| Business | |
| Education & Childcare | |
| Health & Housing | |
| Money & Tax |  |
| Banking |  |
| Finance | |
| Tax | |
| Living Costs | |
| State Income Support | |
| Transport & Relocation | |
| Feedback |
Most new migrants find that New Zealand offers a better balance between cost of living and lifestyle than in their home countries. Salaries tend to be slightly lower than in some OECD countries but the cost of living is lower too. Housing is considered more affordable in New Zealand than in many parts of Asia, Europe and North America.
- Health & Housing - Housing Costs
- OECD countries - Statistics New Zealand website
- Compare costs - Immigration New Zealand website
Cost of Living Survey
In a 2007 international cost of living survey of 144 cities across six continents, Wellington ranked as the least costly city in the Australasia region.
The Mercer Consulting survey compared the cost of more than 200 items, covering housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Wellington was ranked the 111th most expensive place to live in the world. By comparison, Moscow was the most expensive city, followed by London, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Copenhagen. Geneva was 7th, Osaka was 8th and Zurich was 9th. New York was 10th. Sydney was 21st, Melbourne 60th and Auckland 99th.
Cost of Living Survey - Mercer website
Goods & Services Tax
New Zealand has a goods and services tax (GST) of 12.5 percent. In most instances, this is included in the price of goods and services and is not charged separately.
Consumer Price Index
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to gauge the rate of change in the price of goods and services that the average New Zealand household purchases. It offers a useful insight into the cost of living, and how it might be affected by changing economic conditions.
