New Zealand vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

New Zealand South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1748
$924
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3990
$2166
🏠 One person rent
$1005
$470
🏘️ Family rent
$1684
$833
🍽️ Food expenses
$494
$264
🚐 Transport expenses
$136
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$3064
$1385
💸 GDP per capita
$48281
$6023
😃 Human freedom index
9.08
7.1
❤️ Life expectancy
82.8
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
83
41
🌐 English speaking %
97.8%
31%
🎓 Higher education
91
82
😀 Quality of life
89
36
🏙️ Population
5.12M
62M

The average cost of living in New Zealand ($1748) is 89% more expensive than in South Africa ($924). New Zealand ranked 21st vs 94th for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.8 months in New Zealand compared to 1.5 months in South Africa. Ranked 16th and 132nd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in New Zealand vs South Africa infographic

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Prices in New Zealand vs South Africa

We calculate prices for New Zealand and South Africa as a population-weighted mean of 31 and 36 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

New Zealand South Africa
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$12.9
$8.19
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$66.3
$33.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$8.74
$4.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$6.31
$2.27
 Cappuccino
$3.25
$1.94
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$2.05
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$1017
$462
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$849
$339
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1785
$835
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1456
$654
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$74
$67.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$114
$104
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$47.9
$38.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
6.72%
11.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$6045
$1135
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4804
$830
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$2.18
$1.62
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$87.6
$47.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$17.5
$9.18
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.61
$1.22
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.64
$1.09
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.84
$0.95
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.77
$1.39
🥚 Eggs, x12
$6.14
$2.38
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.77
$8.21
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.96
$4.78
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.1
$6.58
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.68
$1.51
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.15
$1.43
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.86
$1.45
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.57
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.95
$1.27
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.68
$1.29
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.77
$0.61
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.3
$1.32
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$9.78
$5.35
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.05
$1.32
🚬 Cigarette pack
$22.7
$2.85
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$10.2
$4.47
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.89
$3.31
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.7
$1.75
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.37
$1.24
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$35.2
$29.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$11.9
$6.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$35.5
$28
💇 Haircut, simple
$16
$5.66
👖 Brand Jeans
$65.5
$47.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$96.2
$89.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$769
$187
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$12107
$4572

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in New Zealand vs South Africa

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In New Zealand

City Cost of living Population
Auckland
$1968
1.47M
Christchurch
$1847
383K
Manukau
$1736
376K
Wellington
$1837
216K
Hamilton
$1506
177K
Tauranga
$1652
151K
Lower Hutt
$1751
103K
Napier
$1433
66.3K
Dunedin
$1435
106K
Palmerston North
$1444
81.5K
Rotorua
$1182
58.5K
Hibiscus Coast
$1670
59.8K
Porirua
$1607
59.6K
New Plymouth
$1248
57.6K
Invercargill
$1242
50.2K
Nelson
$1475
51.1K
Whangarei
$1213
54.4K
Upper Hutt
$1676
44.3K
Gisborne
$1524
37K
Hastings
$1144
49K
Timaru
$1717
28.7K
Queenstown
$1921
29K
Paraparaumu
$1560
30.1K
Pukekohe
$1493
26.5K
Taupo
$1418
25.4K
Blenheim
$1248
28.2K
Whanganui
$1457
42.2K
Wanaka
$1746
8.9K
Masterton
$1253
21.4K
Avarua
$1011
4.01K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$993
4.43M
Cape Town
$1071
3.78M
Soweto
$923
1.27M
Pretoria
$906
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$640
839K
Rustenburg
$889
550K
Durban
$809
595K
Randburg
$837
337K
Centurion
$807
237K
Sandton
$953
222K
East London
$766
267K
Port Elizabeth
$901
312K
Benoni
$785
159K
Kroonstad
$768
169K
Springs
$678
122K
Kimberley
$814
225K
Klerksdorp
$722
187K
Bloemfontein
$657
256K
Vanderbijlpark
$773
95.8K
Mthatha
$852
96.1K
Paarl
$1147
112K
Potchefstroom
$695
149K
Uitenhage
$840
104K
Komani
$915
68.9K
George
$743
157K
Vereeniging
$672
99K
Middelburg
$795
87.3K
Bethal
$784
60.8K
Upington
$699
121K
Brits
$820
53.5K