Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Nelson 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Not enough data to calculate difference in Cost of Living | |
| Not enough data to calculate difference in Cost of Living Including Rent | |
| Rent Prices in Nelson are 41.8% lower than in Auckland | |
| Restaurant Prices in Nelson are 3.7% higher than in Auckland | |
| Groceries Prices in Nelson are 15.2% higher than in Auckland | |
| Not enough data to calculate difference in Local Purchasing Power | |
Restaurants | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 NZ$ | 26.00 NZ$ | +4.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 130.00 NZ$ | 150.00 NZ$ | +15.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 16.80 NZ$ | 15.00 NZ$ | -10.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 12.00 NZ$ | 13.50 NZ$ | +12.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 12.00 NZ$ | 10.00 NZ$ | -16.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.97 NZ$ | 5.75 NZ$ | -3.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.96 NZ$ | 3.12 NZ$ | -21.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 3.93 NZ$ | 4.00 NZ$ | +1.9 % |
Markets | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 3.16 NZ$ | 3.69 NZ$ | +16.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.33 NZ$ | 3.42 NZ$ | +2.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.43 NZ$ | 1.64 NZ$ | +15.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 10.99 NZ$ | 10.13 NZ$ | -7.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.69 NZ$ | 7.56 NZ$ | +12.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 7.55 NZ$ | 6.05 NZ$ | -19.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 12.01 NZ$ | 10.98 NZ$ | -8.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.31 NZ$ | 3.52 NZ$ | +52.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.56 NZ$ | 1.81 NZ$ | +16.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.46 NZ$ | 4.54 NZ$ | +84.1 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.83 NZ$ | 4.63 NZ$ | +20.8 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.37 NZ$ | 2.78 NZ$ | +103.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.14 NZ$ | 3.18 NZ$ | +179.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.26 NZ$ | 3.62 NZ$ | +11.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 1.94 NZ$ | 1.86 NZ$ | -4.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.25 NZ$ | 17.00 NZ$ | -6.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 5.03 NZ$ | 6.45 NZ$ | +28.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.90 NZ$ | 8.00 NZ$ | +35.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 44.50 NZ$ | 50.00 NZ$ | +12.4 % |
Transportation | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.80 NZ$ | 4.00 NZ$ | -16.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 220.00 NZ$ | 50.00 NZ$ | -77.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 4.00 NZ$ | 7.00 NZ$ | +75.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 5.63 NZ$ | 6.44 NZ$ | +14.3 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 57.00 NZ$ | ? | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 2.71 NZ$ | 2.79 NZ$ | +3.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 44,990.00 NZ$ | 30,500.00 NZ$ | -32.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 39,011.64 NZ$ | 39,326.67 NZ$ | +0.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 274.15 NZ$ | 307.60 NZ$ | +12.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 49.82 NZ$ | 69.17 NZ$ | +38.8 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 85.17 NZ$ | 82.50 NZ$ | -3.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 62.59 NZ$ | 80.67 NZ$ | +28.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 28.12 NZ$ | 35.00 NZ$ | +24.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 20.00 NZ$ | 18.50 NZ$ | -7.5 % |
Childcare | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,810.33 NZ$ | 800.00 NZ$ | -55.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 31,979.12 NZ$ | 15,000.00 NZ$ | -53.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 115.54 NZ$ | 100.00 NZ$ | -13.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 79.91 NZ$ | 110.00 NZ$ | +37.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 166.30 NZ$ | 217.50 NZ$ | +30.8 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 204.45 NZ$ | 184.00 NZ$ | -10.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,213.01 NZ$ | 1,683.33 NZ$ | -23.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,002.80 NZ$ | 1,083.33 NZ$ | -45.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 4,062.11 NZ$ | 2,083.33 NZ$ | -48.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,069.57 NZ$ | 1,750.00 NZ$ | -43.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,159.36 NZ$ | 464.94 NZ$ | -59.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 807.36 NZ$ | 376.13 NZ$ | -53.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,430.07 NZ$ | 4,907.08 NZ$ | -9.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.19 | 6.82 | +10.1 % |
| Last update: | 19 January 2026 | 13 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 93 | 4 | |
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Cities near Auckland: | Cost of Living in North Shore | 6.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Manukau | 14.42 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hamilton | 78.04 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cambridge | 90.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whangarei | 98.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tauranga | 126.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rotorua | 141.68 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taupo | 172.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Plymouth | 223.66 miles |
Cities near Nelson: | Cost of Living in Blenheim | 71.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Westport | 138.72 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wellington | 144.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lower Hutt | 151.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Porirua | 154.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Upper Hutt | 162.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Greymouth | 178.63 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hanmer Springs | 186.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Levin | 198.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Masterton | 202.30 miles |