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 4.0% lower than in Auckland | |
| Groceries Prices in Nelson are 2.0% lower than in Auckland | |
| Not enough data to calculate difference in Local Purchasing Power | |
Restaurants | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | NZ$25.00 | NZ$25.00 | 0.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | NZ$125.00 | NZ$120.00 | -4.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | NZ$16.80 | NZ$15.00 | -10.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | NZ$12.14 | NZ$13.00 | +7.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | NZ$12.50 | NZ$10.00 | -20.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | NZ$6.06 | NZ$5.75 | -5.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | NZ$3.63 | NZ$3.12 | -13.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | NZ$3.55 | NZ$3.30 | -7.0 % |
Markets | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | NZ$3.19 | NZ$3.50 | +9.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | NZ$3.37 | NZ$3.42 | +1.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | NZ$1.50 | NZ$1.48 | -1.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | NZ$10.61 | NZ$10.13 | -4.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | NZ$7.07 | NZ$7.11 | +0.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | NZ$7.96 | NZ$6.05 | -24.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | NZ$12.69 | NZ$10.98 | -13.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | NZ$2.29 | NZ$2.53 | +10.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | NZ$1.61 | NZ$1.80 | +11.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | NZ$2.45 | NZ$2.44 | -0.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | NZ$3.58 | NZ$4.63 | +29.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | NZ$1.61 | NZ$1.70 | +5.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | NZ$1.23 | NZ$0.94 | -23.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | NZ$3.27 | NZ$3.62 | +11.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | NZ$1.71 | NZ$1.86 | +8.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | NZ$17.50 | NZ$17.00 | -2.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | NZ$4.69 | NZ$5.85 | +24.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | NZ$5.83 | NZ$5.21 | -10.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | NZ$48.00 | NZ$45.00 | -6.2 % |
Transportation | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | NZ$4.50 | NZ$4.00 | -11.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | NZ$217.39 | ? | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | NZ$4.00 | NZ$3.80 | -5.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | NZ$5.63 | NZ$5.15 | -8.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | NZ$57.00 | NZ$60.00 | +5.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | NZ$3.03 | NZ$2.79 | -7.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | NZ$44,990.00 | NZ$30,500.00 | -32.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | NZ$40,016.81 | NZ$39,326.67 | -1.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | NZ$311.14 | NZ$348.60 | +12.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | NZ$47.06 | NZ$54.23 | +15.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | NZ$86.56 | NZ$75.00 | -13.4 % |
Sports And Leisure | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | NZ$62.22 | NZ$101.00 | +62.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | NZ$30.00 | NZ$60.00 | +100.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | NZ$23.00 | NZ$18.50 | -19.6 % |
Childcare | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | NZ$1,875.45 | NZ$800.00 | -57.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | NZ$34,387.08 | NZ$23,530.00 | -31.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | NZ$127.42 | NZ$93.33 | -26.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | NZ$75.90 | NZ$50.22 | -33.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | NZ$151.54 | NZ$183.50 | +21.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | NZ$204.42 | NZ$247.50 | +21.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | NZ$2,124.86 | NZ$1,540.00 | -27.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | NZ$2,096.62 | NZ$1,100.00 | -47.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | NZ$3,996.36 | NZ$2,025.00 | -49.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | NZ$3,043.08 | NZ$1,850.00 | -39.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | NZ$1,275.27 | NZ$613.81 | -51.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | NZ$853.27 | NZ$494.52 | -42.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Auckland Edit |
Nelson Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | NZ$5,439.85 | NZ$4,123.67 | -24.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.49 | 5.27 | -4.1 % |
| Last update: | 15 June 2026 | 26 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 116 | 5 | |
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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 |