Cost of Living Comparison Between Japan and New Zealand 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in New Zealand is 28.6% higher than in Japan (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in New Zealand is 39.8% higher than in Japan | |
| Rent Prices in New Zealand are 85.7% higher than in Japan | |
| Restaurant Prices in New Zealand are 90.3% higher than in Japan | |
| Groceries Prices in New Zealand are 17.4% higher than in Japan | |
| Local Purchasing Power in New Zealand is 9.5% higher than in Japan | |
Restaurants | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
1,000.00 ¥ (10.77 NZ$) |
2,322.09 ¥ (25.00 NZ$) |
+132.2 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
6,000.00 ¥ (64.60 NZ$) |
12,074.85 ¥ (130.00 NZ$) |
+101.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
800.00 ¥ (8.61 NZ$) |
1,486.13 ¥ (16.00 NZ$) |
+85.8 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
500.00 ¥ (5.38 NZ$) |
1,114.60 ¥ (12.00 NZ$) |
+122.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
600.00 ¥ (6.46 NZ$) |
1,114.60 ¥ (12.00 NZ$) |
+85.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
486.41 ¥ (5.24 NZ$) |
550.49 ¥ (5.93 NZ$) |
+13.2 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
169.82 ¥ (1.83 NZ$) |
363.36 ¥ (3.91 NZ$) |
+114.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
117.58 ¥ (1.27 NZ$) |
336.92 ¥ (3.63 NZ$) |
+186.6 % |
Markets | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
226.51 ¥ (2.44 NZ$) |
291.63 ¥ (3.14 NZ$) |
+28.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
201.17 ¥ (2.17 NZ$) |
271.52 ¥ (2.92 NZ$) |
+35.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
345.17 ¥ (3.72 NZ$) |
129.00 ¥ (1.39 NZ$) |
-62.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
322.09 ¥ (3.47 NZ$) |
1,001.32 ¥ (10.78 NZ$) |
+210.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
784.09 ¥ (8.44 NZ$) |
594.62 ¥ (6.40 NZ$) |
-24.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
465.22 ¥ (5.01 NZ$) |
676.90 ¥ (7.29 NZ$) |
+45.5 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
1,275.22 ¥ (13.73 NZ$) |
991.43 ¥ (10.67 NZ$) |
-22.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
348.34 ¥ (3.75 NZ$) |
201.01 ¥ (2.16 NZ$) |
-42.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
176.23 ¥ (1.90 NZ$) |
157.65 ¥ (1.70 NZ$) |
-10.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
310.09 ¥ (3.34 NZ$) |
217.81 ¥ (2.34 NZ$) |
-29.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
314.82 ¥ (3.39 NZ$) |
351.05 ¥ (3.78 NZ$) |
+11.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
190.98 ¥ (2.06 NZ$) |
139.56 ¥ (1.50 NZ$) |
-26.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
185.88 ¥ (2.00 NZ$) |
112.87 ¥ (1.22 NZ$) |
-39.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
201.38 ¥ (2.17 NZ$) |
345.77 ¥ (3.72 NZ$) |
+71.7 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
136.67 ¥ (1.47 NZ$) |
171.79 ¥ (1.85 NZ$) |
+25.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,400.00 ¥ (15.07 NZ$) |
1,485.67 ¥ (16.00 NZ$) |
+6.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
305.00 ¥ (3.28 NZ$) |
473.97 ¥ (5.10 NZ$) |
+55.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
408.54 ¥ (4.40 NZ$) |
534.06 ¥ (5.75 NZ$) |
+30.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
620.00 ¥ (6.68 NZ$) |
3,845.37 ¥ (41.40 NZ$) |
+520.2 % |
Transportation | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
230.00 ¥ (2.48 NZ$) |
371.53 ¥ (4.00 NZ$) |
+61.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
8,251.67 ¥ (88.84 NZ$) |
18,576.68 ¥ (200.00 NZ$) |
+125.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
580.00 ¥ (6.24 NZ$) |
371.53 ¥ (4.00 NZ$) |
-35.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
796.63 ¥ (8.58 NZ$) |
485.81 ¥ (5.23 NZ$) |
-39.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
3,099.90 ¥ (33.37 NZ$) |
5,294.36 ¥ (57.00 NZ$) |
+70.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
173.69 ¥ (1.87 NZ$) |
259.94 ¥ (2.80 NZ$) |
+49.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
3,434,000.00 ¥ (36,971.07 NZ$) |
4,178,825.22 ¥ (44,990.00 NZ$) |
+21.7 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
2,462,104.94 ¥ (26,507.47 NZ$) |
3,815,660.52 ¥ (41,080.10 NZ$) |
+55.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
24,638.58 ¥ (265.26 NZ$) |
23,459.03 ¥ (252.56 NZ$) |
-4.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
3,892.30 ¥ (41.91 NZ$) |
5,207.76 ¥ (56.07 NZ$) |
+33.8 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
5,170.79 ¥ (55.67 NZ$) |
8,080.82 ¥ (87.00 NZ$) |
+56.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
8,554.87 ¥ (92.10 NZ$) |
5,983.60 ¥ (64.42 NZ$) |
-30.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
2,953.57 ¥ (31.80 NZ$) |
2,302.45 ¥ (24.79 NZ$) |
-22.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
1,900.00 ¥ (20.46 NZ$) |
1,857.67 ¥ (20.00 NZ$) |
-2.2 % |
Childcare | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
85,402.26 ¥ (919.46 NZ$) |
140,704.71 ¥ (1,514.85 NZ$) |
+64.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
1,911,835.67 ¥ (20,583.17 NZ$) |
2,633,149.79 ¥ (28,348.97 NZ$) |
+37.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
6,836.44 ¥ (73.60 NZ$) |
10,685.42 ¥ (115.04 NZ$) |
+56.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
4,606.32 ¥ (49.59 NZ$) |
6,067.81 ¥ (65.33 NZ$) |
+31.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
8,985.39 ¥ (96.74 NZ$) |
15,048.66 ¥ (162.02 NZ$) |
+67.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
12,766.67 ¥ (137.45 NZ$) |
18,643.79 ¥ (200.72 NZ$) |
+46.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
86,827.76 ¥ (934.80 NZ$) |
181,256.38 ¥ (1,951.44 NZ$) |
+108.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
58,052.84 ¥ (625.01 NZ$) |
155,640.31 ¥ (1,675.65 NZ$) |
+168.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
204,367.27 ¥ (2,200.26 NZ$) |
285,454.91 ¥ (3,073.26 NZ$) |
+39.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
118,415.50 ¥ (1,274.88 NZ$) |
246,008.25 ¥ (2,648.57 NZ$) |
+107.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
89,442.03 ¥ (962.95 NZ$) |
83,009.04 ¥ (893.69 NZ$) |
-7.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
45,117.33 ¥ (485.74 NZ$) |
55,953.59 ¥ (602.41 NZ$) |
+24.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Japan Edit |
New Zealand Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
307,096.01 ¥ (3,306.25 NZ$) |
469,969.12 ¥ (5,059.77 NZ$) |
+53.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 1.99 | 6.43 | +223.2 % |
| Last update: | 13 March 2026 | 13 March 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 343 | 285 | |
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