Cost of Living in Auckland

Eeeek these comments are scary me! We are moving back end of 2019 from the UK and the house prices are scaring me. Is there any insight on how people afford mortgages for their $1m + houses. We are a family of 4. Likely combined income to be $200K

Rents in Auckland for an apartment close to the city are about 2200 a month

I do like your website and thanks for sometimes emailing me about cost-of-living stats!

Also, its very hard to find young and ambitious people in New Zealand because the smartest, most hardworking young people usually leave New Zealand after they graduate university for Australia.

If you find yourself in a conversation with a young kiwi professional who is complaining about their pay, ask them why they don't just move to Australia. They will come up with ridiculous reasons like "I'm scared of the snakes and spiders" and "I heard it's really racist".

Many New Zealanders will become extremely offended when you point out its problems. These people have never been overseas.

I've spent 10 years in London and was priced out so bought in the suburbs. I am moving to Auckland (originally from Dunedin) for a role paying circa $200k. I had the choice of Auckland or Sydney (for a higher salary). Whilst this income seems reasonably high, I still can't afford to buy what i'd call a "decent" property without having to sell my property here to get a $250k deposit. It's a despairing that on one hand the industry is growing and doing well enough to have these roles available but is turning into London/NYC/Syd on the house price front without the wages generally to match (I appreciate i'm in the higher bracket of salaries for an IT role).

On the flip side, whilst houses are averaging over 1million in many suburbs, the amount of house you get for your money compared to many big cities, whilst retaining such beautiful surroundings and access to other great areas (Waiheke, Bay of Island, Coromandel) is still arguably unparalleled. I sense that with population increase it will continue to see houses in good neighbourhoods continue to rise. Saying that, if you have the same option to get a slightly lower wage, i'd have gone for Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, or even my original Dunedin (if you can handle London like weather). I chose Auckland over Sydney because NZ income tax is about 10% lower than Sydney, and housing whilst expensive is still far more accessible unless you want a 1hour commute.

I've read a few comments below, and suggest people use the following site to get a feeling for what their take home pay will be and factor in the above costs of living to establish if it's sustainable for you:

https://www.paye.net.nz/calculator.html

Hi everyone, this box and this site is so amazing for helping freshers. I am an Indian student and looking to study in diploma in level 7 from altec international(Concordia institute of business)Auckland Hobson street. Can you please let me know About this institute and course status in Newzealand. Is this course would be worth for me and how much salary I would expect after completing my studies.
Thanks in advance

Recent news on radio reported Barfoot and Thomson increasing their rent for apartments 5% everyweek for 6 weeks to over $500 at the start of the year when students were looking for inner city apartments.

Hey Friends, Pls let me know what could be a weekly expense for student who is moving to Auckland City.

Hi everyone,if you are considering to move to Auckland or NZ in general be very aware that it is an exceptionally expensive place for everything; particularly food, shelter, clothing, transportation.
To buy a house in Auckland you need 20% deposit, that will cost you at least 11x your salary. Wages are low with minimal benefits. Rents will be 70% or more of your take home pay. Food, healthy and junk food will cost you a fortune.
This is throughout the country.
Transport infrastructure is poor in Auckland. 2 lane motorways, no super highways. To travel 15km will take you at least 40 minutes on a good day peak and off-peak and Auckland drivers do NOT know how to drive. Majority of cars you will note that have bumps and dents and scratches. There's more cars on the road than people. Even if 75k - 100k sounds like a lot, your purchasing power is minimal.
NZ is a 3rd world country with first world problems. It's only classed as a developed nation because of a white male Prime Minister. I have seen more development in Asian cities!
If you rent, be prepared for mouldy, drafty timber frames, single pane windows, poor electrics, limited areas with high speed Internet and no pets allowed policy. Furthermore a lot of places may have been used as P labs, even in good areas! Furthermore, the law is on the landlords side & not tenants. Good tenants get screwed over by poor landlords (vast majority are cowboys)

As for Melbourne, it's grimey, high crime, trying hard to be an international city but not quite there. Rents are also rising as well as cost of living. People are unfriendly, unelpful, rough & uncultured. Summer flies will eat you alive, even in the city, extreme heat & cold. Beyond city centre it's a hell hole. Not pretty green like Auckland (only real positive). You might get a little more money, but it's a god awful place! High homelessness on city streets shouting obscenities as you walk past.

I urge people to do their own research if you are looking to move to either country and not to believe media about most liveable city ratings, because that's simply misleading!

Hello Everyone,

Let me first say big thank you for all of you who support this web based platform; much appreciated!

I am big nature lover and going to NZ is my dream; i graduate this year from Uni in UK with construction management degree and wanted to see whether moving in Auckland, NZ would be possible. I have been in UK for the last 7 years and I may be granted my UK Citizenship this summer (2017). My question is if I cannot secure q graduate programme construction job while i am still in UK, i will still be able to go as a visitor. I will have about £5k nearly 9k NZD would that be enough to support me till i find a job there? What your views are?? If anyone can suggest websites for jobs in NZ i will be gratefull. Also would you please say your view on the suggestion that AU is better for career realisation etc?? I am 27 in few months but i would prefer bit more laid back life rather than killing myself for titles etc... (no offence for all of you who have hard earned titles before and after your names). Thank you in advance. Kind Regards. Shef

Anyone who's thinking about moving to Auckland or rather New Zealand, is a good idea however in comparison to similar cities (etc. Sydney, Melbourne) and you're looking to grow your career with better taxes and better transportation, I'd think about looking at other places. Outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch (predominantly Auckland) there is barely any job opportunities. New Zealand is a wonderful place to raise a family but please take all these considerations in mind. NZ does have lower wages in comparison to other cities.

As for transportation, AT (Auckland Transport) is the main means of travel in Auckland and there are few metros and buslines in other cities. If you're looking to moving to Auckland - Great! Auckland has a very well, world class developed metroline and bus service, expanding as far as 40km north of the city to roughly 30-50km's south. There are 4 main lines (West, South, Onehunga and East) which operate very similar to a New York metro. There are trains in Wellington and Christchurch as well as good bus services. As for the rest of NZ, KiwiRail operates a service between each city and there is the occasional busses.

If you're new and looking to come to New Zealand look at outer Auckland. There are good job opportunities and it's roughly a 30min drive from the city centre. Fuel is pricey so do watch that. NZ does have a housing crisis where there are too few houses however the government recently announced massive sub-division plans in Outer Auckland.

A good salary in New Zealand is around 60-100k (don't quote me), it should get you through with payments such as rent, however in Auckland you will need more as it's more expensive.

Auckland City is very vibrant as with other places. New Zealand is very rich in culture. It's astounding, beautiful, it's like you're walking in an untouched environment, amazing fauna, there is the Tane Mahuta tree, one of the largest trees in the world, then you have the Rotorua hot pools, to the Wellington Te Papa Museum, the Picton Ferry, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound, Stewart Island, you could go on and on. Best of all it's very short travelling distance (roughly from Los Angeles to Portland is the distance from Auckland to Invercargill I believe). You are surrounded by beaches.

If you're looking for a laid back, Hawaii-California type place, then definitely consider NZ. If you are looking to maximise your career, and earn better wages look at Australia.

My son is considering a job in a golf course, what is the "minimum wage' in Auckland? How does a US citizen transfer car insurance, medical insurance ect.

He is young, will have some company support, but will have a rude awakening I'm sure coming from San Diego, California.

How can he even get a car to drive, is public transportation available outside the city center?

I understand he wants to see the world, and better to do it now while he is young, heard its a Beautiful, but expensive place to Live?

Any advice?

I just spent some time using the compare feature to compare Auckland house and rental prices (which look accurate to me) with those of other major western cities. To my surprise, Auckland is usually around 10% - 20% CHEAPER than other major cities! Wow i thought Auckland was expensive.. guess it's not (comparatively).

Couple with 1 kid here and lived in Auckland for 12 years.Earned 100k combined salary and have a house with a mortgage.I have moved to Perth in the last 3 months to get the sunshine.If you find auckland expensive then you are kidding me-Perth is more expensive but houses are cheaper as the mining boom is over.Auckland on the other hand is doing well with its economy and there are jobs but you need to earn a decent 120k salary to enjoy NZ if you are a couple otherwise it will be hard on you. Dont even think about buying a house unless you are bringing $500K minimum with you.I bought a 2 bedroom unit in 2012 for 270k and it went on auction for $685,000 a fortnight ago and thats a huge profit margin right? but I still didn't sell it because I am getting offers of 700k already after the auction.House prices are ridicolously expensive here.I take the money next week and buy a 4 bedroom house with a swimming pool in Perth for $450k,buy a mean 7 seater SUV and discover australia.I am mortgage free at 40.
Coming back to auckland,its a beautiful city and has a lot to offer but you need some serious cash to enjoy the lifestyle and it rains....all the time....the constant rains is driving people mad so if you are coming from the UK then Auckland is not the place you want to be unless you like the grey dull weather..I'd say be prepared for 300 days of rain!and if you are thinking of renting-Good luck with your find-I feel your pain.
Read the property and economy section of the NZ herald and you will know what I am talking about.I feel sorry for the 10,000 people from UK making a beeline to come to NZ.The grass is not always greener...as for me Perth is doing just fine..I need the 300 days of sunshine!

Moving to Christchurch in 2 weeks. It's way cheaper than Auckland and nicer as well despite the rebuild. From my research it's about 20% more than North America in regards to pricing. I got lucky and get free housing and a free work truck......so good luck to those thinking of moving without work or the proper visas. It's a pain in the butt to obtain them but worth it in the long run. Can't wait to start a new chapter in my life. See you all on the ball fields!!! Ciao

I might be moving on an IT role (Intermediate Support Consultant) in one of the largest IT companies in NZ, location Auckland. What's the reasonable annual salary for living ? (a couple, no kids yet) ? I've been hearing numbers around 70 and 75..is that reasonable these days or what?

Davey, you're a dickhead.
The average wage is 75K, and that gets you nowhere in Auckland. If you missed the housing escalator and find you have to rent, you face a blanket requirement of $400 a week. The ageing population, who no longer want to flat, are fast discovering their wages are not going up and they are certainly not going any further. I work in media, and I am accepting less than what I was on in 10 years ago, yet I am now in a senior position. I no longer buy the designer clothes but I refuse to quite the coffees and odd nice meal out. But I am not moving forward and will soon back peddle. So we don't wax that last $100... it seems fruitless to do so. I used to save $300 a week 10 years ago, and save I did. But it's getting a harder ask. And given how much harder we're asked to work for less, is it no wonder that odd nice out seems a better punt than slow save in a banking system not tipped in your odds either?

Agree with Sam Samson
His estimate of 500$ per week is about spot on.
Auckland is ridiculousy expensive !!
Premiuim fuel now back around 2.00$ per litre.
Im earning in top 10 % of incomes and have business on side also and I have to be careful with my budget.
Almost no chance of myself buying a house now as the average home is nearing a million dollars.
Auckland now has 62 suburbs with average house prices over 1 million. An absolute joke
Yet the incomes kiwis make arent keeping pace with the cost of living. Average income in NZ approximatley 75000$. Very large disproportions.
Be prepared for a shock if you move here !

We are Australian and were living in the UK for 2 years. Now we are in Auckland. It is very expensive here, even in comparison to AUS and UK. In fact, we are still a bit shell shocked. We live quite simply and I have a well paying job but even still it is hard. Be prepared to houseshare.

I am researching the liveability of Auckland for an assignment, any chance of some more information soon?

There is no rend cheaper than $400 per week in Auckland. All offers you see are alternated garages or a room in house to share with other people. Even if your room had got separate access - you will hear how rest of the house sneezing, snoring, flushing toilet (NZ doesn't know about soundproof).
For from about $420 pw you can have something private...
Someone wrote in Jan 2015 that food expanse is $140pw - to clarify - this is per person. Not per family. Cheapest meal is $8. If you have 2 a day * 7 days = $112 a week. But you need fruits..
So, $140 is really cheap I would say... Should be about $190.