The cost of living in New Zealand

Bars and restaurants

• Fish and chips: about $15.
• A scoop of fries: about $6.
• A scoop of fries at the bar: about $9-12.
• A combo meal at McDonald’s: about $15
• A takeaway pizza: about $20-25.
• A meal in a food court: about $10-15.
• A flat white (an espresso shot with hot milk): $5.
• An (English) pint of beer (40 centilitres): about 8-12 $.
• A bottle of beer: about $7-15.
• A glass of wine: about $8-15.
• A cocktail: about $15-30.
• A basic pub meal: about 25 $.

Going out

• Cinema: about $20 (discounts usually available on Tuesdays).
• A concert ticket: from $15 to 200 depending on the place and / or the singer/group.
• A national rugby game: seats start from $20.

Tourist activities

Tourist activities are quite expensive in New Zealand, especially extreme sports. You can expect to pay around $400-500 for a parachute jump and around $200 for a bungee jump.

Museums are free or generally cost $10 in New Zealand. You’ll find museums on sometimes very unusual themes: animal watching in specialised centres (like the little white kiwi at the Pukaha Mount Bridge centre, blue penguins in Oamaru or albatros at the Royal albatross centre) cost between $20 and $70 for the first prices.

Hiking

Short half-day or full-day hikes are generally free (if you don’t take a guide). For hikes lasting several days, you need to allow for the cost of a camping pitch or a bed in a hut. Campsites and huts can be very basic or a little fancier (with electrical appliances, for example) and costs vary: from free (for very basic huts where you often need to bring everything, including a mattress) to $120 (on the Great Walks) per night and per person. Prices can be higher in summer (particularly on the Milford Track). More information on the Department of Conservation website and on the walking and tramping page.