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If you’ve set your sights on moving to New Zealand, then you’ve come to the right place. Because moving to the Land of the Long White Cloud will require you to perform some serious research, we compiled everything you need to know about a move to New Zealand below. Read on to start your adventure! 😉
First things first –how much does it cost to move to New Zealand? We all know moving to New Zealand is going to cost a pretty penny, but what exactly are you getting into? On average, the cost of moving to New Zealand is between $15,000 – $20,000.
However, there are many factors that inflate or deflate the costs of moving to New Zealand, but two factors have the most influence: the size of your move and the distance of your move. That makes sense, right?
Sirelo Tip! Unsure how to calculate the size of your move? Our trusty moving space calculator is here to help.
Once you’ve got an approximate idea of your moving volume, check out these typical price ranges for moving to New Zealand depending on your starting location.
To give you an idea of what you can expect, below you can find the average cost of moving different household sizes to New Zealand via sea-freight from the East Coast of the United States.
| Property Size | Time | Costs |
| 1-bedroom | 8 – 11 weeks | $3,400 – $4,700 |
| 2-bedrooms | 6 – 8 weeks | $4,600 – $6,200 |
| 3-bedrooms | 6 – 8 weeks | $8,100 – $10,900 |
| 4-bedrooms | 6 – 8 weeks | $8,600 – $11,500 |
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the rates shown above are just estimates and thus will vary depending on your actual point of departure.
Likewise, the table below shows you the average cost of moving different household sizes to New Zealand via sea-freight from the West Coast of the United States.
| Property Size | Time | Costs |
| 1-bedroom | 7 – 10 weeks | $3,100 – $4,300 |
| 2-bedrooms | 5 – 7 weeks | $4,100 – $5,700 |
| 3-bedrooms | 5 – 7 weeks | $7,200 – $9,800 |
| 4-bedrooms | 5 – 7 weeks | $7,700 – $10,400 |
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the rates shown above are just estimates and thus will vary depending on your actual point of departure.
Are you searching for movers to New Zealand? You’re in the right place. Take a look at the 3 best international removal companies from America to New Zealand:
You might have guessed already that determining the costs of moving to New Zealand can be a bit of a guessing game. Because your particular moving situation is wrought with its particularities, you’ll never truly know what to expect until you receive a quote from a mover.
With moving to New Zealand costing a small fortune, you might want to shop around! Comparing moving quotes will help you get the best price, and by completing the form below we’ll make sure you’ll receive up to five quotes for free (no strings attached!).
How hard is it to move to New Zealand? Sometimes the hardest part is just remembering all the little details. Even though we know you’re more than up to the task, we’ve put together a quick guide to moving to New Zealand to give your memory a helping hand. Take a peak before we deep-dive below:
Sirelo Tip!: Need a handy and comprehensive checklist? We got you! Our moving abroad checklist covers every little detail you might need to remember.
You might be asking yourself, how can I move to New Zealand? If you plan on making the Land of the Long White Cloud your forever home, you’ll need to sort out this pesky thing called a visa. Depending on your reason for moving to New Zealand, you can apply for a range of visa options.
The required documents you’ll need to apply for a visa in New Zealand include:
There is a range of different work visas for Americans moving to New Zealand, all of which are temporary but could ultimately lead to permanent residency. See these three different options:
For the titans of industry among us, New Zealand offers a class of visas for those shaping society. Residence permits in this class include investor visas, entrepreneur visas, and global impact visas.
Your dependent children are eligible to join you in New Zealand. As well, your partners (how romantic!) can join you if you both meet certain requirements.
Be aware to beware! New Zealand visas are notoriously expensive to apply for. Your quick working holiday visa will only put you back $208 NZD. However, a skilled migrant visa like the Work to Residence costs $3,165 NZD!
The philosophy of New Zealand’s healthcare system is that everyone should get a fair go at life. Given this humanitarian approach, New Zealanders (and some work visa-holders) benefit from the public healthcare system either for free or at a very low cost. To see if you’re eligible for this subsidized healthcare option, check out the requirements.
If you are more comfortable keeping your American insurance coverage after moving to New Zealand from the US, we recommend taking out international health insurance. You’ll be double-covered!
Now let’s turn to the more tedious side of moving to New Zealand. Opening a bank account is one of the most important things you can do before moving to New Zealand. How does it work? Start by sending an email application to your bank of choice containing the following documents:
The sooner you get this done, the sooner you can start moving money to New Zealand!
Taxes, taxes, taxes… everyone’s favorite topic. When it comes to taxes, we recommend that you check out the New Zealand Government’s website for further information about personal taxes, business taxes, and much more.
Sirelo Tip! To avoid any troubles back home, be extra careful when documenting your finances after moving to New Zealand from the US. Why? The US applies global taxation, so your New Zealand income and assets are subject to American taxes too!
Based on government estimates, New Zealand’s economy will need 47,000 more workers annually. Now that’s what we call growth! Good news if work will be your main path for moving to New Zealand. Better news? Salaries average around 56,000 NZD. Cha-ching!
However, unless a career bump is bringing you to New Zealand, you’ll be less likely to rise up the ranks after arriving. Being an isolated country with a small population, we don’t typically associate this country with economic booms.
So even though NZ needs more workers, these tend to be on the more unskilled or very highly skilled ends of the spectrum (rough world for early career folks). Expect to find the most opportunity in the following sectors:
Planning on moving to New Zealand without a job? We understand the hassle of the hustle, so get a jump start with our recommended job-search platforms:
Sirelo Tip! We particularly recommend Work here for job seekers who have not yet moved to NZ.
We’ve been talking a lot about how to move to New Zealand, but what about life after moving? Understanding the costs of living in New Zealand should very much factor into your planning.
Let’s just rip the Band-aid off. Currently, New Zealand ranks as the 20th most expensive country to live in. However, don’t let this ranking scare you! The United States ranks as 24th, so you won’t feel much of a change. Phew!
The average costs of living in New Zealand run between 3,000 – 4,000 NZD per month for a single person. A family of four spends on average between 6,000 – 8,000 NZD per month. Of course, certain areas are more expensive than others, so do your local research well ahead of time.
When it comes to housing, rental/purchase prices will largely depend on where you live. For example, Auckland and Wellington have the highest median home prices in New Zealand. Smaller cities and rural areas tend to be more affordable, but you won’t find the same career opportunities (just more sheep).
| Property | Average Cost |
| One-bedroom apartment (Rent) | 1,560 NZD per month |
| Three-bedroom apartment (Rent) | 2,450 NZD per month |
| Three-bedroom house (Buy) | 500,000 – 700,000 NZD |
Disclaimer: The above prices are mere averages. Actual costs will depend on your city of residence and property type.
Is cooking as big a part of your passion as your budget? If you’re planning on pinching pennies, you’ll need to get creative when it comes to culinary variety. Besides local goods (meat and dairy in abundance!), everything else must be imported and is hence more expensive. Dang island-life!
Below we’ve compiled common grocery prices so you can start getting your budget in order:
| Item | Price |
| Carton of 12 large eggs | NZ$7 |
| 1 qt. of milk | NZ$2.15 |
| 16 0z. of cheese | NZ$6 |
| 1 lb. of chicken filet | NZ$7 |
| 2 lb. of apples | NZ$4.06 |
| 1 lb. of beef round | NZ$8.57 |
| Loaf of fresh bread | NZ$2.21 |
| 1 lb. of potatoes | NZ$1.41 |
| Bottle of wine | NZ$15 |
If you’re a big fan of eating out, you’d probably be interested in knowing that dinner costs in New Zealand range from around NZ$98 to NZ$61. Usually, breakfast and lunch prices are a bit below dinner costs.
We might already have a strong image of what moving to New Zealand will be like nature, quaint accents, and sheep. But is that really living in New Zealand? Of course, every stereotype has a grain of truth, but the facts of everyday life are often different.
Kiwis are straightforward, down-to-earth folks. Some even say New Zealand has ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome,’ meaning the tallest poppies get cut down—so don’t act like you’re special! Therefore, despite its multiculturalism, New Zealand’s society often demands a kind of homogeneity of attitude.
To give you an idea of what life will really be like after moving to New Zealand from the US, check out these key statistics:
Since living in New Zealand certainly looks really sweet, is it just as sweet for expats? Being a product of the British Commonwealth, Americans moving to New Zealand might not experience a strong culture shock. English is the official language, but it tends to be spoken more directly –so cut the small talk!
If you get homesick and want to swap stories with other Americans, connect with online expat groups. With only 16,000 Americans currently living in New Zealand, you might need to do some searching!
Can we boil down to living in New Zealand to mere pros and cons? Not without leaving a lot out, but below we list the highlight points we think you should consider:
New Zealand is famous for (among other things) a great work-life balance. This means you’ll have plenty of downtimes to enjoy New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes and cityscapes. Are you a swimmer? A surfer? A hiker? A photographer? Every passion will likely find a home when living in New Zealand!
So what can you get up to? Below we list a few entertainment activities (and their associated costs 😎).
| Plan | Average Cost |
| Single ticket to the Auckland Museum | NZ$25 |
| Two tickets to the movies | NZ$33 |
| A cappuccino in a local café | NZ$5 |
| Two tickets to the theater | NZ$216 |
| Monthly gym membership | NZ$72 |
We hope that by now you already feel like you’ve become a bit of a Kiwi yourself! 🥝 If you feel like you still need some extra help moving to New Zealand, we recommend that you check out the articles we have linked for you below. Good luck!
Our mission is to be your go-to moving platform for you and your loved ones. With our years of expertise and extensive network of movers, we’re here to make your moving process as stress-free as possible.
