New Zealand is a popular choice amongst international students. The flexible education system along with the high quality of life offers the best work-life balance that international students crave the most.

So, if you are planning to start your Study in New Zealand you should be aware of certain aspects of your life there such as what you should expect while studying there, the cost of living and what affects the cost of living. Furthermore, you will also receive some tips and tricks to live affordably.

How is the life of a student studying in New Zealand?

• As mentioned above New Zealand has a very flexible education and offers an excellent quality of life. The country offers an amazing experience to international students.
• The class strength is usually low as the government of New Zealand follows a strict code where they provide quality education to each student. This way students receive the help and the guidance they need to perform their best.
• You can explore a variety of mesmerizing landscapes and sights. You can also enjoy a variety of adventurous activities like bungee jumping, whale watching and watching the southern lights.
• New Zealand is known for its low crime rates and is considered one of the safest and most peaceful countries to travel to.

What is the cost of living in New Zealand as an international student?

1. Tuition Fees: When it comes to Tuition fees for international students it depends on three factors

• Course Type
• Where do you aim to study
• The duration of the Course

Given below is a rough estimate of fees for different types of degrees and diplomas: –

• Certificate and Diploma Courses: Diploma and Certificate courses usually have a shorter duration. A one-term certificate in Engineering can start from NZ$23,376 whereas one-year diploma courses can start from NZ$ 46,752.
• Bachelor’s degree: The time duration of a bachelor’s degree is usually long with many degrees that can be completed in three years.

Fees can range from NZ$20,000 TO $40000.Fees can be higher for subjects such as the medical and veterinary sciences.

• Postgraduate Degree: For postgraduate degrees fees can range from NZ$20,000 to $45,000. Subjects like Medicine as well as Veterinary Sciences can be on the higher end of the price range spectrum.
• PhDs: PhD students of both International as well as New Zealand students can range from NZ$6500 to $7500 per annum for nearly all subjects.

2. Rent:  Rent can vary depending on factors such as your lifestyle, the part of the country you live in and the university you attend. The cost of living in New Zealand for one person can range from NZ$4000-NZ$5000 per month in a major city.

The monthly cost of renting in different cities of New Zealand is as follows: –

• Auckland:  If you are planning to rent an apartment near your university you should consider choosing an area that has easy access to public transportation. Auckland had a median weekly rent of NZ$660 in 2023. The north shore of Auckland is on the expensive side with a median weekly rent of NZ$730.
• Wellington: Wellington the capital of New Zealand has the highest rent in the country but when you add in groceries and other costs of living it is slightly cheaper than Auckland. Wellington had a median weekly rent of NZ$ 640 in 2023. The rent for a two-bedroom flat can be around NZ$ 540 to 650 a week whereas the rent for a three-bedroom property can be between NZ$750 to 895 a week.
• Christchurch:  Christchurch is the biggest city in the southern islands. It is considered one of the most affordable cities in New Zealand. The price of living is about 30% cheaper for students in comparison to Wellington and Auckland. Christchurch had a median weekly rent of $480 in 2023. The rent for a two-bedroom house can be around NZ$455 whereas the rent for a 3–4-bedroom house can be around NZ$550 a week on average.
• Queenstown:  Queenstown is a small town located on the south island, it has one of the most expensive housing in the county due to its geography. It had a median weekly rent of  NZ$720 per week in 2023. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment can be around NZ$510 a week whereas the rent for a 3-4 bedroom house can be NZ$743 to 850 a week on average. Rent can be cheaper further away from suburban areas.

3. Cost Of Living: New Zealand has one of the highest quality of life and it ranked 19th out of 197 in 2023. It has a cost index of 101.4.

Once again, the cost of living can vary significantly depending on where you live and the quality of life you lead.

• Food: The average weekly food expenditure for one person can range from NZ$60 -NZ$114 depending on the area you reside. With Auckland and Christchurch being on the higher end of the spectrum.
• Clothes: The average weekly spending on clothes can range from NZ$15 to NZ$8.60 With Christchurch being on the lowest end of the spectrum.
• Housing and Utility Bills: Housing and utility can cost around NZ$164 to NZ$274 depending on the city that you reside in.
• Transport: Transportation charges can be around NZ$50 to NZ$91.70  per week depending on the area that you reside in with Hamilton being on the higher end of the spectrum. Flight tickets can range from NZ$60 to NZ$399 depending on the time of the year you would be traveling.

How to live affordably in New Zealand?

• Area of Residence: Living costs can be cheaper if you choose to reside in a small town instead of a big city. Housing will take up a lot of your budget therefore residing in a smaller town will help you offset some costs by reducing expenditures in housing and transportation costs.
• Part-time jobs:  You can offset some of the costs by working part-time up to 20 hours per week and full-time during holidays if your student visa allows it. New Zealand’s minimum wage is NZD$23.15 per hour (before tax), effective from 1 April 2024. There’s a lower rate of NZD$18.52 per hour (before tax) for starting-out workers. These include 16 and 17-year-olds who have been working continuously with their current employer for less than 6 months. After working 6 months continuously with the same employer they are no longer considered starting-out workers and must be paid the adult minimum wage of NZD$23.15 per hour (before tax).
• Avoid unnecessary expenses: Try to avoid spending on buying items that won’t serve much of their purpose for you. For instance, buying expensive clothing that can only be worn on one occasion, and then you have no use of it. Do you buy expensive internet packs, rather use free Wi-Fi if available. Do not eat at expensive restaurants unless you can afford it once in a while.
• Negotiating Utility Bills: You should be informed about the best deal on electricity and gas rather than choosing your standard provider. If you have a service provider that offers discounts and free power hours for using power at specific times of day you should consider it.
• Cancellation of Subscriptions and Memberships: You should consider cancelling subscriptions for a membership that you don’t use. These expenses can cost you tens of NZ$ per week and can in the end cause massive losses. Thus, you should make sure that you are paying for subscriptions and memberships that you make use of regularly.
• Use Public Transportation for commuting: Travelling by car can be quite expensive, furthermore, traffic violations can also be quite expensive thus if you aren’t acquainted with the traffic rules of New Zealand you should consider travelling by bus for your daily commute.
• Healthcare cover: Most probably, you’ve got a healthcare plan to cover you during medical emergencies. If not, get a suitable plan to ensure that you don’t overspend on medical treatments as students can’t truly cover the huge costs incurred for the same unless they are earning from a full-time job on a regular basis.

Sustaining your expenses in New Zealand can help you journey stress-free toward building your dream career.

FAQs

1.How much would daily essentials cost me in New Zealand?

You can set aside around NZ$50 for your daily essentials depending on your personal needs.

2.What is the frequency of rent collection in New Zealand?

Rent collection in New Zealand is usually done weekly or fortnightly

3.What should be my yearly budget to live comfortably in New Zealand as an international student?

Your expenses will depend on your lifestyle and the part of New Zealand where you will be residing. Taking examples from Universities, for example, the University of Otago estimates                        $18,000 to $21,000 per year. On the other hand, the University of Auckland and the Victoria University of Wellington costs around $20,000 to $27,000 per year.