Cost of Living in New Zealand for Indian Students in 2025
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Cost of Living in New Zealand for Indians?
Before we start discussing the overall living expenses of NZ, it is essential to understand what kind of expenses students incur during their higher education in New Zealand. Below, we have mentioned all types of expenses that directly affect the budget of an international student:
- Food: The overall cost of eating at home (grocery, snacks and cooking costs) and dining out. Like other things, the food expense of a student is dependent on the preference of his/her eating habits. When it comes to food, you can consider the estimated cost to be around NZD 200 per month.
- Utility: The total expenses for electricity, gas, water, and other services that keep a home running.
- Transportation: Total expenses related to daily commuting by public transportation or owning a vehicle. Commuting using private transport regularly is a bit expensive affair for students living in New Zealand.
- Accommodation: It covers a big portion of the monthly budget. Your student accommodation type (on-campus or off-campus) can significantly affect the total budget. The expense for this is based on the region and area one chooses to live in. The monthly average rent ranges in between NZD 400 to 500 for a one-room accommodation.
- Phone and Internet: Phone and internet bills can constitute a significant portion of your monthly cost of living in New Zealand. While living in a foreign land, phone calls, messages, emails, video calls, and the Internet become highly important since these are the only way to stay in constant touch with your family and friends.
- Health Expenses: Health is of utmost importance, no matter where you stay. For meeting any kind of medical emergency, a student should keep an average amount of NZD 50-100 every month.
- Clothing: It’s not a monthly expense as you are not going to buy clothes every month. You can avail a pair of jeans at NZD 110. Similarly, you can get a pair of shoes at NZD 140.
- Entertainment: This covers all the expenses related to movies, playing sports, etc.
- Miscellaneous: All other unknown and indirect expenses, such as healthcare and other necessities. You need to keep a certain amount to cover such expenses.
While studying abroad, exploring new places and cultures is also in your scheme of things. New Zealand offers many picturesque locations to explore such as beaches, mountains, and forests. For this purpose, a student will require NZD 50-100.
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Monthly Living Expenses in New Zealand
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As compared to India, the cost of living in New Zealand is almost 213 per cent higher. According to Numbeo, monthly living expenses in New Zealand for Indian students are INR 87,415 (NZD 1,682). This amount excludes the house rent. It is to be noted that the cost of living in New Zealand differs from city to city. Below, we have mentioned a table to let you know the category-wise expenses to have a comfortable lifestyle in New Zealand:
| Particulars |
Average Monthly Expenditure (in NZD) |
Monthly Living Expenses in New Zealand (INR) Approximately |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Rent (1 Bedroom Rent) |
430 to 490 |
22,000 to 26,000 |
| Food Expenses (Grocery) |
200 to 250 |
10,000 to 13,000 |
| Public Transportation (Bus Pass and Metro Card) |
170 to 200 |
8,800 to 10,300 |
| Phone and Internet Network |
100 |
5,200 |
| Clothing |
200-300 |
10,300 to 15,500 |
| Health Expenses |
50-100 |
2,600 to 5,200 |
| Day-to-day Necessities |
50 |
2,600 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses |
100 to 200 |
5,200 to 10,000 |
Moreover, having lunch or dinner outside occasionally is considered for a student living abroad. For this, you need to have at least 100-150 NZD extra in your wallet. However, outside eating cost also depends on the eating habits of an individual.
Cost of Living in the Top Cities of New Zealand
Now let’s have a comparison of the cost of living in some of the major cities of New Zealand.
| City Name |
Average Cost of Living Per Year (in New Zealand Dollar) |
|---|---|
| Wellington |
NZ$ 1400-2000 |
| Auckland |
NZ$ 1500-2000 |
| Hamilton |
NZ$ 700-900 |
| Christchurch |
NZ$ 1000-1400 |
| Napier |
NZ$ 900-1100 |
| Hastings |
NZ$ 700-900 |
| Dunedin |
NZ$ 800-1300 |
Scholarships to Study in New Zealand
As mentioned earlier, the cost of living in New Zealand is more expensive than in India. To manage the expenses students, need to have financial support. So the question is which are the popular scholarships to study in New Zealand? And how to get them? Government, universities and private institutions offer scholarships to the meritorious students who come to study in NZ. Here are some well-known scholarship programs for students who want to study in NZ:
- Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Awards
- New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarship (NZIDRS)
- New Zealand International Undergraduate Fees Scholarships
- Commonwealth Scholarships
The eligibility and application process of these scholarships are different. You can read more about them on their official website.
How to Save Money as a Student in New Zealand?
Is it possible to save money as an international student while studying abroad? Yes, you can save some hard-earned money by your parents by following these tips:
- Create your monthly budget wisely and prioritise funds for essential things
- Live in shared accommodation or on-campus hostels, which will help you to reduce rent.
- Cook at home to reduce costs.
- Shop during discounts and ask for student discounts.
- Explore the source of income. Consider working on campus for flexible hours.
- Use public transport services or carpooling to save some money.
If you are looking ahead to studying abroad and need admission and application-related help, you can sign up for our free Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or you can write to us in the comments below.
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Yes, it is generally more expensive to live in New Zealand for Indians than in India. There are many factors such as high property rates, high food prices, and utility expenses that are responsible for this but the major factor is the high exchange rate. 1 NZD is equal to approximately INR 51. This is a significant factor contributing to the higher cost of living in New Zealand for Indians.
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.
Yes, getting part time job is very easy while studying at Whiteria New Zealand. One can find part-time employment online, off campus, or on campus. Jobs on campus, such as tutoring or working as a student assistant at the library, are competitive but handy. Off-campus positions like waiter or retail sales associate are available on the independent work market. Remote employment is possible with online part-time positions like virtual assistant or freelance content writer.
Whitireia, New Zealand, is well-known for a number of things like it has a broad selection of programs in numerous fields like the arts, business, construction, engineering, health, hospitality, and information technology, providing an excellent postsecondary education experience. Parumoana Community College, being its native name the school has provided vocational education in New Zealand. Through their joint council and strategic partnership, Whitireia and the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) provide students with additional academic alternatives and possibilities.
The English language test requirements at the Lincoln University New Zealand are mentioned in the table below for the international students who are from non-native English speaking countries:
| Exams | Minimum Scores required |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall, with no individual component less than 5.5 |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 60 (with at least 18 in Writing) |
Pearson Test of English (Academic) | 50 overall score - with no communicative skill less than 42 |
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and First (FCE) | Overall score of 169, with no individual component less than 162 |
- World-Class Education.
- Post-Study Work Rights..
- Financial Assistance.
- Study Abroad Opportunities.
- International Student Support.
- Diverse Student Community.
Lincoln University New Zealand has received QS 5 stars for its teaching, employability, global engagement, research, facilities, etc. Furthermore, in 2025, as per a top-ranking publisher, the university has been placed at #371 position. In short, it has retained its global position in the Top 25% of universities. Furthermore, a wide range of scholarship opportunities are available to international students.
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Living expenses in New Zealand for indian students is higher than India. INR 86,511 is the minimum budget you need to cover the required expenses in New Zealand excluding house rent. Rent of 1 bedroom apartment in NZ varies between NZD 490 to NZD 510 for a month. Note that, you can save some money by sharing flat.