Where I Can Live
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Oceania · English, Māori · updated 2026-10

Moving to New Zealand: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,650 a month to live in Auckland, and a family of four about $5,750, including rent. New Zealand usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 2 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Skilled Migrant Category.

Monthly budget
$2,650
Moderate cost
Safety
70
Safe
Stability
92
Very stable
Family
80
Excellent
Main city
Auckland
Language
English, Māori
Permanent residence
2 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in New Zealand?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in New Zealand, per month in US$

One person
$2,650
Family of four
$5,750
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Auckland centre
$1,300
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,400
Estimate
Price level
89
US = 100
Income per person
$3,886
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
70
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.46
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.18
Rule of law+1.66
Control of corruption+1.89
Government effectiveness+1.87
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (92/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
80
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.776
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
4.7
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$5,022
per person / year
Education spending
5.2%
of GDP

Partners of skilled workers can often get open work visas.

Visa & residence routes

Points
Skilled Migrant CategoryRestructured on 24 August 2026 into points-based, skilled work experience, and trades and technician pathways.
Job offer
Accredited Employer Work VisaJob with an accredited employer.
Job offer
Green List Straight to ResidenceShortage occupations get residence from day one.
Investment
Active Investor PlusNZ$5M growth or NZ$10M balanced investment.

Some passports also get: Working Holiday visa for young people; Pacific Access Category / Samoan Quota.

Who gets easier access to New Zealand

Australians and New Zealanders can live and work in each other's country indefinitely.

Flag of AustraliaAustralia

Working Holiday visa for young people (45 nationalities)

Working Holiday visa for young people.

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Pacific Access Category / Samoan Quota (5 nationalities)

Pacific Access Category / Samoan Quota: a ballot for residence.

Flag of FijiFijiFlag of KiribatiKiribatiFlag of SamoaSamoaFlag of TongaTongaFlag of TuvaluTuvalu

Visiting: 1 passports can visit visa-free, 60 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 137 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
2 yrs
Day one for Green List Tier 1 roles
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

The immigration median wage is NZ$35.00 an hour from March 2026.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.immigration.govt.nz

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in New Zealand?

About $2,650 a month for one person and $5,750 for a family of four in Auckland, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,300 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,400. Prices are 89% of US levels. New Zealand is the 61st cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is New Zealand safe to live in?

New Zealand scores 70/100 for safety (safe), ranking 35th of 76. The homicide rate is 1.46 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is New Zealand politically stable?

New Zealand scores 92/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 3rd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is New Zealand good for families?

New Zealand scores 80/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 17th of 76. Life expectancy is 82 years and under-5 mortality is 4.7 per 1,000 births. Partners of skilled workers can often get open work visas.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in New Zealand?

Usually 2 yrs of legal residence. Day one for Green List Tier 1 roles.

How long until I can become a citizen of New Zealand?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to New Zealand without a job offer?

Yes. Skilled Migrant Category: Restructured on 24 August 2026 into points-based, skilled work experience, and trades and technician pathways.

Who can live and work in New Zealand without a visa?

Australians and New Zealanders can live and work in each other's country indefinitely. (Trans-Tasman arrangement: Australia.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of New Zealand can move