The median income in New Zealand is NZ$33.56/hour as of 18 August 2025 as of August 2025 (NZD$69,804.80) per annum based on a 40-hour week). There is also a minimum wage in New Zealand under which you cannot be paid legally. Are you eligible to move to New Zealand? Take our assessment!
Before we talk 2025, here's a quick throwback to the current living wage NZ 2024/25: $27.80 per hour. That's the amount many accredited employers have been working with up until now. It's already well above the minimum wage ($23.50/hour), and that gap?
The minimum wage for over 21s, known officially as the National Living Wage, will rise by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 from April 2025. For someone working full time, or a 37.5 hour week, that equates to £23,873.60 a year, up from £22,368.06. For 18 to 20-year-olds, the minimum wage will rise from £8.60 to £10.
As the results show, if you're a single person with no children you should be able to live comfortably in the UK on a salary of just over £28,000, while a child-free couple could live comfortably on a combined income of around £40,000.
How much do I need to earn to live comfortably in NZ?
According to the comparison website Glimp, to live alone in Auckland, you need to earn at least NZ$5,000 per month, while a family needs around NZ$7,984 per month to live comfortably.
In February 30 per cent of people surveyed said they were living pay cheque to pay cheque but in November it jumped to 41 per cent in the bank's Financial Futures research. Those who said they had enough money put aside to cover unexpected expenses fell from 70 per cent to 59 per cent.
Government funding means that the New Zealand healthcare system, for citizens and permanent residents, is either free or low-cost. Hospital and specialist care are covered if the patient is referred by a general practitioner (GP).
Living expenses, excluding rent, typically range from $830 to $1,000. Although rental costs vary by city, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment falls between $1,000 and $1,240.
The ease of obtaining a work permit in New Zealand depends on your nationality, education, skills, and experience. There are several different visa options that cater to a range of situations including skilled workers in high-demand fields, recent graduates, young adults, and professionals in specialist roles.
Generally, full-time is working 30 hours or more every week and part-time is anything under 30 hours a week. For example, Jamie works 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. They are full-time.
What is the cost of living in New Zealand? The average cost of living in New Zealand is between NZ$5,000–NZ$8,000 (INR 2,52,388.40–INR 4,03,821.44), including rent, food, accommodation, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
They are marginal tax rates, so each dollar you earn up to $14,000 is tax at 10.5% then each dollar between $14,001 and $48,000 is taxed at 17.5% and so on.
The Living Wage is voluntary, a market wage paid by employers, aimed at lifting the incomes of low-paid workers. A living wage assures employers that what they pay workers is sufficient for them to live modestly and participate in society.
As a guide, you can expect to pay between NZ$30 and NZ$40 for a main dinner course at most restaurants. However, at a high-end restaurant, you can expect to pay between NZ$40 - NZ$100 for a main dinner course. For lunch, prices range between NZ$15-NZ$29 at most cafes. Tipping is optional in New Zealand.
