Detroit vs. Auckland Cost of Living Summary

Detroit is 5.0% more expensive than Auckland.

Restaurants
pay 35.2% more in Detroit
Groceries
pay 12.8% more in Detroit
Transportation
pay 8.4% less in Detroit
Housing
pay 1.1% less in Detroit
Childcare
pay 42.2% more in Detroit
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.5% less in Detroit
Clothing
pay 3.7% less in Detroit

The cost of childcare, restaurants, and groceries in Detroit are more expensive than in Auckland. Expenses including transportation, entertainment and sports, clothing, and housing are lower in Detroit.

Detroit vs. Auckland Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Detroit instead of Auckland, you would:

pay 35.2% more for restaurants

 
Auckland
Detroit
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $14.01
NZ$24.77
$18.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.96
NZ$15.85
$13.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.98
NZ$3.50
$3.17
 

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pay 12.8% more for groceries

 
Auckland
Detroit
Bread
1 loaf
$2.20
NZ$3.90
$3.53
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.29
NZ$7.59
$6.78
 
Milk (1 gallon) $7.26
NZ$12.84
$3.84
 

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pay 8.4% less for transportation

 
Auckland
Detroit
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.98
NZ$12.34
$4.22
 
Monthly public transit pass $121.78
NZ$215.36
$120.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $25,206.41
NZ$44,573.67
$36,033.00
 

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pay 1.1% less for housing

 
Auckland
Detroit
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$50.70
NZ$89.65
$68.92
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,312.12
NZ$2,320.29
$1,520.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,217.10
NZ$2,152.26
$922.33
 

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pay 42.2% more for childcare

 
Auckland
Detroit
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,121.14
NZ$1,982.56
$1,368.37
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $19,362.77
NZ$34,240.10
$32,070.71
 

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pay 4.5% less for entertainment and sports

 
Auckland
Detroit
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.72
NZ$11.89
$8.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.41
NZ$6.02
$5.61
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$27.17
NZ$48.05
$10.40
 

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pay 3.7% less for clothing

 
Auckland
Detroit
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$79.70
NZ$140.94
$59.09
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$40.10
NZ$70.91
$41.44
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$92.74
NZ$164.01
$96.30
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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