Moving to New Zealand from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.2 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥500,000 salary in China would need to be roughly NZ$299,000 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is New Zealand cheaper than China?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.3 times more
Groceries
pay 73.4% more
Transportation
pay 93.6% more
Housing
pay 3.2 times more
Childcare
pay 13.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 89.8% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in New Zealand?
What does your salary buy?
CN¥500,000 → NZ$299,000
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in New Zealand cost about 62% more than cities in China.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from China to New Zealand.
people moved from China to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
-
2.144,207
China
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs significantly better than China across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Administration of Taxation (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in New Zealand vs China
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Shanghai | Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) | 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) | 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) | 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Shanghai | Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) | 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) |
| Feb | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) | 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) |
| Mar | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) | 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) |
| Apr | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) | 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) |
| May | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) | 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jun | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) | 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) |
| Jul | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) | 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) |
| Aug | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) | 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) | 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) | 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) |
| Nov | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) | 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) | 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Can you move from China to New Zealand?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.
China passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting China
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in New Zealand than China?
On average New Zealand is around 125% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Budget about NZ$74,750 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a CN¥500,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
Connectivity is usually fine (New Zealand: 38.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does New Zealand offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is New Zealand safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 31.1 in China. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to China?
The average high temperature in Auckland is 66°F, compared to 68°F in Shanghai. Auckland receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Shanghai gets 43.8 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In China, the official language is Chinese.
