Moving to New Zealand from France
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from France to New Zealand — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from France to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.7% cheaper than France overall. A €65,577 salary in France would need to be roughly NZ$115,560 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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from France to New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → NZ$115,560
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 16.4% less
Groceries
pay 5.8% less
Transportation
pay 8.3% less
Housing
pay 14.5% more
Childcare
pay 6.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.2% 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.
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 15% less than cities in France.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to New Zealand
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from France to New Zealand, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from France 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
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
- · · ·
-
22.10,507
France
Key Indicator Comparison
How France and New Zealand stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
France generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate.
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
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
France performs better than New Zealand 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 France 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 France leads in gdp per capita.
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
France generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in education spending.
Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Paris | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Paris | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Météo-France,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.
France passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand passport holder visiting France
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 France?
Generally yes: New Zealand runs about 10% cheaper than France on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €65,577 comparable salary, that's around NZ$28,890 in New Zealand for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
With 35.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, New Zealand can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in France and New Zealand.
Is New Zealand safe for expats?
France generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to France?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in health coverage index. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 33.4 in France. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to France?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In France, the official language is French.
