Moving to New Zealand from Libya

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Libya to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Libya to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 7.7 times more expensive than Libya overall. A LYD478,235 salary in Libya would need to be roughly NZ$364,079 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 78°F in Tripoli, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Libya and New Zealand.

What does your salary buy?

LYD478,235 NZ$364,079

To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 7.2 times more

Groceries

pay 3.3 times more

Transportation

pay 16.0 times more

Housing

pay 5.3 times more

Childcare

pay 14.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 LYD = 0.2683 NZD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Libya to New Zealand.

Moved in 2023
3 ↓ 50% vs 2022

people moved from Libya to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to New Zealand?

Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to Libya.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LY
34.0
NZ
6.6

New Zealand performs significantly better than Libya across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

LY
$1,055
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LY
21.6
NZ
35.7

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Libya leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LY
54.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LY
8.7t
NZ
6.0t

New Zealand performs significantly better than Libya across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LY
4.8
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LY
817.1%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand performs significantly better than Libya across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LY
18.7%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LY
$17,700
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Libya leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LY
77.2 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LY
11.2
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than Libya across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tripoli Rain: 13.1 in/yr (334 mm)
78° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tripoli Wellington
Jan–Mar 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/62°F (27°/17°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/72°F (32°/22°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/57°F (23°/14°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Tripoli Wellington
Jan 64°/48°F (17.9°/8.9°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 66°/49°F (19.1°/9.5°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 69°/52°F (20.7°/11.2°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.7°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.7°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 87°/68°F (30.4°/20.1°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 89°/71°F (31.7°/21.7°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.7°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 88°/71°F (31.0°/21.4°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 67°/50°F (19.3°/9.9°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Libya 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.

Libya passport

Libya passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Libya passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Libya

Visa Required
New Zealand passport holders need a visa to enter Libya.

Data: 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 Libya?

On average New Zealand is around 184% pricier than Libya, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?

Budget about NZ$91,020 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a LYD478,235 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: 35.9 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?

New Zealand performs significantly better than Libya across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Libya?

New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Libya leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 21.6 in Libya. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Libya: 62).

What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Libya?

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 78°F in Tripoli. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tripoli gets 13.1 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Libya, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

LY NZ
Population 7,137,931 5,053,004
Currency Libyan Dinar (LYD) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Arabic English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +218 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 111