Moving to New Zealand from Macedonia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Macedonia to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.1 times more expensive than Macedonia overall. A MKD4,100,000 salary in Macedonia would need to be roughly NZ$282,000 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.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MKD4,100,000 → NZ$282,000

To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 73.9% more

Groceries

pay 87.6% more

Transportation

pay 38.9% more

Housing

pay 3.1 times more

Childcare

pay 3.2 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MKD = 0.0324 NZD (October 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.

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 28% more than cities in Macedonia.

Macedonia

Kumanovo 38%
Tetovo 37%

New Zealand

Tauranga 52%
Auckland 52%
Nelson 48%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
51 ↑ 112% vs 2022

people moved from Macedonia 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 Macedonia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MK
1.5
NZ
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MK
5.7
NZ
6.6

Macedonia generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MK
$1,808
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MK
29.4
NZ
36.1

Macedonia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MK
62.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MK
4.0t
NZ
6.0t

Macedonia generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MK
29.9
NZ
38.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MK
52.5%
NZ
8.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MK
12.3%
NZ
5.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MK
$10,490
NZ
$49,591

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

MK
76.6 yrs
NZ
82.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MK
2.5
NZ
4.0

Macedonia generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Public Revenue Office (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Skopje Rain: 19.8 in/yr (504 mm)
65° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Skopje Wellington
Jan–Mar 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/49°F (23°/9°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/57°F (29°/14°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/35°F (12°/2°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Skopje Wellington
Jan 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macedonia 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.

Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

New Zealand passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Macedonia without a visa.

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 Macedonia?

On average New Zealand is around 112% pricier than Macedonia, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about NZ$70,500 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a MKD4,100,000 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?

Macedonia generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Macedonia.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Macedonia?

Macedonia 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 29.4 in Macedonia. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Macedonia: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 65°F in Skopje. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Skopje gets 19.8 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

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

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At a Glance

MK NZ
Population 1,820,909 5,324,700
Currency Macedonian Denar (MKD) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Macedonian English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +389 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 112 111