Moving to New Zealand from Michigan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Michigan to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Michigan to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.4% more expensive than Michigan. A $75,000 salary in Michigan would need to be roughly NZ$128,373 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle. 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Michigan and New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → NZ$128,373
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 6.2% less
Groceries
pay 0.3% less
Transportation
pay 32.2% more
Housing
pay 23.6% less
Childcare
pay 34.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.9% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Michigan to New Zealand.
people moved from United States 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
- · · ·
-
9.35,989
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to Michigan.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
New Zealand performs significantly better than Michigan across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs significantly better than Michigan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Michigan generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New Zealand performs significantly better than Michigan across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lansing | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/21°F (2°/-6°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/57°F (26°/14°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/32°F (9°/0°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lansing | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/17°F (-0.8°/-8.3°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 34°/19°F (0.9°/-7.4°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 44°/27°F (6.7°/-2.8°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 58°/38°F (14.2°/3.3°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 69°/48°F (20.5°/8.9°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.2°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 81°/60°F (27.0°/15.5°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 74°/51°F (23.1°/10.8°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/41°F (15.8°/5.1°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 47°/33°F (8.6°/0.5°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 35°/22°F (1.6°/-5.3°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Michigan?
New Zealand and Michigan are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Budget about NZ$32,093 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
From major New Zealand cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Michigan and New Zealand are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Michigan?
New Zealand performs significantly better than Michigan across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Michigan?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 58°F in Lansing. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Lansing gets 32.2 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Michigan, the official language is English.
