Moving to New Zealand from Morocco

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Morocco to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.8 times more expensive than Morocco overall. A MAD701,348 salary in Morocco would need to be roughly NZ$215,146 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 73°F in Rabat, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MAD701,348 NZ$215,146

To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.4 times more

Groceries

pay 2.6 times more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 3.0 times more

Childcare

pay 4.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MAD = 0.1856 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.

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 39% more than cities in Morocco.

Morocco

Kenitra 32%
Tetouan 31%

New Zealand

Auckland 53%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
33 ↑ 57% vs 2022

people moved from Morocco 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 Morocco.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MA
1.7
NZ
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MA
18.6
NZ
6.6

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MA
$606
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MA
7.3
NZ
35.7

Morocco 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

MA
59.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MA
1.8t
NZ
6.0t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MA
6.4
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MA
50.8%
NZ
8.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MA
9.1%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MA
$8,800
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand performs significantly better than Morocco across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MA
73.7 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MA
19.2
NZ
3.4

New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Morocco leads in education spending.

Data: Direction Générale des Impôts, Morocco, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Rabat Rain: 20.6 in/yr (522 mm)
73° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Rabat Wellington
Jan–Mar 65°/47°F (19°/8°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Rabat Wellington
Jan 63°/45°F (17.4°/7.2°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.8°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.5°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 70°/52°F (21.2°/10.9°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.3°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.6°/15.9°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 81°/64°F (27.2°/17.9°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 82°/65°F (27.8°/18.3°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 77°/58°F (24.8°/14.4°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.8°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 65°/48°F (18.6°/8.8°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: Direction de la Météorologie Nationale Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Morocco 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.

Morocco passport

Morocco passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

New Zealand passport holder visiting Morocco

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Morocco 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 Morocco?

On average New Zealand is around 65% pricier than Morocco, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about NZ$53,786 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a MAD701,348 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 Morocco across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.7 in Morocco.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Morocco?

Morocco generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 7.3 in Morocco. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Morocco: 69).

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

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 73°F in Rabat. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Rabat gets 20.6 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Morocco, the official languages are Arabic and Berber.

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At a Glance

MA NZ
Population 36,738,229 5,053,004
Currency Moroccan Dirham (MAD) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Arabic, Berber English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +212 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 15 111