Moving to Argentina from New Zealand

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Argentina — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from New Zealand to Argentina, you would find that Argentina is 30.9% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,000 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly ARS77,100,000 in Argentina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Guaraní and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Argentina cheaper than New Zealand?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 17.0% more

Groceries

pay 26.3% less

Transportation

pay 34.4% less

Housing

pay 45.0% less

Childcare

pay 63.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 29.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NZD = 858.29 ARS (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.

What salary do you need in Argentina?

What does your salary buy?

NZ$130,000 → ARS77,100,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Argentina

Calculate with your salary →

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 Argentina cost about 9% less than cities in New Zealand.

New Zealand

Tauranga 52%
Auckland 52%
Nelson 48%

Argentina

Rosario 40%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Argentina

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?

How many people actually move from New Zealand to Argentina, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
11

people born in New Zealand live in Argentina · UN DESA

Who's moving to Argentina?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Argentina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
1.5
AR
4.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
AR
8.8

New Zealand performs better than Argentina across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NZ
$5,576
AR
$3,089
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
36.1
AR
51.1

Argentina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NZ
12.0
AR
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
AR
4.0t

New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Argentina leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NZ
38.0
AR
26.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
AR
10.5%

New Zealand performs better than Argentina across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NZ
5.1%
AR
7.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$49,591
AR
$14,898

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.0 yrs
AR
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
4.0
AR
8.0

New Zealand performs better than Argentina across all family life metrics.

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

Weather in Argentina vs New Zealand

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Buenos Aires Rain: 48.7 in/yr (1237 mm)
73° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Auckland Buenos Aires
Jan–Mar 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) 67°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) 64°/48°F (17°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) 78°/61°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Auckland Buenos Aires
Jan 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C)
Feb 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) 84°/67°F (28.7°/19.2°C)
Mar 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) 80°/64°F (26.8°/17.7°C)
Apr 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) 73°/57°F (22.9°/13.8°C)
May 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) 67°/51°F (19.3°/10.7°C)
Jun 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.1°C)
Jul 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) 60°/45°F (15.3°/7.4°C)
Aug 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.8°C)
Sep 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) 67°/51°F (19.3°/10.3°C)
Oct 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) 73°/56°F (22.7°/13.3°C)
Nov 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) 78°/61°F (25.6°/15.9°C)
Dec 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.4°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

Can you move from New Zealand to Argentina?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Argentina. To live, work, or study long-term in Argentina, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Argentina's immigration authority.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Argentina

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

Argentina passport holder visiting New Zealand

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Argentina passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter New Zealand.

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 Argentina than New Zealand?

Yes — Argentina is on average about 31% cheaper than New Zealand. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Argentina?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ARS19,275,000 in Argentina on a NZ$130,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Argentina?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Argentina has 26.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Argentina safe for expats?

New Zealand performs better than Argentina across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Argentina is 4.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in New Zealand.

How is healthcare in Argentina compared to New Zealand?

Argentina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index. There are 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Argentina, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. Argentina scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Buenos Aires is 73°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. Buenos Aires receives around 48.7 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in Argentina?

The official languages in Argentina are Guaraní and Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

Share this

At a Glance

NZ AR
Population 5,324,700 45,851,378
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Argentine Peso (ARS)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Guaraní, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +54
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 911