Moving to France from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to France — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to France, you would find that France is 11.0% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €72,958 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to France.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → €72,958
To maintain the same standard of living in France
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 22.2% more
Groceries
pay 20.5% more
Transportation
pay 16.0% more
Housing
pay 1.7% less
Childcare
pay 0.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.3% 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.
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 France cost about 17% more than cities in New Zealand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Zealand to France, based on official data.
people moved from New Zealand to France · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to France.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though France leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
France performs significantly better than New Zealand across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though France leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
France generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in education spending.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Météo-France
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and France. To live, work, or study long-term in France, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check France's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting France
Visa Free
France passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 France than New Zealand?
No — France is on average about 11% more expensive than New Zealand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to France?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €18,240 in France on a NZ$130,152 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from France?
Internet is rarely the blocker — France has 49.4 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 France safe for expats?
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though France leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in France is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in France compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in adult obesity rate. There are 33.4 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in France compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in France?
The official language in France is French. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
