Moving to Ukraine from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Ukraine? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 52.5% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly UAH1,858,752 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Ukraine.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → UAH1,858,752
To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.1% less
Groceries
pay 50.0% less
Transportation
pay 40.1% less
Housing
pay 65.3% less
Childcare
pay 63.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 67.6% less
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 Ukraine cost about 41% less than cities in New Zealand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ukraine compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.
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 Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Ukraine leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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 performs better than Ukraine across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Ukraine leads in top income tax rate.
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
New Zealand performs better than Ukraine across all family life metrics.
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 | Kiev |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Kiev |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Ukraine. To live, work, or study long-term in Ukraine, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ukraine's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Ukraine
Visa Free
Ukraine passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Ukraine than New Zealand?
On average Ukraine is about 44% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?
Budget about UAH464,688 for 3 months in Ukraine (based on a NZ$130,152 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ukraine?
Connectivity is usually fine (Ukraine: 18.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ukraine offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Ukraine safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Ukraine, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Ukraine compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Ukraine?
The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
