Moving to New Zealand from Slovakia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Slovakia to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 45.4% more expensive than Slovakia overall. A €65,700 salary in Slovakia would need to be roughly NZ$158,107 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.

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 Slovakia and New Zealand.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 NZ$158,107

To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 27.5% more

Groceries

pay 23.8% more

Transportation

pay 41.9% more

Housing

pay 57.6% more

Childcare

pay 57.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 95.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.98 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 9% more than cities in Slovakia.

Slovakia

Zilina 42%
Nitra 40%

New Zealand

Auckland 53%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to New Zealand

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?

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

Moved in 2023
105 ↑ 106% vs 2022

people moved from Slovakia 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 Slovakia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SK
0.7
NZ
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SK
6.4
NZ
6.6

Slovakia performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SK
$3,230
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SK
36.8
NZ
35.7

Slovakia 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

SK
30.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SK
5.5t
NZ
6.0t

Slovakia 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

SK
33.0
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SK
2.4%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Slovakia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SK
5.8%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SK
$39,300
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Slovakia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SK
78.3 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SK
4.8
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than Slovakia across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax Directorate, Slovakia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bratislava Rain: 22.6 in/yr (574 mm)
61° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bratislava Wellington
Jan–Mar 44°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/51°F (22°/10°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/15°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Bratislava Wellington
Jan 38°/27°F (3.1°/-2.8°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 42°/29°F (5.8°/-1.7°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.7°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.0°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 71°/51°F (21.8°/10.6°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.4°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.2°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (27.6°/15.9°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 71°/53°F (21.9°/11.5°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 60°/44°F (15.6°/6.6°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 48°/37°F (9.0°/2.7°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 39°/29°F (3.7°/-1.5°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Slovakia 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.

Slovakia passport

Slovakia passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

New Zealand passport holder visiting Slovakia

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Slovakia 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 Slovakia?

On average New Zealand is around 21% pricier than Slovakia, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about NZ$39,527 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a €65,700 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?

Slovakia performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Slovakia.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Slovakia?

Slovakia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in health coverage index. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 36.8 in Slovakia. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Slovakia: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 61°F in Bratislava. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bratislava gets 22.6 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Slovakia, the official language is Slovak.

Share this

At a Glance

SK NZ
Population 5,431,252 5,053,004
Currency Euro (€) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Slovak English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +421 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 112 111