Moving to New Zealand from Taiwan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Taiwan to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Taiwan to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 57.9% more expensive than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,400,000 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly NZ$207,000 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 ↓Is New Zealand cheaper than Taiwan?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 13.1% less
Transportation
pay 44.9% more
Housing
pay 2.3 times more
Childcare
pay 13.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 56.1% 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.
What salary do you need in New Zealand?
What does your salary buy?
NT$2,400,000 → NZ$207,000
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
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 New Zealand cost about 10% more than cities in Taiwan.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to New Zealand
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Taiwan to New Zealand, based on official data.
people moved from Taiwan to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Taiwan to New Zealand.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs significantly better than Taiwan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Taiwan generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand 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
Taiwan generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in life expectancy.
Sources: The World Factbook (2019–2022), World Bank (2024–2025), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this
Can you move from Taiwan to New Zealand?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand passport holder visiting Taiwan
Visa FreeData: 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 Taiwan?
No — New Zealand is on average about 58% more expensive than Taiwan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NZ$51,750 in New Zealand on a NT$2,400,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
Usually fine from major cities in New Zealand. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
