Moving to New Zealand from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Kingdom to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Kingdom to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 20.1% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £56,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly NZ$105,000 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is New Zealand cheaper than United Kingdom?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 24.3% less
Groceries
pay 9.3% more
Transportation
pay 23.7% less
Housing
pay 28.7% less
Childcare
pay 42.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.9% 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.
What salary do you need in New Zealand?
What does your salary buy?
£56,000 → NZ$105,000
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 29% less than cities in United Kingdom.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom to New Zealand.
people moved from United Kingdom to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
-
1.286,746
United Kingdom
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs better than New Zealand 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
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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
United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.
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
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though New Zealand leads in water stress level.
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
United Kingdom 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
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in New Zealand vs United Kingdom
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | London | Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Can you move from United Kingdom to New Zealand?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 New Zealand than United Kingdom?
On average New Zealand is about 20% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Budget about NZ$26,250 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a £56,000 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: 38.0 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?
United Kingdom performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 33.0 in United Kingdom. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Auckland is 66°F, compared to 60°F in London. Auckland receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
