Moving to New Zealand from Vermont

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vermont to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 10.5% cheaper than Vermont. A $75,000 salary in Vermont would need to be roughly NZ$111,120 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Vermont and New Zealand.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 NZ$111,120

To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 13.8% less

Groceries

pay 15.2% less

Transportation

pay 23.1% more

Housing

pay 32.5% less

Childcare

pay 50.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 0.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.71 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
4,191 ↑ 56% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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 Vermont.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

VT
27.2%
NZ
30.8%

Vermont performs better than New Zealand across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

VT
88.4%
NZ
96.0%

New Zealand performs significantly better than Vermont across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

VT
2.6%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

VT
$56,462
NZ
$48,800

Vermont performs better than New Zealand across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

VT
78.8 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs

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

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Montpelier Rain: 42.4 in/yr (1078 mm)
56° / 32°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Montpelier Wellington
Jan–Mar 34°/8°F (1°/-13°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/42°F (20°/5°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/25°F (8°/-4°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Montpelier Wellington
Jan 28°/3°F (-2.2°/-15.9°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 33°/6°F (0.3°/-14.5°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 42°/16°F (5.4°/-8.9°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 55°/30°F (12.8°/-1.1°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 69°/42°F (20.3°/5.5°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 78°/53°F (25.5°/11.7°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 83°/58°F (28.4°/14.2°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 73°/47°F (22.8°/8.2°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 59°/35°F (15.1°/1.4°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 46°/26°F (7.6°/-3.4°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 32°/13°F (0.2°/-10.8°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport

United States passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

New Zealand passport holder visiting United States

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

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 Vermont?

On average New Zealand is about 13% less expensive than Vermont, with major cities narrowing the gap.

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

Budget about NZ$27,780 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from New Zealand?

From major New Zealand cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Vermont and New Zealand are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Vermont?

Vermont performs better than New Zealand across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Montpelier. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Montpelier gets 42.4 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

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

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At a Glance

NZ
Population 625,741 5,053,004
Currency United States Dollar ($) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +64
Time zones 11 5
Emergency number 911 111