Moving to New Zealand from Vietnam
What to Expect
Considering a move from Vietnam to New Zealand? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Vietnam to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 2.4 times more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,900,000,000 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly NZ$320,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 82°F in Hanoi, making it significantly cooler.
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 Vietnam and New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
₫1,900,000,000 → NZ$320,000
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.3 times more
Groceries
pay 73.2% more
Transportation
pay 2.4 times more
Housing
pay 2.8 times more
Childcare
pay 60.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.5 times 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.
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 53% more than cities in Vietnam.
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 Vietnam to New Zealand.
people moved from Vietnam 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
- · · ·
-
23.9,742
Vietnam
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to Vietnam.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vietnam 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
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Vietnam 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
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vietnam 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 Vietnam leads in unemployment 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 significantly better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hanoi | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hanoi | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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.
Vietnam passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-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 Vietnam?
On average New Zealand is around 145% pricier than Vietnam, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Budget about NZ$80,000 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a ₫1,900,000,000 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?
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Vietnam?
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 11.1 in Vietnam. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Vietnam?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.
