A first look at rent, everyday spending and study costs can help you decide what to investigate next. Start with an example, or use the practical guides when you have a move to organise.
Independent guides and free tools
Moving or studying in New Zealand? Get a first feel for the costs.
See what rent, food, travel and care cost in two example Auckland households. Use their choices to think about your own home and routines, then try your own figures.
Have a salary in mind? See what it could leave after tax and rent →
International study
Choose a programme. Make the cost workable.
Compare three commerce degrees, plan the full study year and check the commitments before paying.
- Study in New Zealand: courses, costs and next steps
Compare courses, estimate your costs and know what to check before you pay.
- Compare three Bachelor of Commerce programmes in New Zealand
Compare the qualification, city, tuition basis and entry information for Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, then build a budget for the options you prefer.
- New Zealand student budget calculator
See a first-year undergraduate commerce example, then enter your own tuition, housing and living costs to compare spending with available funding.
- Student accommodation in New Zealand: compare rooms and living costs
Compare dated private-room examples in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, then budget your share of bills, setup costs and other student accommodation.
- Before you pay: New Zealand study checklist
Check your offer, fee statement, accommodation and funding deadlines. Keep a short record of the answers you need before committing money.
Practical preparation
Guides for your move
- Moving to New Zealand: costs and a practical checklist
Explore salary, rent and household costs, then use a moving checklist to organise documents, housing, banking and arrival payments.
- Cost of moving to New Zealand: budget for your first eight weeks
Build a New Zealand moving budget with savings, pay, rent and arrival costs. See when you will need cash in the first eight weeks, then compare alternatives.
- New Zealand rent prices: Avondale, Karori and Riccarton
Compare March–August 2026 house and apartment rents in Avondale, Karori and Riccarton, then consider income, everyday costs and arrival payments.
- Rental bond and upfront costs in New Zealand
Calculate general bond, advance rent and any applicable pet bond; see when each payment is due and what records to keep.
- Opening a New Zealand bank account from overseas
Compare ANZ, BNZ and Westpac's overseas account routes, documents and activation steps, then plan payments before your new account is usable.
- Cost of living in New Zealand: build your household budget
Compare two priced Avondale budgets, then use an editable New Zealand household budget to test your own rent, food and travel.
- Renting in New Zealand: compare homes and prepare to apply
Compare New Zealand rentals, prepare overseas references, check the tenancy agreement and record the home's condition at move-in.
- NZQA IQA: prepare your documents
Compare NZQA IQA services and fees, prepare records and verification, and track your overseas qualification assessment.