Compare your pay and rent
Start with your income and a weekly rent. You can add a second earner and other costs, then save the comparison to return to later. All amounts are in NZ dollars.
Carry the figures into your household budget
Carry your income or rent into the household budget, then add spending line by line. You can review each change before applying it.
Check bond, setup costs and the wait for your first pay in the moving budget.
See worked salary and rent examples
Three salaries with a two-bedroom house in Avondale, Karori or Riccarton. Amounts below are per average month, after 2026/27 income tax and ACC and before other payroll deductions or tax credits.
| Gross salary / year | Take-home / month | After Avondale rent | After Karori rent | After Riccarton rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $80,000.00 | $5,193.54 | $2,680.21 | $2,723.54 | $3,113.54 |
| $100,000.00 | $6,281.04 | $3,767.71 | $3,811.04 | $4,201.04 |
| $120,000.00 | $7,368.54 | $4,855.21 | $4,898.54 | $5,288.54 |
Weekly rents: Avondale NZ$580; Karori NZ$570; Riccarton NZ$480. Choose a suburb in the calculator to explore another rent.
How the figures are calculated
Gross salaries use individual income-tax bands and ACC for 1 April 2026–31 March 2027. Add your other payroll deductions, such as KiwiSaver or student-loan payments. Tax credits, benefits, other income and part-year tax assessments are excluded; use actual take-home pay when you have it.
Weekly figures use 52 weeks per year, fortnightly figures 26 payments, four-weekly figures 13 payments, and monthly figures 12 payments. This makes income and rent comparable over the same period.
IRD income-tax rates and ACC levy rates, checked 18 October 2026. Rent figures: Tenancy Services / MBIE, 1 March–31 August 2026, checked 28 Oct 2026. Crown copyright, CC BY 3.0 NZ.
What does NZ$100,000 leave after rent?
In the 2026/27 tax year, for one person earning NZ$100,000 a year, estimated take-home pay is NZ$6,281 a month before KiwiSaver, student-loan payments or other payroll deductions. With rent of NZ$580 a week, about NZ$3,768 a month remains for food, bills, travel and everything else.
That rent is the March–August 2026 median for a two-bedroom house in Avondale, Auckland. Try the suburb and home type you are considering, then replace the estimate with a property’s asking rent when you have one.
Every NZ$50 a week saved on rent leaves about NZ$217 more a month. Weigh that saving against the commute, heating costs and any extra car or childcare costs.
Enter each person’s income separately
Two people earning NZ$50,000 each take home about NZ$630 more a month between them than one person earning NZ$100,000. That is because income tax is calculated separately for each person. Both examples use 2026/27 tax and ACC rates, before other payroll deductions or tax credits.
Add a second earner in the calculator to see your household’s result. Include any extra travel or care costs that come with the second job. If you already know your pay after deductions, choose actual take-home payments and enter the amount and how often you receive it.
Turn the amount left into a household budget
Start with food, power, internet and transport. Then add the costs that matter to your household: childcare, insurance, debt repayments, money sent overseas and irregular bills. Allow something for unexpected expenses before deciding what you can save.
Use Add other household costs for a quick total, or carry your income and rent into the household budget to work through spending line by line. You can save the comparison and reopen it when a salary offer or rent changes.
Check the cash you need before your first pay
A salary that covers your monthly costs may still leave a gap when you arrive. Bond, advance rent, temporary accommodation and household setup can all fall due before your first full pay packet.
Use the upfront rental calculator for tenancy payments and the moving budget to put those costs alongside your available money and first payday. Check the date and amount of a partial first payment with payroll.
What else should I compare before accepting a job or choosing a home?
Compare the hours, benefits, location and conditions as well as the salary. The job-offer comparison helps put two offers side by side. The take-home-pay guide explains payslip deductions and payment periods.
For housing, compare the actual homes, their transport links and move-in dates in the rental property comparison. A cheaper rent can be less useful if it adds a long commute or several weeks of temporary accommodation.
Does the amount left after rent show how much I can save?
No. It is the money available for all your other spending. Add your regular and irregular costs first, then decide how much to reserve or save.
Can I use the calculator if I will share a flat?
Yes. Enter your own weekly rent or your household’s agreed share, then add the bills you will pay. Use your own room quote rather than dividing a whole-home rent by its number of bedrooms.