It’s the 64,000 (New Zealand) dollar question, will moving to New Zealand make you better off? It’s easy to look at basic pay comparisons, but ascertaining real purchasing power is a little more complicated. So we have crunched the numbers to see if you will earn more in New Zealand, or less.
Moving to New Zealand isn’t cheap. To determine whether moving to “the land of the long white cloud” will leave you short on take home pay, we counted three things. Firstly, how do basic salaries for the same jobs compare? Secondly, how much tax will you be paying? And thirdly, how expensive is the cost of living?
Will you earn more In New Zealand?
Wage comparison
According to the latest figures from Stats NZ, the average weekly wage in New Zealand is $1,273 (£592). In the UK, it’s £682, according to ONS figures for the same year (2023).
Below is a comparison of the average salary in a number of different roles, according to data from Payscale.
| Occupation | Salary in New Zealand | Salary in UK | NZ + or – % |
| Electrician | $78,715 (£35,338) | £36,607 | – 4% |
| Graphic Designer | $58,624 (£27,251) | £25,131 | + 8% |
| Computer Programmer | $74,000 (£34,418) | £31,114 | + 10% |
| Mechanic | $62,400 (£29,009) | £25,688 | + 11% |
| Midwife | $68,986 (£32,071) | £32,361 | – 1% |
| Plumber | $73,155 (£34,008) | £26,536 | + 22% |
| Accountant | $64,427 (£29,950) | £35,665 | – 19% |
| Retail Store Manager | $57,907 (£26,919) | £26,346 | + 2% |
| Quantity Surveyor | $78,080 (£36,292) | £35,721 | + 2% |
| Teacher | $63,065 (£29,313) | £31,550 | – 8% |
| Wait staff | $52,930 (£24,615) | £18,362 | + 25% |
| Builder | $71,569 (£33,281) | £28,015 | + 16% |
Of course, there are dozens of ways of counting, and income sources, but the evidence is that overall, you will earn a slightly higher salary in New Zealand, on current exchange rates. There are wide differences across industries, however. The minimum wage in New Zealand is currently $18.52-$23.15 (£8.61-£10.76). In the UK, the minimum wage is £6.40-£11.44.
You will need to speak to a currency and payments specialist about how to get money sent to you in New Zealand. We recommend Smart, rated “excellent” on Trustpilot for money transfer and currency exchange.
Tax comparison
Health levies for accidental injury vary between industries, being higher in a more dangerous field like forestry. We have taken an average levy. Also bear in mind that you do pay for some NZ health services such as to see the GP.
| NZ | UK | |
| Gross Income | $66,196 (£30,778) | £35,464 |
| Tax Contributions (PAYE) | $12,079 (£5,607) | £4,579 |
| ACC/National insurance | $1,059 (£492) | £1,832 |
| IETC | -$495 (-£230) | N/A |
| Total Contributions | $13,138 (£6,099) | £6,411 |
| Take Home Pay | $53,553 (£24,856) | £29,053 |
According to the OECD, as a percentage of GDP, total tax take in New Zealand is 34% while in the UK it is 35.3%. Using the SalaryAfterTax calculator for New Zealand and the UK, you can see this in the example above.
In New Zealand, if you earn between $24,000 and $70,000 for the 2025 tax year, you may qualify for Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC) – a payment or credit that you can use to reduce your tax debt at the end of the year (including child support). One other complication is the NZ retirement scheme: “KiwiSaver”. You will normally be automatically enrolled by your employer, with contributions of 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. Just like with UK pensions, your employer is required to contribute (3%) and the Government then adds 50 cents for each dollar you contribute.
Cost of Living, NZ vs. UK
Income and tax is all very well, but how much do things cost? The cost of most foods is higher in New Zealand, although eating out is often cheaper. Rents are cheaper in New Zealand, as are house prices.
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in New Zealand is 1.2% lower than in the UK without rent, and 6% lower including rent. Additionally, your purchasing power in New Zealand is 1.2% higher than in the UK.
