Your all-in-one guide to cost of living in New Zealand for South Africans
A New Chapter in New Zealand: Your one-stop for all you need to know while planning a move from South Africa. Money simplified with the Wise app.
Moving to New Zealand from South Africa: Go-to Guide!
Moving to New Zealand from South Africa is a dream for many. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a huge variety of natural landscapes, a rich cultural history, and interesting towns and cities.
However, moving to New Zealand isn’t the easiest thing to do - it’s often a complicated process and definitely not as simple as simply turning up in the country. Although, equipped with the right information and preparation, you may be able to move to New Zealand, without too much hassle.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at the process of moving to New Zealand from South Africa, sharing information, tips, and advice you need to know if you want to move there.
We’ll also be introducing Wise, a bank alternative to transfer money from New Zealand to South Africa.
Moving to New Zealand from South Africa (quick facts)
| Currency | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) |
| Population | 5.2 million⁵ |
| Capital | Wellington |
| Language | English |
| Weather | The weather in New Zealand varies depending on where you are, but generally, it has a temperate climate. Whilst some areas are hotter in summer and colder in winter, generally the temperature is moderate, there’s a lot of sunshine, and occasionally, rainfall.⁶ |
| Amount of expats | Approximately 1 million (as of 2015)⁷ |
| Biggest cities | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton |
| Average yearly salary | 97,300 NZD per year⁸ |
Send money with Wise to and from New Zealand to South Africa using the mid-market rate
South Africans living in New Zealand can save money¹ by using Wise, a bank alternative, to make international payments to South Africa.
When sending money to South Africa from New Zealand with Wise, you can reduce international transfer costs¹. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:
The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them. While some banks support international payments, they usually add a markup on top of the mid-market exchange rate for this transaction that customers end up paying.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for all transfers, meaning you’ll likely be getting better rates than you may using more traditional international transfer methods, and you’ll know upfront how much each transaction will cost you¹.
Using Wise in New Zealand you can send money to South Africa and hold and receive money in 40+ currencies³.
New Zealand visa types and requirements
New Zealand is fairly strict when it comes to the types of visas that allow you to live there and the eligibility requirements of each one. Whilst there are several visas that can grant you permanent residency in New Zealand, the majority of them are not suitable for South Africans who have not already resided in New Zealand.
The three visas that most South Africans are likely to be eligible for are: the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, the Straight to Residence Visa and the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa⁹.
Visa information for moving to New Zealand with the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
You can apply for this type of visa if you already work for, or you have a job offer from, an accredited employer within New Zealand and you qualify for “6 points” for your skills and work in New Zealand¹⁰. You can claim points under this system by submitting your qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher) for points, your income, or occupation¹⁰.
| Eligibility for this visa |
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| Options with this visa |
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| Cost | From NZD $4290¹⁰ |
Visa information for moving to New Zealand from South Africa with the Straight To Residence Visa
You can apply for this type of visa if you already work for, or you have a job offer from, an accredited employer, and your role is on Tier 1 of the Green List in-demand¹¹. The Tier 1 Green List in-demand is a list of job roles that New Zealand are in demand of. Therefore, if you take on one of these roles, you are granted permanent residency¹¹.
| Eligibility for this visa |
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| Options with this visa |
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| Cost | From NZD $4290¹¹ |
Visa information for moving to New Zealand from South Africa with the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
You can apply for this visa if you have a partner who is a New Zealand citizen or resident¹².
| Eligibility for this visa |
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| Options with this visa |
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| Cost | From NZD $2750¹² |
Cost of living in New Zealand
The cost of living in New Zealand varies, but generally it’s known as being a fairly expensive place to live.
On average, it’s estimated that a family of four will spend around 6,002.2NZ$¹³ and a single person will spend around 1,666.4NZ$¹³. This does not include rent or bills.
To get a better feeling of the cost of living in New Zealand, let’s take a look at some general expenses:
| Expenses | Cost in NZD | Cost in ZAR |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $25¹³ | 299 ZAR |
| Meal, mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $120¹³ | 1,434 ZAR |
| Beer (local) | $10¹³ | 120 ZAR |
| Bread | $3.20¹³ | 35 ZAR |
| Milk | $3.10¹³ | 34 ZAR |
| Rent in the city centre (1 bed) | $1,866¹³ | 20,437 ZAR |
| Rent outside the city centre (1 bed) | $1,561¹³ | 17,096 ZAR |
| Public transport (local, monthly pass) | $182¹³ | 1,993 ZAR |
| Fuel (1 litre) | $2.80¹³ | 31 ZAR |
How to open a bank account in New Zealand?
Opening a bank account in New Zealand is pretty easy - you can even sign up to a bank account online, from abroad, with many of the banks.
However, in the majority of cases, you always will need to head into a bank branch to activate the account. Therefore, it’s best to arrive in New Zealand and then head into a branch to finalise the setting up of a bank account.
To set up a bank account you will need various forms of ID, likely including:
- Passport, driving license or valid ID
- Visa documents
- Proof of address
- Utility bill
- Employment and salary details
- IRD (Tax) Number
Banking in New Zealand without residency status
You can open a bank account easily without residency status in New Zealand. However, not all banks provide this option, so do your research first. To open a bank account as someone without residency, you will likely need:
- Visa documents
- Passport, driving license or valid ID
- Proof of address outside of New Zealand
- Proof of address in New Zealand
- IRD (Tax) Number if working in New Zealand
Maintenance fees and charges
Most banks in New Zealand don’t charge maintenance fees and charges for bank accounts unless you choose to sign up for a premium account.
However, some New Zealand banks do charge maintenance fees and charges for standard bank accounts.
Therefore, make sure that you do your research about fees and charges before signing up to a bank account in New Zealand.
Finding a job in New Zealand
Finding work in New Zealand can be difficult, but unless you have a partner who’s a New Zealander or a resident of New Zealand, getting a visa through your job is one of the easiest ways.
If you are looking to get a Straight to Residency visa, or even a Skilled Migrant visa, do your research to see which jobs qualify for these types of visas. Then, go ahead and get job hunting!
You can job hunt online easily and the best sites for finding jobs in New Zealand are:
How to make friends and socialise in New Zealand
New Zealanders pride themselves on being friendly, social, and inclusive people. Therefore, you shouldn’t have difficulty making friends within the local community. Whether you strike up a conversation with someone in your local neighbourhood or you head into a nearby city or town for an event, you’re sure to find people you connect with.
Healthcare in New Zealand
New Zealand has a great public healthcare system and with a number of visas, or residency status, you can access it for free. A lot of expats do still have private insurance though, so this may be something you want to look into before making the move.
It’s always a good idea to be aware of emergency numbers in New Zealand:
| Contact Number | |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 111 |
| Police | 111 |
| Fire Brigade | 111 |
| Non-emergency police | 105 |
Is it worth moving to New Zealand from South Africa?
New Zealand is a beautiful country and has so much to offer, from vibrant communities to breathtaking landscapes. With so much to do and with such a good quality of life, there’s no doubt that if it’s something you really want to do, moving to New Zealand will be worth it.
Wise is a great bank alternative for international money transfers to South Africa¹. So, make sure you’re prepared with Wise, wherever you want to go3.
Sources:
- Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.
- Eligibility is subject to verification of customer identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
- Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions.
- Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
- New Zealand Population - Worldometers
- Guide to New Zealand Weather and Climate - Discover New Zealand
- Macrotrends - New Zealand Immigration Statistics
- Average Salary in New Zealand - Nation Wide Visas
- Immigration Gov NZ - All resident visas
- Immigration Gov NZ - Skilled Migrant Visa
- Immigration Gov NZ - Straight to Residence Visa
- Immigration Gov NZ - Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Numbeo - Cost of Living in New Zealand
*Sources last checked as of Wednesday 15th November, 2023.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
