Cost of Living for International Students in New Zealand
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Cost of Living for International Students in New Zealand

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Aug 29, 2023 19:38 IST

Cost of Living in New Zealand: New Zealand is one of the top study abroad destinations for international students aiming to pursue a higher degree level education. As per 2021 stats, more than 100,000+ students are enrolled across New Zealand universities to pursue higher education. Those intending to study in New Zealand, especially international students, must have an approximation of the costs that would be required to stay and study in New Zealand.

cost of living in nz

An undergraduate degree costs around NZD 22,000 to NZD 32,000 for an academic year, while a master's costs between NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 and PhD students may have to pay NZD 6,000 to NZD 9,000 depending upon how much funding they receive in New Zeland for their studies. As per the official terms, the immigration department expects the applicant to have at least NZD 10,200 in their account to furnish the fact that they can support their studies. Only after proving this amount, applicants are granted a visa to study in New Zealand

Living Expenses for International Students in New Zealand

The following section throws light on living expenses in New Zealand for international students for one academic year. The costs are divided into three broad sections for better clarity on the bifurcation.

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Basic Cost of Living in New Zealand

In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment. No matter what your tuition or course fee is, the average living expense will be the same for everyone. Please note that these amounts are just recommendations, Immigration New Zealand's requirement is $15,000 per year plus return airfare or an additional $2,000.








General expenses

Cost (in NZ dollars)

Rent (per month)

$800–$950

Groceries (per week)

$100–$150

Gym membership (per year)

$300

Entertainment (per week)

$50

Milk (per litre)

$3

Coca-Cola (per can)

$2

Cup of Coffee

$3–$5

Lunch from the University food hall or campus café

$7–$12

Local calls made from a cell phone

$0.50–$1.50

Taxi - 5 km ride

$10–$12

Movie ticket

$10–$14

Visiting for consultation to a doctor

$45–$85

Miscellaneous Cost

Students must note that if they are enrolled for a course which is less than 3 years or 36 months, they will have to incur $12,500 monthly each year to cover the expenses. The students in this case might have to open an FTS account which would have living expenses transferred to that account. This might be necessary before getting a final stamp on the study visa.







Other Costs

You may have additional expenses during your study years. These include costs of textbooks and stationery, medical costs and dental appointments, quarterly or yearly insurance fees, weather-appropriate clothing, and weekend trips. These costs will differ from individual to individual as there is no generalization.

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Is this recommendation relevant?

If you choose not to stay at a University accommodation, you will have extra charges such as bond/finder’s fee, and utility bills like power, gas, phone and internet. Plus you will save on transportation costs as you won’t need to rent a car; it will take five minutes to reach your classes.

Also read:

Q:   Is New Zealand good for Indian students?

A:

With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.

Q:   What is the acceptance rate for Lincoln University New Zealand?

A:

According to various unofficial sources, Lincoln University New Zealand acceptance rate is around 60%. The acceptance rate indicated that the university is moderately selective at the time of admission. So, to get into the university, make sure to have a good academic record and meet the entry requirements such as having 12 years of schooling and minimum percentage for admission to bachelor’s courses. For admission to postgraduate courses, a relevant degree is required with the minimum grade.

Q:   How much funds are needed for a New Zealand study visa?

A:

 International students need to show sufficient funds for getting a New Zealand student visa. Students need to show NZ$ 20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$ 1,250 per month for getting a New Zealand study visa.

Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application

  • New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).
  • Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees.
  • Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520.

Q:   Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?

A:

The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:

ProgramFirst Year Tuition Fees
Master in Project ManagementINR 25.11 L
Master in ManagementINR 26.11 L

Q:   What is the cost of studying in New Zealand?

A:

The tuition fees that a student would need to pay will depend on the type of qualification and the university they are looking at to pursue their education. While courses such as humanities, education, and arts are likely to cost less pursuing subjects such as medicine and engineering costs on the higher side.

The below table sheds light on the tuition fee charged level-wise in New Zealand from international students applying to their universities:

Study Program Level

Annual Costs in NZD

Diploma or Certificate courses

NZD 23,000 - NZD 47,000

English Language courses

NZD 350 (per week)

Undergraduate degree

NZD 22,000 - NZD 32,000

Master's degree

NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 

Doctoral degree

NZD 6,500 - NZD 9,000  

Q:   Is living in New Zealand expensive?

A:

The cost of living does not includes only the tuition fee but also other expenses like textbooks, NON-tuition fee, accommodation cost and other personal expenses. The moment a student lands in New Zealand, they need to pay $35 international visitor and tourism conservation levy. The living cost can vary as per the accommodation option, location and personal spending habits.

In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment.

Q:   How much will it cost to study in New Zealand?

A:

The cost of study in New Zealand for international students will vary from student to student. The cost of living will depend on many factors such as lifestyle, type of course and accommodation. Here we have given a breakdown of cost of living in New Zealand for international students.

Tuition Fees

Level of Study

Estimated Tuition Fees

Diplomas/Certificates

NZD 23,376 to NZD 46,752

Bachelor’s Degree

NZD 20,000 to NZD 40,000

Postgraduate Degree

 NZD 20,000 to NZD 45,000

PhDs

NZD 6,500 to NZD 7,500

Living Expenses

Type of Expenses

Cost

Accommodation

NZD 140 – NZD 484 (per week)

Entertainment

NZD 55 (per week)

Food

NZD 80 – NZD 120 (per week)

Electricity

NZD 200 – NZD 300 (per month)

Transportation

NZD 37 (per week)

Phone

NZD 19 (per month)

Internet

NZD 90 (per month)

Q:   Is New Zealand good for international students to study?

A:

New Zealand is one of the top destinations for international students going abroad for higher education. All of eight universities in New Zealand are ranked among the top 3% universities in the world. New Zealand education sets up students with a globally recognised qualification and real-world skills. Each year thousands of students from India apply for various universities in the New Zealand. As per Govt. of India, there are more than 2,500 Indian students that went to study in 2022 in various universities in New Zealand.

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Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert

Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio

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Armed with B.Com from Delhi University, Anuradha Sharma has accumulated rich experience as an education counsellor. She is especially adept at handling Australia and NZ admission procedure. Before becoming a GTE Exp... Read Full Bio

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Comments

(1)

Sir..my son has completed mbbs.he is searching college for MS in Ortho. ..kindly guide for the same..when the college will start.&what will the expenses..thanking you

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