Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, and its vibrant and diverse environment attracts people worldwide. Its unique blend of urban splendor and natural beauty makes it an attractive destination for international students. However, before embarking on this exciting journey, it is significant to understand the cost of living in Auckland to ensure a comfortable and financially stable life. International students can enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling life in this picturesque city by planning and finding lifestyle and accommodation options. Here’s an overview of the cost of living as a student in this glamorous city.
Reasons to Study in Auckland
Quality Educational Resources
Auckland has world-class educational resources, with several well-known universities and institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology. These schools enjoy a high reputation worldwide and offer a diverse range of professional and degree programs to meet the needs of different students. In addition, the University of Auckland also has muscular research strength in several professional fields, providing students with more learning and research opportunities.
Diverse Cultural Experiences
Auckland is a diverse city where different cultures come together. Studying in Auckland exposes students to people and cultures from other countries and regions and broadens their horizons. In Auckland, students can participate in various cultural events and festivals and learn about the customs and traditions of different cultures. This can not only increase the knowledge of international students but also improve their cross-cultural communication skills.
Employment Opportunities and Development Prospects
Auckland’s prosperous economy and job market provide abundant job opportunities for international students. International students in Auckland can be exposed to different industries during their studies and gain practical work experience through internships, part-time jobs. Furthermore, Auckland has also attracted many international enterprises and multinational companies, providing more employment and development opportunities for international students.
What's Special about Auckland?
Beautiful Natural Environment
As a livable city, Auckland has many natural attractions and unique charms. A city embraces all things and embraces all rivers. Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand, with two significant harbors, and is the only city straddling two oceans. It has the world’s highest number of ships per capita, so it has won the reputation of “the city of thousands of sails.” Whether Mission Bay in the City or Black Beach on the West Coast, just a 40-minute drive from the CBD, no other city has as many convenient options as Aucklanders; in addition to the unique black sand beach, Pakiri in the Matakana region also has a beautiful soft white sand beach that is exceptional for riding a horse along the sea.
Life is colorful and straightforward here. Whether it’s beaches away from the hustle and bustle of the city, farmland on the outskirts, or parks and gardens in the city, Auckland offers international students a unique nature experience. This is a kind of enjoyment and can help international students release pressure and improve learning results.
Literary Humanity
Auckland’s cultural scene is also fascinating, encountering large and small museums, art galleries, awakening the literary cells in your body. Auckland is a vibrant arts capital dotted with a wide range of art galleries showcasing Maori indigenous culture, original New Zealand art, and international classics. Auckland also has many interesting small art galleries that offer a unique glimpse of New Zealand’s native culture, and the city’s theatres are full of diverse art events that are not to be missed.
Secure and Stable Environment
Compared with other countries, Auckland’s security is relatively good, and its society is stable. Auckland is considered one of the safest cities in the world, and international students living here can enjoy high personal security. Moreover, Auckland’s medical system is relatively perfect, and international students can enjoy good medical security and services here.
Cost of Living in Auckland
Accommodation Costs
Auckland is a large and bustling city, and when it comes to living costs, accommodation is one of the most essential expenses. Rental housing in Auckland has been booming for decades, especially student housing near universities. For international students, renting a suitable and satisfactory room affects the experience of studying abroad.
The University of Auckland, founded in 1883, is a modern, world-class university in Auckland’s picturesque and multicultural city. With seven campuses, it is the largest comprehensive university in New Zealand engaged in teaching and research and has the most majors, in the latest published 2025QS, ranked 65th. Therefore, with the yearning and expectation of the University of Auckland, many international students go to Auckland to start their new study abroad life. When you arrive in a new city, accommodation is the primary survival problem. Many international students prefer student apartments with suitable off-campus environments and high service quality. As a result, Auckland’s rent prices have remained high.
If you want to rent, follow uhomes.com. Our most booked student apartments at the University of Auckland are listed below:
- Empire Apartments.
- UniLodge Auckland City.
- Mayoral Drive Student Accommodation.
Columbia Apartment.
Student Living Auckland.
Empire Apartments, Auckland, one of the most popular student apartments, is in the heart of Auckland. This is an elegant and functional modern apartment with a choice of room types, priced from around NZ $450 per week for a single room. In addition, the apartment has a kitchen, dining room, lounge, and bathroom. The apartment is a 10-minute walk from the University of Auckland, making it ideal for students. Adjacent to Quin Street, this apartment is surrounded by food courts, Asian restaurants, convenience stores, and banks, allowing you to enjoy a carefree life. Living here, you can enjoy a carefree life.
Ideally located in the heart of Auckland City, UniLodge Auckland City is an ultra-modern student residence just a 7-minute walk from the University of Auckland, conveniently located for shopping and dining, with plenty of gourmet food, snacks and fast food outlets. In addition, UniLodge Auckland City Apartments provides 24-hour monitoring and 24/7 service; all apartment rooms have electronic key cards, and the rent for one week is about NZ $440. For international students who want to pursue a quality life, this price belongs to the average rent in Auckland, but enjoy a better housing service.
Living at Mayoral Drive Student Accommodation, you’re close to Auckland University and transport hubs, with great cafes, restaurants and shopping on your doorstep. Speaking of convenience, all introductory rates fully include the flat, so there’s no need to worry about gas, electricity or internet bills. Prices are around NZ$450 a week, and as a newly refurbished student apartment, this is the average apartment rent in Auckland, which is expected to continue to rise.
The Cost of Food
When calculating the cost of living in Auckland, it is essential to consider that food and drink will take up a large part of your budget. In Auckland, a person’s weekly food cost will be NZ$120. There are three supermarket chains: Park ‘n Save, Countdown, and New World. New World is the most expensive of the three, Park’s Save has the most choices and the cheapest price, and Countdown is in the middle price range and offers more variety.
If eating out is an option, Auckland has many quality restaurants, from fine Dining to various international cuisines.
The cost of eating out | Price | Recommendation |
Brunch |
$25-$40 | Rochester Brunch House. Downtown Cafe Rochester Le Garde-Manger |
Fine Dining |
$50-$70 | Lellis Auburn Hills Rochester Bistro Rochester Ocean Prime Detroit Troy |
The Cost of Transportation
Auckland is a vast city with nine transport zones and a network of trains, buses, and ferries serving the whole city.
- Bus and train fares start at $0.60 in the city center and $12.60 for travel between all nine zones.
- A monthly bus and train pass costs $215 for unlimited travel. Ferry passes for specific routes start at $165 to $265 per month.
Costs of Recreational and Leisure
Laneways Festival: performances by New Zealand and international artists are held annually in February. Ticket prices range from $179 to $219.
Oakland Cup Week: every March, influenced by the locals, many international students wear their best clothes and head to Ellerslie for the Auckland Cup Horse Racing Week, enjoying a week of stunning outfits and exciting horse racing.
ASB Classic: every summer, tennis-loving international students gather at the ASB Classic to see the world’s best male and female tennis champions up close and personal.
Karen Walker is a fashionable brand in Auckland and is more popular with international students. Locals favour practicality and comfort and tend to go for the North Face and Kathmandu brands, with clothes costing around NZ$120.
Conclusion
As we conclude our look at the cost of living in Auckland, it’s vital to consider what this means for you as an international student from a broader perspective. Living in Auckland, you’ll find a city that harmonizes urban convenience with natural beauty. While it is necessary to be mindful of your budget, especially when considering accommodation, transport, and day-to-day expenses, the quality of life in Auckland is genuinely fulfilling. It provides an unrivaled environment for academic and personal growth. Balancing the costs of accommodation, transport, food, and entertainment requires careful budgeting. However, Auckland’s excellent amenities, world-class educational institutions, and wealth of experiential opportunities make it a worthwhile investment.
FAQ
Is it expensive to live in Auckland?
The cost of living has always been a concern when living in Auckland, especially as housing prices have been rising since 2022, and to secure a basic cost of living is around NZ$3,000. If you have any rental-related needs, please get in touch with uhomes.com.
What salary do you need to live in Auckland?
A single person needs to earn at least NZ$70,000 to live comfortably in Auckland. Housing and food consume about a third of that, and the rest can be used for holidays or investments.
How much does it cost to rent in Auckland?
With typical student accommodation costing around NZ$400 per week and luxury student accommodation costing around NZ$600 per week, uhomes.com is the best choice for students considering renting an apartment, with a wide range of properties available at competitive prices.
