Living here

Housing

Whether you’re buying or renting, you’ll be able to choose from different types of Auckland housing to suit your lifestyle, from city apartments to family homes with gardens.

If you’re buying a home, what you can buy here will compare well with other cities. Be prepared to look hard and act quickly. Search for houses at trademe.co.nz and realestate.co.nz and search and compare average house prices.

You might prefer to rent a home, flat or apartment in Auckland, whether on your own or with others. Find homes to rent and flatmates (roommates) at trademe.co.nz, easyroommate.co.nz and nzflatmates.co.nz, and browse information on rental types, costs and agreements.

The suburb you live in will affect the cost of buying or renting a house, and lifestyle factors such as commuting, public transport and access to work, schools and shops. Find information on Auckland suburbs at Hometopia.

If you’re studying in Auckland, find out about student accommodation options.

Transport

Our public transport network is a great way to get around Auckland. You can travel by train or bus throughout the wider region and to most major work hubs, places of study and attractions. Ferries also run from some suburbs to downtown Auckland. A number of bus and train stations and some ferry departure points also have park and ride facilities. Public transport is cheaper for primary, secondary and tertiary students. Find more information about public transport in Auckland.  

For a great way to get outdoors and improve your health, try cycling or walking. Cycleways have popped up over Auckland in the last few years to make commuting on bike or foot even easier, with more planned soon. Find out about cycling and walking in Auckland.

If you’re planning to drive, check which driver’s licence you’ll need and organise it before you arrive. You can legally drive in Auckland and New Zealand for up to 12 months per visit, with either a current driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP). You will need to convert to a New Zealand licence after 12 months. Find out more about driving in New Zealand, including safety regulations.

Schools

Auckland offers a world-class education where students of all ages can learn in a supportive environment and gain internationally recognised qualifications.

We have more than 400 schools and tertiary institutes, as well as vocational training establishments and three universities – in fact, Auckland ranks among the world’s top 20 cities for students to get a university education. And if you’ve got young kids, there are more than 1200 early childhood education options.

Find out more about studying in Auckland.

Cost of living

Living costs are at a level you would expect from a rapidly-growing cosmopolitan hub that’s one of the world’s most liveable cities.

You’ll find some items and services cheaper and some more expensive than at home. In general, Auckland ranks very well against other major cities, with a cost of living significantly lower than London, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Guangzhou and New York. (Source: Mercer Cost of Living Survey 2015).

Find average living costs, including food, clothing, entertainment and housing.

Find information on cost of living, financial planning, taxes and other money matters.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Auckland is first-rate and it’s free or low cost for citizens, residents and some work visa holders. Non-residents can also use healthcare services at a cost. If you have children aged 17 years or under they may also be eligible for publicly funded healthcare. You can check whether you qualify for free or subsidised healthcare with the Ministry of Health.

For private healthcare, non-residents should get medical insurance from their home country. Most costs of injuries from accidents are covered through New Zealand’s no-fault Accident Compensation Corporation scheme.

Find information on Auckland healthcare services and costs.

Tax

The US-based Tax Foundation ranked New Zealand’s overall tax system as second in the developed world for its competitiveness (2014) and top for its individual/personal taxes.

Wages or salaries are usually paid directly into employees’ bank accounts and taxed at set rates depending on your income.
Find out more about taxes in New Zealand.

A 15% tax is added to most goods and services (GST), including most imported goods and certain imported services.
Find out more about GST in New Zealand.

Climate

Auckland enjoys a temperate climate without extremes of temperature.

We enjoy more than 2000 hours of bright sunshine a year and when it rains, it keeps our native forests lush and green.

Seasons
Summer, December – February Autumn/Fall,
March – May Winter, June – August
Spring, September – November

Mean daily temperature
Summer – 23° Celsius (74° Fahrenheit)
Winter – 14° Celsius (57° Fahrenheit)

Support after you arrive

Settling into a new place can feel overwhelming, but there are plenty of support services and networks to help make it easier.
Find services for people moving to New Zealand to work or study.

Schools, universities and tertiary institutions also have their own support services for students.