As of September 1, 2025, the independent Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand has set the new living wage at $28.95 per hour. This is a 4.5% increase from the 2024 rate of $27.80, intended to cover basic necessities, and is notably higher than the minimum wage of $23.50, effective April 1, 2025.
Of course, NZ wages vary by industry and job type. However, the median income in New Zealand is just under NZ$27 per hour as of mid-2021 (NZD$56,160 per annum based on a 40-hour week).
The 2025/26 New Zealand Living Wage has been set at $28.95 per hour, a $1.15 increase that aligns with a 4.2% rise in New Zealand's average hourly wage. Effective from 1 September 2025, employees and contracted workers of accredited Living Wage Employers will earn at least $5.45 per hour more than the minimum wage.
New Zealand wages vary greatly by industry and we also record regional variations: as a guideline, salaries are higher where the cost of living and housing is dearer. The median income in New Zealand is NZ$33.56/hour as of 18 August 2025 as of August 2025 (NZD$69,804.80) per annum based on a 40-hour week).
To live comfortably in New Zealand, a single person generally needs NZD $4,000-$5,000+ per month, while a family of four often requires a combined income of $7,000-$10,000+ monthly, with costs varying significantly by city (Auckland being most expensive) and lifestyle (rent, mortgage, dining out). Expect to budget at least $1,800-$2,200 for single living basics, but "comfortable" often implies higher earnings for extras like travel, hobbies, and better housing.
If you make $70,000 a year living in New Zealand, you will be taxed $14,993. That means that your net pay will be $55,007 per year, or $4,584 per month. Your average tax rate is 21.4% and your marginal tax rate is 34.4%. This marginal tax rate means that your immediate additional income will be taxed at this rate.
For example, an annual base salary of $60,000 calculates to around $5,000 per month before taxes and other deductions. That equals roughly $30 per hour, if you were to break it down to an hourly wage.
What can I earn as a Cleaner? The average annual salary for Cleaner jobs in New Zealand ranges from $65,000 to $70,000.
Average monthly expenses for a single person in New Zealand are between USD$815-$2,000 excluding rent. For a family of four, USD$2,950-$3,600 per month. This varies greatly depending on what city you live in.
The Living Wage is an hourly rate. Set apart from the minimum wage, it's worker and whānau focused. Paying the Living Wage rate is voluntary. Employers who pay the Living Wage want to make sure their workers get enough money to live with dignity.
$50 an hour jobs
• 4y ago. Stats nz says mean average household income (pre tax) in Auckland is $132,000 (in 2021). So you could say that's middle class.
It used to be that once someone's salary hit six digits, they would be considered highly paid. But there are now about a dozen sectors paying at least a median $100,000. Over the past 10 years, the median wage across New Zealand has risen from about $67,000 – depending how you measure it – to nearly $80,000.
To buy a house, you generally need an income that allows for housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance) to be around 28-36% of your gross monthly income, but recent studies show buyers often need $100k+ annual income to afford a median-priced home due to rising prices and rates, with specific requirements varying by location and loan type. A common guideline is the 28/36 rule: spend no more than 28% on housing and 36% on total debt, but lenders look at your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio, ideally keeping total debt under 43%.
If you make $100,000 a year living in New Zealand, you will be taxed $25,310. That means that your net pay will be $74,690 per year, or $6,224 per month. Your average tax rate is 25.3% and your marginal tax rate is 34.4%.
New Zealand has a quality public healthcare system, funded directly by Government, and available free or at low cost to all permanent residents and some work visa holders. It's also available to non-residents, but at a cost (along with the private system which runs in parallelt to the state system).
Cost of Moving to New Zealand vs UK
According to Numbeo, the monthly cost of living in New Zealand for a family of 4 is approximately £2700, excluding rent. This is compared to £2819 for the UK. Monthly rent for a 1 bedroom city centre apartment costs an average of £821 in New Zealand and £1038 in the UK.
The main reason why Kiwis are leaving is because of economic opportunities. And given that Kiwis can easily move to Australia anytime without any visas,etc, and they're exactly treated the same as Australian citizens, so that's also one of the big factors.
The 92-day rule in NZ allows non-resident employees or contractors to be exempt from New Zealand income tax on their earnings if they're in NZ for 92 days or less in a tax year, paid by a non-resident employer, and taxed in their home country, provided they aren't public entertainers. This rule is for short-term work, often for remote workers or those on business trips, but longer stays (beyond 92 or 183 days) usually trigger tax obligations in NZ, potentially under Double Tax Agreements (DTAs).