How Much Does It Cost to Move to New Zealand from US?

New Zealand ranks in the Top 10 best countries to live (9th place), according to the 2024 Best Countries ranking from US News and World Report.

So if you’re thinking of moving to this island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, it’ll be a great decision.

There’ll be a lot to plan if you do choose to move to New Zealand, as it’s 11,898 km from the mainland of the US. Meaning there are a unique set of logistical challenges you may not experience with other moves.

You’re not alone, though – there are currently more than 4,000 Americans living in New Zealand, all attracted to the country for its relaxed lifestyle, breathtaking nature, and welcoming people.

It’s also one of the safest countries to live in, ranking fourth in the Global Peace Index’s ranking of the top 10 safest countries in the world.

To help you get you ready, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on moving to New Zealand, covering information on shipping costs, setting up your finances, and working there.

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The idea of moving to an island paradise is pretty tempting

How much does it cost to ship your belongings from the US to New Zealand?

Like its nearby neighbor Australia, New Zealand is an island surrounded by a vast ocean, so the only way to move your furniture and other goods there is by sea or air freight.

Both methods have their pros and cons, and both also differ in price and, of course, journey time. We’ll break down each clearly, starting with the cost of sea freight from the US to New Zealand.

Sea freight costs from the US to New Zealand

Sea freight is the cheapest way to transport goods, being up to 18 times cheaper than air freight. It also leaves a lot less of a carbon footprint, which is a win for the environment.

The main drawback is the amount of time it takes. For example, even the quickest shipping route, which is Los Angeles to Auckland, takes about 20 days. But if you are logistically on top of things, this timeframe can easily be factored into your move.

There are two types of sea freight that you can choose from, depending on the amount of freight you have to move:

• Full Container Load (FCL): This is recommended if you are moving the contents of a two storey house or large apartment. Typically you can choose between a container that’s either 20ft or 40ft in length. Most containers are 8ft wide. With this option you will have the full container to yourself for all your belongings.

• Less than Container Load(LCL): This is where you only use part of a container, sharing the space with other freight. It’s less secure than having your own container and there’s also a risk of it being held up in customs if there’s an issue with the other freight within. But it’s the cheaper option if you don’t have enough to fill an entire container.

The rates in the table below are sourced from freightos.com and are based on the port-to-port transportation of a 20ft container of used furniture worth $40,000 (the typical value of the contents of a three-bedroom home).

Air freight costs from the US to New Zealand

If speed is what you need, air freight is the best option. For example, air freight from the US to New Zealand can take one to five days, but you’ll pay for this convenience.

Below are estimates for what you might spend to ship your belongings via air freight.

These figures come from freightos.com, and they’re based on 250kg of household goods (worth $2,500). We’ve outlined the average cost of flying goods along popular routes from the US to New Zealand.

If you’d like to see how much shipping your possessions would cost, just fill in this short form and you’ll receive free quotes from trusted specialists.

Becoming a citizen of New Zealand

The first step to becoming a citizen of New Zealand is to first obtain a visa to live and work there. American citizens will need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to enter New Zealand. This visa is valid for two years and allows multiple entries.

To then become a citizen of New Zealand, you’ll need to have resided in the country for the previous five years and been in the country for at least 240 days of each of those years – that’s 1,350 days in total.

Applying for citizenship costs $470.20 for adults 16 years and over and $253.10 for children aged 15 years and under.

Use this self-check tool on the New Zealand Government website to see if you are eligible for New Zealand citizenship. You’ll need your birth certificate, passport, other supporting documents, and an identity referee to support your application.

A benefit of becoming a New Zealand citizen as a US citizen is that you don’t need to renounce your US citizenship, which is beneficial if you want to live and work in the US in the future.

The application process takes between 3 and 14 months to complete and once approved you are required to attend a citizenship ceremony. For the full details of applying for a New Zealand citizenship, check out the government website on citizenship.

Setting up your finances in New Zealand

It’s relatively straightforward to set up a bank account in New Zealand as a US citizen. You can set up the bank account before you arrive if you have the appropriate documentation.

This includes a valid passport and a visa showing your residential status. Some banks may require you to have proof of a residential address as well.

There are a few main banking options available for US citizens moving to New Zealand. According to online expat community InterNations, the best banks for expats are:

• ANZ
• ASB Bank
• BNZ Bank
• Kiwibank
• Westpac

Each of these banks offers robust online banking options and no-fee bank accounts. However, in some cases there will be a $15 NZD charge for transferring money from your current account back in the US to your new bank account in New Zealand.

Transferring money to New Zealand

If you’re thinking of moving to New Zealand, you’ll probably need to convert some of your US dollars into New Zealand dollars.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use online international money transfer service that uses the real exchange rate, and charges low fees.

How much could you save? Well, its service can be up to eight times cheaper than high-street banks.

Join more than 12.8 million people and start using Wise today.

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New Zealand’s Economy

New Zealand is not a major world economy like the US, but it escaped a lot of the damage from the 2008 financial crisis.

There are great employment opportunities in ICT, healthcare, construction, science, finance, and engineering, among others, as the country is still experiencing skills shortages.

Unemployment is 4.8%, according to government data, which is pretty low, while construction, retail, and telecommunications are fast-growing employment sectors.

House prices and renting

New Zealand has a number of areas where you can buy relatively cheap properties. Homes in Wellington and in the Canterbury region, including the large city of Christchurch, tend to be cheaper than the national average.

However, prices in Auckland can be very expensive. The average house in Auckland costs more than $1,269,106, compared to a national average of $928,623.

This is well above the US's average price of $356,585. Even San Francisco and New York have (some) significantly cheaper homes than Auckland.

In this respect, New Zealand can be more expensive than the US, where the average rental price usually hovers around $2,125 per month.

However, rental prices in San Francisco and New York are usually around $4,500 per month, considerably more than anywhere in New Zealand.

Healthcare in New Zealand

Healthcare in New Zealand is pretty great, ranking at 25th globally and being publicly funded (meaning healthcare is free at the point of use). It’s important to remember that it’s only free for residents and holders of certain visas.

For example, if you hold a two-year work visa, you’ll be eligible for free (or low-cost) healthcare. If you’re in New Zealand on the NZeTA visa, you won’t be eligible for free healthcare, making medical cover a must.

After all, it’s best to be prepared when you arrive, because moving without medical cover could leave you out of pocket if the worst were to happen.

Working in New Zealand

In the US, there is no legal requirement for companies to offer their staff any annual leave. In New Zealand, however, all employers are required to give you 20 days annual leave, and there are also seven paid, public holiday days each year.

And many companies in New Zealand give their employees more than 20 days of annual leave.

New Zealand also came in 9th place for work-life balance, according to The Access Group.

Getting a work visa for New Zealand

There are several work visas for New Zealand that US citizens can apply for. Predominantly, you’ll be looking at the following:

• Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
• Straight to Residence Visa
• Transport Work to Residence Visa
• Work to Residence Visa

The requirements for each of the above visas vary, but generally you’ll need to have a job offer from an accredited employer and meet certain job role requirements (such as having worked for 24 months in a transport or care role). All of the above visas cost NZD 6,450 ($3,642).

Your other option is a USA Working Holiday visa, but you cannot qualify for this if you’re over the age of 30, and it only allows a maximum stay of 12 months.

Average salary in New Zealand

The average salary for full-time work in New Zealand is NZD $65,852 ($37,872), as of February 2025, which is lower than the average salary in the US — $66,622 (The United States Social Security Administration, February 2025).

Salaries vary a lot between industries and locations, and if you’re looking for the highest salaries in New Zealand, it’s worth searching for work in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

Education

The quality of education in New Zealand is very high.

It’s compulsory for children to start primary (elementary) school from age six, although it is possible to enrol them at age five.

The public (state) school system is only free to citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand.

If you are a newcomer on a temporary visa, you will need to apply for a separate student visa for your children, and you’ll need to pay fees towards their tuition, which could amount to around $7,000 per year.

Private schooling is also funded by the central government, up to 25%.

Here are some differences you may notice in New Zealand schools:

• There may be a greater emphasis on physical education
• New Zealand schools may promote thinking and application over learning of knowledge, e.g. multiple choice tests are less frequent
• They may also be less keen on teaching the rigors of spelling and grammar

There are eight universities in New Zealand, as well as 18 polytechnics and further education colleges specializing in vocational tertiary education.

The University of Auckland is consistently ranked as the best in the country. It came 65th best in the world in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.

New Zealand has breathtaking skylines to go with its stunning landscapes

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Food and drink

New Zealand is proud of its home-grown lamb and fish dishes, and fine wines.

The country doesn’t have many restaurants offering international cuisine, but it should be possible to find good Indian, Chinese, Thai and other Asian dining establishments in the larger cities.

Your average meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost around NZD $25 ($14), and a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will be roughly NZD $122 ($69).

The best vegetarian restaurants include The Grove in Auckland, Aro Café in Wellington, and Formaggio’s in Christchurch.

Some of the best vegetarian dishes can be found in Asian restaurants, while Green Time in Auckland and The Botanist in Wellington are highly rated for vegan dining.

Nightlife

For the best choice of nightlife in New Zealand, head for the big cities. The city with the highest proportion of young people is Auckland, so it makes sense that it's the best place to party.

If you’re seeking a more relaxed night out, try a smaller city such as Taupo.

Most cities have one or two LGBTQ nightspots, but most of the country’s LGBTQ-friendly scene can be found in Auckland, home to New Zealand’s biggest LGBTQ festival in the shape of Big Gay Out, held each February.

Public transport in New Zealand

Public transport in New Zealand is decent and you won’t have much trouble catching buses between the major cities (or around the smaller towns). In the cities, there are plenty of hop-on hop-off bus services, so you can get to and from work with ease.

The average bus fare in the cities is $2-3, and around $10 for cross-country trips.

Ferries and water taxis

An interesting way to get around New Zealand is via ferries and water taxis. Being an island nation, this makes perfect sense and there are regular passenger ferries connecting the north and south islands.

There are loads of water taxis connecting the smaller islands too, which can be a great activity in itself.

Train

There are three main scenic rail journeys you can take across New Zealand, and they’re comfortably some of the best ways to see the country. You’ll find several rail networks connecting Wellington and Auckland too.

Train tickets start at NZD $49 ($27) per person (for long-distance journeys).

New Zealand emergency numbers

You never know when you might need to make an emergency call, so here’s a comprehensive list of the emergency numbers you can call in New Zealand:

Next steps

There you go, just about everything you’ll need about moving to New Zealand! Convinced and ready to start the moving process?

We can help – simply fill in this short form to get free shipping quotes from our trusted suppliers. They’ll move your belongings with confidence and care, wherever you choose to live.