Cost of Living
When you apply for a student visa, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires proof of funds for living expenses, please see Immigration New Zealand's Requirements page for details.
In addition to this requirement, we recommend that a single student should in general budget for between NZ$300 and $350 per week for general living expenses; that is NZ$12000- $14000 from mid February to mid November (40 weeks).
If you are coming with your family, you need to budget accordingly.
If you decide to stay during the summer holidays (mid November to mid February), you will need to budget accordingly. Airfares are additional to these living expenses.
The Students' Association (UCSA) may be able to help you with your financial planning.
To give you an idea on the other costs that you may need to budget for, here are some examples in New Zealand dollars. Please bear in mind that these are approximate figures and the actual costs will vary depending on your course of study and lifestyle. Also, the fees quoted below are subject to change and reviewed regularly.
| Course costs | $NZ (40 weeks) |
| Books and stationery (first year) - This cost is likely to increase in subsequent years for certain courses, notably Engineering and Fine Arts | $500-$1000 |
| Extra course costs - e.g. practical courses and field trips (Engineering, Forestry, Geology and Fine Arts students) | up to $1000 |
| Accommodation | $NZ |
| Homestay | $9200 - $9600 (40 weeks) |
Halls
of Residence (catered and self-catered)
|
Please see the websites above for information on fees for staying at the Halls of Residence. |
|
See flatting costs for details of regular costs such as rent, as well as any additional costs, e.g. bond/deposit. |
| Transportation and travelling | $NZ |
| Airfare Airfares will vary depending on your destination, travel agency and time of booking. If you wish to return home during term break, you will need to budget for the airfares and other travel costs accordingly. |
|
| Bus fare (per trip) | $2.10-$2.80 |
| See also | |
| Examples of other costs | $NZ |
| Clothing (For first year students coming from tropical countries) | $600 - $900 per year |
| Movie | $13.00 - $16.00 |
| Hamburger | $3.00 - $5.00 |
| A cup of coffee | $4.00 - $4.50 |
| There may be other costs that you wish to budget for, for example, vacation expenses, travelling, social activities etc. | |