What It Means To Be Wealthy In New Zealand
With its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant Māori culture, and reputation as a global adventure capital, New Zealand is a dream destination for travelers and expats alike. But what does being wealthy in New Zealand mean? Whether you're considering a move or just curious about Kiwi life, understanding the cost of living, average salaries, and visa opportunities can help you decide if this island nation is for you.
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings exposed New Zealand to an entirely new audience, enraptured by the stunning scenery. The cliché is that the country has more sheep than people—there are 23.6 million sheep and 5.3 million people, as per AP, meaning there are about 4.5 sheep for each New Zealander. And it's this beauty, adventure, and culture that make the country 8th in CNTraveler's recent list of the Best Countries in the World.
New Zealand ranked ninth on U.S. News' list of the best countries in the World in 2024, up from eighth in 2023, and performed highly in categories such as adventure, quality of life, and social purpose. It came in at number two for a comfortable retirement.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita in New Zealand is approximately $39,024 annually, which is lower than the U.S. average of $51,147, but higher than the OECD average of $30,490.
Incidentally, when asked to rate their general life satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 10, New Zealanders, on average, graded it a 7.3, which is higher than the OECD average of 6.7. Being Wealthy In New Zealand—New Zealand's Cost Of Living
The cost of living in New Zealand is slightly less than in the U.S., where, according to Numbeo, the cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is as follows: Switzerland: $1,659
France: $1,200
U.S.: $1,166
Germany: $1,139
Ireland: $1,112
U.K.: $1,095
Australia: $1,050
Canada: $1023
New Zealand : $1,012
: $1,012 Japan: $927
Italy: $905
Latvia: $874
Greece: $832
Malta: $801
Spain: $731
Thailand: $650
Mexico: $637
Portugal: $592
Philippines: $573
Brazil: $466
Certain expenses, such as housing, can be significantly higher than in Europe—rent in New Zealand can be about 19% higher than in France. In comparison to the U.S., though, rent in New Zealand is 38% lower.
Restaurant prices in New Zealand are typically about 15% lower than in the U.S., and groceries are approximately 9% less expensive. Being Wealthy In New Zealand–Average Net Worth
The 2024 Global Wealth Index by UBS found that New Zealand ranks among the top 10 wealthiest countries in terms of average and median wealth—the average net worth by adults was $408,231. The median household wealth in New Zealand, as reported in a 2021 study, was approximately $397,000. Being Wealthy In New Zealand—Getting A Golden Visa Or A Digital Nomad Visa
New Zealand offers several visa options for those looking to live and work in the country. The Prime Minister recently relaxed New Zealand's golden visa program, eliminating the English language requirement. It also introduced two new portfolio types with varying minimum stay requirements in the country, ranging from 21 days to 105 days. The investment amounts range from $2.9 million over three years to $5.8 million over five years.
In February, the New Zealand government also launched a digital nomad visa that doesn't have a minimum monthly income requirement, unlike other countries. It is also now possible for travelers to work for a foreign employer while visiting the country, a practice that the government previously prohibited. New Zealand is attempting to attract more tourists to the country to restore visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels.
From the peaks of the Southern Alps to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the country offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern living. With its affordable and laid back lifestyle, coupled with adventure landscapes and a new digital nomad visa, despite its distance from many other places, New Zealand has never seemed so close. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes New Zealand To Relax Golden Visa Program In April 2025 By Alex Ledsom Forbes Digital Nomad Visas—New Zealand Launches New Long-Term Working Visa By Alex Ledsom Forbes Portugal Golden Visa: Government Plans To Enhance Incentives By Alex Ledsom
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Our 4 kids span a wide age range. We travel with them individually so we can plan trips they'll really like.
With four very different kids, we found it hard to make vacations fun for everyone. Taking each child away by themselves involves less coordination and spreads the costs. One-on-one vacations help us build special memories with our kids. When my husband and I got married five years ago, we took our first and last combined family vacation. Our kids then were aged 4, 8, 10, and 14, and, as a newly blended family, we thought it would be nice to spend some special time together. We didn't go far — just a three-hour drive to Christchurch, our closest big city. But even planning a simple overnight trip with all four kids required the effort of an expert events management team — or at least it felt that way. They all like different things Because we have my husband's kids on the weekend and my own during the week, it involved a shuffling of schedules and coordinating with their other parents. We had to take two vehicles and book accommodation that would suit us all. The 14-year-old certainly wasn't keen to share a room with a busy 4-year-old. Then there was the question of what activities to do. We're lucky in that our kids all get along, but they have very different ideas about what's fun to do on vacation. We spent our first day at the zoo and our second at a huge outdoor playground. Apart from the 4-year-old throwing her favourite toy out the car window and having to backtrack to hunt it down, everything went smoothly. The kids were happy. We were exhausted. For our next trip away, we decided to make it simpler and only take the older three, but very quickly, our family vacation turned into two separate trips. My stepson wasn't keen to do any of the activities the older girls had in mind. He wanted to tour the parliament buildings and walk around the city, while the girls wanted to explore the museum and swim at the beach. We made it work, but by the end of the trip, everyone was feeling a little frustrated. When we took the younger three away together, we had a similar situation. They enjoyed staying at the unique tram carriage accommodation, but choosing what activities to do proved difficult. The girls loved visiting a wildlife park, but my stepson was miserable. As they've gotten older, their interests have separated even further. If we spend money on a trip, we want them to enjoy it If we're going to spend time and money on a vacation for the kids, we want them to actually enjoy it, so this year, we decided to try something new. We'd take each child away by themselves. There'd be less coordination required, and we could tailor vacations to each child's interests. It also spreads out the costs over the year, which makes it much more doable. I took my oldest daughter, now almost 19, away for a girls' retreat. We visited a boutique seaside town and stayed in a cute little cottage with incredible views of the bay. We booked massages, ate at a high-end restaurant, and had a few drinks at a gin bar on the beach. My daughter loves relaxed luxuries, visiting cute little cafés, and going to the movies, and, as this is her final year at home, it was lovely to have that special one-on-one time with her doing all of the things we both enjoy. My husband surprised my stepson with his first overseas trip. My stepson loves the band Green Day and visiting big cities, so when we found out they'd be playing in Melbourne, Australia, we thought it would be the perfect trip for him. We made it his Christmas present as it would be more expensive than the other kids' vacations. My husband booked a Superman-themed hotel room and, as well as attending the concert, they visited a car museum, rode on the trams, and shopped at the market. Our youngest has requested a trip to a trampoline park. As more of a homebody, she hates travelling long distances. Thankfully, there's a trampoline park in a nearby town, which will make that a simple vacation to plan. At 9, she's still a busy little girl with more energy than the other kids. Having just her to focus on will definitely make that easier. Our other daughter, at 15, is now a competitive swimmer and has races out of town, so her vacation will likely revolve around that. She likes her holidays to be active and outdoors. Even better if there's water involved. Next time she has an away race, we'll tag on an extra night or two, find some outdoor activity to enjoy, and make it a special trip away. We're a close family, but we found it hard to make vacations fun for everyone. Taking the kids away individually means we can pick trips we know they'll love while keeping the costs and logistical demands low. One-on-one time also allows for deeper conversations with each child and a more special connection. We may take another family vacation at some point, but for now, this works for us. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Americans Are Sharing The Things They Didn't Realize Were "Very American" Until They Visited Another Country, And I Never Realized Some Of These
Recently, Redditor u/chopsticktalk asked Reddit community members from the US to share the things they didn't realize were "very American" until they visited another country, and some of the responses are mind-boggling: 1."Ranch dressing. Ranch-flavored Doritos are still sold, but they're labeled as 'American flavor.'" —sniper91 2."Having air conditioning everywhere. I went on a business trip to Germany. It was 80 degrees outside, and my German coworkers simply opened up a window for some air exchange. I went to the mall to get a SIM card for my phone, and most of the mall didn't have air conditioning, either." —workerbee223 3."Red Solo Cups. When I studied abroad in New Zealand, everyone asked me about them. Granted, this was at the height of Jersey Shore's popularity." —fezfrascati 4."Here in the US, outside of big cities, it's pretty much required to drive a car. When I lived abroad for a few years, I was able to survive completely off public transport, the occasional taxi, and walking on my own two feet." —back2therockinghorse 5."Portion sizes and taking home leftovers." —hubert--cumberdale 6."I moved to the Netherlands eight years ago. The biggest one I realized was probably working while sick. For 20 years, I came to work every day unless I physically couldn't. Like, I had to be so sick that I legitimately couldn't make myself get out of bed. Even then, I felt bad for not showing up. I was in the Netherlands for maybe three months already when I got a cold. My boss came around to my desk and sent me home. I was still on my probation period, so I was super worried that if I took a sick day, I'd be fired and sent back on a plane to the US." "I told him I'd go home, but I'd take my laptop with me. He told me to just go home and rest, and not to come back until I was well. When I came back after getting better, my boss sent an American colleague to talk to me. This guy had been at the company for 10 years and said, 'They don't want you getting anyone else sick; there's unlimited sick time for a reason.' So, now, I'm the one telling new arrivals to use their sick time." —deVliegendeTexan 7."How much water is in toilet bowls." —AcanthocephalaIcy516 8."Billboards along the highways." —niels_nitely 9."Ice cold beverages. I worked in China, and they did drinks with no ice and had room-temperature water. I was so excited when my translator turned to me while we were ordering and asked if I wanted ice with my drink. I said, 'They have ice? YES!' The translator and the guy behind the counter laughed and said, 'No, we don't have ice.'" —Delaneybuffett 10."A big culture shock to me in Europe was that there were many major cities that weren't filled with skyscrapers like in the US. I guess it isn't specifically American, but it definitely threw me for a loop." —Cummyshitballs 11."Screens in windows. Does Europe not have bugs?" —Over_Dog24 12."Advertising medical treatments for profit." —gbourg12 13."Unlimited refills of coffee at restaurants." —GoddessoftheUniverse 14."Eating a meal really quickly. I was just in England, and even in relatively casual restaurants, the waiter will only check up on you two or three times in an hour because they assume you're going to take your time and enjoy your meal. I walked into a restaurant an hour before close, and they specifically told me, 'We close in an hour, are you sure you will have enough time?' And my only thought was that I could eat my meal as fast as they could make it." "There have been multiple times where I'd be seated, order, eat, and pay before other groups who'd arrived before me finished. Americans eat fast! We're also used to being rushed out of restaurants because waitstaff are looking to get as many people through in a night for their tips. Having a 'no tips' culture really makes the experience better for the diner." —CanIGetASourceOnThat 15."Garbage disposals." —Mysterious-Hawk6030 16."I didn't truly appreciate the 24-hour grocery stores when I lived in the US. When I moved to Belgium, it was a weirdly hard transition being only able to shop during normal hours. I moved back to the US before COVID-19, and now we rarely have 24-hour grocery stores in the US anymore." —amioth 17."Competitive sports among high schools and colleges." —niels_nitely 18."The loudness. My fellow Americans talk SO LOUD ALL THE TIME." —Wwwweeeeeeee 19."Free public restrooms. I'm not saying they're clean or nice in the US, but it was annoying trying to remember to carry coins around Paris just so I can pee." —DrPorkchopES 20."Leaving out sales tax from prices in the stores." —peperazzi74 "Chitchat. Americans can start conversations with random strangers and feel completely normal sharing their stories." —phage5169761 Honestly, yeah, the portion sizes in America are truly wild. If you're American, what are some things you didn't realize were "very American" until you left the US? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your thoughts using the form below! Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Major cruise line makes shock departure from Australian shores
They arrived with a splash but just three years later Disney Cruise Line is making a much quieter exit out of Australian waters. With rumours swirling about Disney abandoning their cruises out of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the company confirmed to Yahoo that this season will be their last. The impressive Disney Wonder, with the company's iconic black, red and gold hull, will be moving on from Australia and New Zealand after February 2026. "We are currently going to be sailing in the Australia and New Zealand region up until February 2026. We will not return for the 2026/2027 season," Tristan, from Disney Cruise Line's shoreside guest services leadership team, told Yahoo on Saturday morning. "However, we're always looking at different destinations to explore with our guests, along with our crew members. Sailings from Australia and New Zealand remain on our list for future consideration, however since future itineraries have not been released past the 2026/2027 season, we're not able to make any comments on that regrettably." It's the second shake-up on the Australian cruising scene in recent months, after P&O's ships were taken over and rebranded by Carnival earlier this year. It's no secret that Australians love cruising. In fact, Australia is considered one of the leading cruise markets in the world. But even with one-in-20 Aussies going on a cruise in 2024, it still wasn't enough to keep Disney cruising around our shores. So what went wrong? While Disney could not comment on the reasons behind its decision, one cruise expert weighed in on the possible factors. Adrian Tassone, the face of one of the country's most popular cruise blogs The Cruise and Travel Guy, told Yahoo News the high fares likely played a role in the decision-making of Aussie travellers. 'They definitely came in a lot higher than their local competition," he said. "Perhaps there was an impression that they could run off that brand recognition, a name to provide people with a really unique cruise experience in our market that we haven't seen before. But I think the price put people off.' Another contributing factor, Adrian said, is that Disney ships often don't stop at a destination. The idea is that the ship itself is the destination. Currently, to book a four-night cruise from Sydney to Hobart and back with Disney, a balcony room for two guests is priced at $4992. Comparatively, a five-night sailing to Hobart in a balcony room with budget cruise line Carnival costs $2008 for two guests. Adrian has sailed on the Disney Wonder before, and while he said he was pleasantly surprised with onboard experience — in particular the adults-only spaces — it still wasn't enough to justify the cost. Signs hinted at Disney's departure Speculation about Disney sailing away from Australia permanently amplified in recent weeks after the Disney Wonder disappeared from the cruise ship schedules in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. "It doesn't make sense, especially in a place like Sydney, in particular, [bookings] are quite difficult to come by. It would be strange for a cruise line to remove themselves," Adrian said. Even before the bookings were removed, some noticed the fare prices were being discounted for long periods, which "isn't typical" for Disney. "They pretty much ran their entire Australian season with a promotional sale. And apparently, around the world that's not a typical thing," Adrian said. Rumours of Disney's departure left their cruise fans devastated, with many hoping the news wouldn't be true. "I'm so sad about this," one woman wrote. "Very sad to see she won't be returning to our shores but also not shocked," another said. Others said they also weren't surprised, given the cost of the fares. Disney reiterated that Australia and New Zealand will both be considered again in the future, but couldn't provide any further information for now. Disney brings biggest cruise ship ever to Singapore This December, Disney is launching the world's biggest cruise liner, the Disney Adventure. The huge new ship will sail out of Singapore, which will soon be the closest port for Australians wanting to experience a Disney cruise. The Adventure can carry around 6,000 passengers (more than double the occupancy of Carnival Adventure) and features seven themed 'lands'. The cruises on offer will primarily be three and four-night cruises, but will have no stops. Guests will stay on board the ship as it does a round trip at sea. The cheaper rooms are already booked out for the Adventure's maiden voyage on December 15, with a balcony room priced at $5,135 for two guests. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
