What Is A Good Salary in Auckland? [2024]
Auckland is the most popular and populous city in New Zealand, with over 1.5 million people residing there. In addition, thousands of people move to Auckland every year. Many international companies have set up their headquarters in this port city. Getting a job here is a dream of many, but are the salaries offered in Auckland worth the shift?
A good salary in Auckland, New Zealand’s more expensive city, would be anywhere from 70,000 NZD to 100,000 NZD annually before taxes. Monthly, you’ll be making over 4,579 NZD and 6,218 NZD net, which is above the average rate of 4,600 NZD.
Comparatively, New Zealand has lower salaries than the US or UK; however, the cost of living is lower in New Zealand. It’s critical to analyze your potential earning potential before you move. Affordability has become an issue across most cities in New Zealand, where the worst place is Auckland.
With average house prices reaching $1,3 million, you better make sure you can afford to live in this place. Read the article as we discuss the salary you need and can expect as an employee in Auckland.
Related: What is a good salary in New Zealand?
What salary should you earn to live in Auckland, New Zealand?
The cost of living is soaring worldwide, and New Zealand isn’t an exception. In fact, the high living costs were always a pain point for locals and immigrants who moved to Auckland. The crisis of 2023 has accelerated this problem.
Consequently, before you look for or accept a job in Auckland, you must ensure you can afford a living (not surviving) here.
That said, your expenses, cost of living, and spending patterns also determine if what you’re offered will give you a good life. If you used to live lavishly, a place like Auckland might not be exactly what you need. Local salaries allow one to have an okay life but nothing luxurious.
Are you moving to Auckland? Check out this article about the best and worst suburbs to live in!
But let’s have a look at the average income in Auckland. Auckland always had a higher household income than New Zealand.
In 2022, the average Auckland household had an income of 146,509 NZD, while the national average was 117,786 NZD (see below).
Source: www.ecoprofile.infometrics.co.nz
Moreover, in 2022, the median income per capita was 49,419 NZD in Auckland and 44,124 NZD nationwide.
So, if you earn above 70,000 NZD, you’re above average, and you can afford to pay the rent comfortably, buy groceries, eat out, pay insurance, travel, and save. Getting a job in Auckland offering this rate is very feasible, especially if you’re highly skilled.
For instance, a highly qualified software engineer with years of experience gets 100,000 NZD, while those with less experience get 70,000 NZD. Auckland is the main city in New Zealand and, as such, has more high earners compared to the rest of the country.
Did you know that in New Zealand, you can apply for government support via Work and Income if you don’t earn enough?
Two adults living in Auckland and cumulatively taking home over 90,000 NZD can afford a comfortable life, the basics, and travel. However, with children in the picture, the scenario changes, and more is required for groceries, rent, insurance, and education.
Overall, we recommend earning at least 120,000 NZD combined with a partner to enjoy a better quality of life.
That said, in New Zealand, as in pretty much anywhere in the world, products and services are priced relatively to the population, location, local economy, and logistical circumstances for transporting goods and services.
In Auckland, you will pay more for the same things than in other NZ cities like Rotorua or even Wellington. At the same time, living costs get even more expensive in remote but still popular places like Queenstown.
On average, the cost of living for a single person in Auckland is 4,787 NZD per month, including rent, food, transportation, and other essential utilities. Hence, an average Auckland’s salary just covers basic expenses for one person.
Here’s how typically your income will be distributed:
As a single person living in Auckland, you should negotiate for no less than 4,500 NZD monthly salary after tax.
The situation is different for a family of four as much will be needed to cover the increased expenses. To live comfortably, spouses should earn at least 7,500 NZD net per month combined, which they might spend as follows:
| Expense | Average cost (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 2,800 |
| Food | 1,500 |
| Transport | 400 |
| Utilities | 300 |
| Free time and leisure | 500 |
How much money does a family need in New Zealand?
Ultimately, as a family, you should have two income sources to make ends meet and afford a good lifestyle in Auckland. Life will be very challenging if only one is bringing the money.
For example, with a monthly income of 8,000 NZD (96,000 NZD p.a), which is about 133,000 NZD gross p.a., you can afford a very comfortable living in a good area of Auckland. Yet, it’s nothing extravagant.
If you make above 150,000 NZD p.a. combined, we are talking about 9,000 NZD net per month. That will give you a decent life with regular eating out, holidays, and weekends away.
As you look for a job in Auckland, evaluate the cost of housing, food, and other amenities, to guide you on the minimum you should accept as your take-home pay.
These numbers might seem outrageous, but it’s very feasible if both of you work. You basically need to make an average salary to hit this level.
Read more on the cost of living in New Zealand and Auckland.
Rent
Housing takes up the biggest chunk of your income. Here’s the average cost of housing for a two-bedroom house in the region.
The average rent in Auckland in 2022 vs nationwide:
Hence, you need about 600 NZD per week to rent a separate one-bedroom house or apartment in Auckland. Rents can go as high as 900 NZD to 1,200 NZD per week in some areas. Thus, the location plays the most significant role.
In West Auckland, a typical suburb you might be living is Avondale. Median rents there looked as follows (as of 01 Apr 2023 – 30 Sep 2023):
| Type of the house | One bed | Two beds |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment | $475 | $620 |
| House | $580 | $600 |
| Room | $400 |
Here are the median rents for a single-family house across various suburbs in Auckland:
| Suburb | Average rent |
|---|---|
| Auckland Central | $700 |
| Clarks Beach | $610 |
| Drury | $650 |
| Helensville | $588 |
| Kumeu | $680 |
| Orewa | $730 |
| Papakura | $600 |
| Parakai | $540 |
| Pukekohe | $570 |
| Red Beach | $670 |
| Riverhead | $680 |
| Silverdale | $755 |
| Snells Beach | $600 |
| Takanini | $680 |
| Waimauku | $650 |
| Waiuku | $600 |
On a bare minimum, a family of four needs a two-bedroom house to live comfortably in Auckland. The most affordable place is the Avondale, where you can get a two-bedroom for between 600 NZD and 700 NZD weekly.
A single person can take up a flat or one-bedroom for approximately 1,700 NZD in the vast Auckland city. If the person works in the CBD, renting in the Auckland central area, Orewa, Papakura, or Pukekohe would be noble.
If you’re looking to save on transport, ensure you get an apartment close to where you work. Most landlords will ask for an upfront deposit, and the percentage varies for different property owners.
Food and groceries
In Auckland, food is a significant cost factor. It’s slightly more expensive than in some other parts of the country. But you also have a wider choice of supermarkets, cafes & restaurants for eating out. Hence, there is a good variety from budget to upper-end places.
Read our guide on food prices in 2024.
Here’s the approximate cost of essential food items in Auckland:
Source: numbeo.com
You can expect to pay about 25 – 30 NZD for a decent meal. However, even with high grocery prices, getting the items from the stores and making the food from home is cheaper than eating out daily.
A weekly grocery bill for a single is about 150 – 200 NZD, while it’s about 400 NZD for a family of four.
Besides, you can use the services of HelloFresh, which is a fantastic option for someone short on time but still wanting to save a buck. You can cook their amazing, easy-done recipes, which will come to about 7.99 NZD per meal. That’s even cheaper than groceries.
Get up to $120 off on your order at HelloFresh.
Transport
s you negotiate your salary, consider the cost of your daily commuting. Unfortunately, even petrol prices are higher in Auckland. This is due to the government’s incentives to reduce pollution and car usage within the city. Not sure if it works.
You can expect to pay about 2.75 NZD per liter for 95. However, Auckland is one of the few cities in New Zealand with a pretty developed public transport. So, workers can capitalize on that and save money on running and parking a car.
Since Auckland is a port city, there’s a well-established transport system that includes ferries, trains, and buses.
The link buses are convenient when commuting from the CBD to the estates, while the trains cover the vast region. For convenience, you can get a monthly ticket for approximately 215 NZD.
Utilities
Monthly bills can go high in the winter and will be relatively low in summer. The main things you need to consider are the water, cooling, heating, gas, electricity, garbage collection, and internet. The monthly average for a two-bedroom house is 200 – 300 NZD.
Internet will add up to about 70 NZD – 100 NZD, depending on the provider.
Some rentals might cover the bills such as water and garbage collection; you will need to check it with your agent or landlord.
The average salary in Auckland in 2024
The average salary in Auckland was about 71,000 NZD last year (2022). That is 4,634 NZD net per month. Generally, this salary is enough for a single person to live a comfortable life in the city. Don’t count on any luxuries, though.
The figure is slightly above New Zealand’s average, which was 1,000 NZD weekly.
That said, the average salary varies for the different industries, as shown in the table below:
| Job | Average annual salary (NZD) |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | 100,000 |
| Dentist | 135,000 |
| Finance executive | 115,000 |
| Software engineer | 86,000 |
| Human Resources manager | 90,000 |
| Physician | 100,000 |
| Marketing manager | 84,000 |
| Pharmacist | 92,000 |
| Data analyst | 72,000 |
It also ranges from company to company, so global & large organizations pay the most.
Many foreign workers are attracted to Auckland. The city provides the best chances of getting hired, especially if you are an immigrant.
As Auckland is New Zealand’s powerhouse contributing close to 40% of the country’s GDP, this city is vibrant, with opportunities in different sectors.
However, we would encourage you to also look further into this place; there are so many worthy locations where you can start your life in this country.
Auckland doesn’t represent New Zealand. You should get a better feel of this country by traveling to various regions and only then deciding where to settle.
Some of the jobs with the best opportunities in Auckland include:
- Software engineers
- Physicians
- Marketing managers
- Cyber security experts
- Pharmacists
- Civil engineers
- IT experts
- Product developers
- Machine learning specialists
- Data engineers.
- Electricians
- Business analysts
- Engineers
- Psychologists
- Marketers
- Project managers
Auckland also has opportunities in the hotel industry, given the thriving tourism sector. They include:
- Waiters
- Bartenders
- Chefs
- Bakers
- Housekeepers
- Tour guides
The city’s job market is competitive, which means you have to be well-qualified in your craft to attract good pay.
High-paying jobs in Auckland
Auckland is home to some of the highest-paying jobs in New Zealand. They include:
- C-level executives: 230,000 NZD
- Ship master: 150,000 NZD
- Data engineer: 131,000 NZD
- Cyber security specialist: 145,000 NZD
- Dentist: 140,000 NZD
- Operations manager: 145,000 NZD
- Lecturer: 138,000 NZD
- Researcher: 123,000 NZD
- Lawyer: 100,000 NZD
- Human Resources Manager: 100,000 NZD
Negotiate with your prospective employer for the highest entry point, as it gives you an edge once you’re promoted in the future.
Is 120,000 NZD a good salary for Auckland?
I’d say it depends on several aspects, like is it for a single person or is it the single income for a family of four members?
A single person can live a very comfortable life with 120,000 NZD (87,728 NZD net p.a or 7,250 NZD monthly), even affording to go on vacation once in a while. Here’s how a single person can spend the money and live a decent life:
- Rent: 3,000 NZD
- Food: 1,000 NZD
- Transportation: 500 NZD
- Other utilities: 400 NZD
- Insurance: 200 NZD
- Leisure, hobbies and sports: 1,000 NZD
- Savings: 1,150NZD
The amount will afford a single person an above-average lifestyle, even affording international vacation every once in a while. Saving for investments is also possible for a person earning this figure.
A family of four earning 120,000 NZD annually (7,250 NZD net) can afford a decent life where you can cover your basics but will struggle to save. Here’s a breakdown of the family’s main expenses:
- Rent: 3,000 NZD
- Food: 1,500 NZD
- Transportation: 600 NZD
- Other utilities: 350 NZD
- Childcare: 350 NZD
- Leisure, activities, weekend trips: 400 NZD
- Others: 1,000 NZD
The family will have to adjust and live frugally, only working with the bare minimum amenities. If children are involved, the family could find it hard to give them the best insurance or enroll them in private schools.
Eating out, savings, or going on vacation would be a strain for a family of four relying on the 120,000 NZD.
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