Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your Escape Plan

Why Retire in New Zealand?

  • October 9, 2018
  • BY Brooke Cobb
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

New Zealand is known as one of the world’s cleanest and most beautiful countries…if not the cleanest and most beautiful. Anyone who’s seen Lord of the Rings knows this, since that’s where the movies were filmed. The culture is a bit laid back, with a focus on good health and the outdoors. Those who choose to retire in New Zealand tend to do so because of a mix of those traits. Many who visit end up wondering how they could stay.

The Process

Most likely, if you’re seeking to retire in New Zealand, you’ll want to opt for the Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa. This visa is valid for two years and can be renewed. You have to be 66 or older to qualify for this visa in New Zealand, and you have to meet some pretty stiff financial specifications. In order to be considered for approval, you must have:

  • $492,000 USD to invest in New Zealand for the two-year period
  • $328,000 USD to live on for that period
  • An annual income of about $40,000.

This visa, once approved, includes your partner and allows travel in and out of the country at your leisure. It does not include any dependent children. There are also two other types of visas that could work for you – the investment visas or the entrepreneur visa. The entrepreneur visa would require you to work for a few years before allowing you to retire. For the investment visas, there are two options: Investor 1, which requires an investment of NZ$10 million ($6.5 million USD), and Investor 2, which requires a lower investment of NZ$3 million ($1.95 million USD) that can be made in installments over the course of four years. The catch for this one is that it has an age limit of 65 years for the applicant.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in New Zealand is comparable to many U.S. cities, although not quite so expensive as New York City. A typical meal for two in a mid-level restaurant with three courses will run at around the $55 USD mark. Basic utilities are about $120 on average and rent in the capital city of Wellington for a one-bedroom apartment costs about $1,100 per month. A one-bedroom outside of the city would be about $900, and a three-bedroom apartment within the city would be $1,900, or $1,500 for three bedrooms outside of the city.

These prices probably aren’t much different than what many residing in the United States are already used to, if they are living in the busy metropolitan areas. Of course, there are pros and cons to this. The pros are that you’re already used to this level of costs for everyday living, so you know what you’re getting yourself into. The cons fall into the desire to retire in a place that’s less expensive so you can stretch your pension, or even live a bit of that luxury high life you dreamed of while you were working so hard to get there. When it all comes down to deciding whether or not to retire in New Zealand, it’s important to consider what you’re getting in return for those costs.

Best Communities for Those Who Want to Retire in New Zealand
New Zealand is home to a plethora of communities for expats. Most countries have just one or two, sometimes three, cities that are widely known among expats and popularly chosen as new hometowns. New Zealand has closer to 10 of those. Let’s talk about two of the main ones for now.Consumer Resource Guide

Queenstown is the most popular expat destination in New Zealand. It is a town in the South Island, and like most of the rest of the country, it is known for its gorgeous landscapes. This town in particular has a heavy focus on mountains and lakes. It features outdoor activities all year long, to include some of the country’s best skiing in the winter. It has recently surpassed Auckland as the country’s most expensive city, so that’s something to watch out for.

Rotorua has a much different feel. It is a tourist hotspot, as is Queenstown, but it is also known for having year-round warm weather, so it’s a great destination for those avoiding winter. It’s located on the North Island in an easily accessible central location, where it’s only a 2.5 – 3-hour drive to most other cities.

Want more information about retiring in New Zealand? Contact us below:

Oops! We could not locate your form.

If you’re considering traveling or moving abroad, be sure to explore your healthcare options. Visit International Citizens Insurance to learn more and get a free quote.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
  • Asia

Residency Options in Japan

  • June 24, 2018
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
Next Article
  • Asia

Things to Know Before Starting to Look For a Job in Asia

  • March 1, 2019
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
You May Also Like
Tunisia, North Africa - One of most affordable Countries to live
View Post
  • Plan B
The Most Affordable Countries to Live in 2025
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • July 30, 2025
View Post
  • Interviews
The House We Rebuilt in Georgia
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • July 28, 2025
Where old walls meet new beginnings, the €1 home story continues to unfold.
View Post
  • Field Notes
Inside Italy’s $1 Home Revolution
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • July 21, 2025
View Post
  • Interviews
Meet the Legal Strategist Guiding Portugal’s New Wave of Expats
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • July 19, 2025
Reduce Your Taxes by Moving Abroad
View Post
  • Plan B
Legally Reduce Your Taxes by Moving Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • July 16, 2025
Mauritius – One of the best Island to Live for Remote Workers and Retirees
View Post
  • Plan B
The Best Places to Begin Again
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • July 9, 2025
The first glimpse of possibility—abandoned, broken, waiting.
View Post
  • Field Notes
How an Abandoned House in Spain Changed Everything
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • July 7, 2025
best place to retire
View Post
  • Plan B
Retiring Abroad: Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 18, 2025
Trending Posts
  • The historic harbor blends Ottoman architecture with modern Mediterranean charm. 1
    • Cyprus
    Cyprus’s Forgotten North
    • July 25, 2025
  • Where old walls meet new beginnings, the €1 home story continues to unfold. 2
    • Field Notes
    Inside Italy’s $1 Home Revolution
    • July 21, 2025
  • 3
    • Interviews
    Meet the Legal Strategist Guiding Portugal’s New Wave of Expats
    • July 19, 2025
  • Tunisia, North Africa - One of most affordable Countries to live 4
    • Plan B
    The Most Affordable Countries to Live in 2025
    • July 30, 2025
  • 5
    • Interviews
    The House We Rebuilt in Georgia
    • July 28, 2025
Subscribe
Know Before You Go
  • Tunisia, North Africa - One of most affordable Countries to live 1
    • Plan B
    The Most Affordable Countries to Live in 2025
    • July 30, 2025
  • The historic harbor blends Ottoman architecture with modern Mediterranean charm. 2
    • Cyprus
    Cyprus’s Forgotten North
    • July 25, 2025
  • Mauritius – One of the best Island to Live for Remote Workers and Retirees 3
    • Plan B
    The Best Places to Begin Again
    • July 9, 2025
  • The True Cost of Leaving America 4
    • Interviews
    The True Cost of Leaving America
    • June 25, 2025
  • 5
    • Africa
    The New Africa Travel List for 2025
    • June 20, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/