How much should I budget for groceries each month as a student in New Zealand?
Students in New Zealand typically spend around NZD 350 to 600 a month on groceries. Cooking at home keeps costs reasonable, whereas regular restaurant meals add up quickly, with an inexpensive restaurant meal costing roughly NZD 18 to 35. Weekly supermarket discounts can also help.
A typical monthly grocery budget for students in New Zealand is around NZD 350 to 600 (approx INR 18,904 to 32,406). Groceries stay reasonable if you cook at home, while eating out regularly pushes your spending up.
Common grocery prices
| Item | Average cost (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 litre) | 2.09 to 4.50 (approx INR 113 to 243) |
| Bread (500 g loaf) | 1.88 to 5.00 (approx INR 102 to 270) |
| White rice (1 kg) | 1.90 to 4.00 (approx INR 103 to 216) |
| Eggs (12, large) | 6.99 to 14.00 (approx INR 378 to 756) |
| Chicken fillets (1 kg) | 9 to 23.99 (approx INR 486 to 1,296) |
| Apples (1 kg) | 3 to 6.50 (approx INR 162 to 351) |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | 1.99 to 6.00 (approx INR 107 to 324) |
Eating out prices
- Inexpensive restaurant meal: NZD 18 to 35 (approx INR 972 to 1,890)
- Three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: NZD 90 to 170 (approx INR 4,861 to 9,182)
- Cappuccino: NZD 5 to 7 (approx INR 270 to 378)
My Advice
Cook most of your meals at home and use weekly supermarket discounts, as this is the simplest way to control your food costs. Keep restaurant meals for occasional outings. The figures are averages, so prices will differ by city and shop.
How much will a month in NZ cost you?
Rent, food and travel. A real monthly budget, city by city.
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