12 Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand

Have you ever dreamed of living in the destination of your dreams, even for just a year? You spin the globe and your finger lands on a tiny island in the South Pacific, nestled off the east coast of Australia. And it just so happens that this island continues to be one of the best and most beautiful places to spend a gap year (or months, perhaps?).

New Zealand has one of the highest populations of immigrants, for good reason. It bursts with surreal natural beauty and a high quality of life, while also being one of the safest countries in the world. It’s filled with endless adventure opportunities, indigenous Maori culture, a world champion rugby team, and epic natural phenomena.

Moving abroad is a big deal. While spending a gap year in New Zealand is a truly wonderful idea, it’s still a massive transition and should not be taken lightly. It’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages to gauge whether or not it’s the right fit for you.

What are the drawbacks? What are the benefits? Is this really the right place for you? Here you’ll find the pros and cons of living in New Zealand, so you can feel confident in your next big move.

Why move to New Zealand?

What are the main reasons to move to New Zealand? Despite its size, this tiny country has a lot to offer, from incredible nature and delicious food to one-of-a-kind opportunities. Here are just a few of the benefits of living in New Zealand.

1. The landscape is unreal.

Beauty awaits around every corner!

One of the main reasons to move here is the natural beauty. Both the North and South Islands boast epic and contrasting scenery. Dense rainforest, snow-capped mountains, icy glaciers, epic fjords, and rugged coastline are just a few of the sights you’ll see. The landscape is wild, untouched.

Not only is it beautiful, but also there are so many opportunities to get out into nature. From hiking, biking, fishing, camping, canyoning, skiing, bungee jumping, and road-tripping, you’ll never run out of opportunities for adventure.

2. It’s incredibly safe.

Unlike many other popular expat countries, one of the benefits of living in New Zealand is that it’s one of the safest countries in the world. It is ranked second on the Global Peace Index, boasting low crime rates and high religious tolerance, and comes in fourth place on the list of least corrupt places worldwide.

The roads are clean and safe, there is a zero-tolerance policy for guns, and you won’t find the deadly wildlife that is common in neighboring Australia. You’ll feel safe no matter where you go, no matter what time of day, whether you’re alone or not. What more could you ask for when settling into a new home in a brand new country?

3. The food culture is to die for.

Shout out to all seafood lovers! This is the place for you.

While there’s no doubt that New Zealand holds British influence in its gastronomy scene, the food culture boasts much more than just fish and chips and pub food. There is a strong influence from the South Pacific Islands, meaning you’ll find fresh seafood, abalone, oysters, and scallops on most menus.

The country keeps up with the trends too, so you’ll find a booming coffee culture, craft beer scene, and vegetarian and vegan restaurants to suit all tastes, as well as world-renowned wineries across both islands.

But most importantly, due to the island’s isolation from the rest of the world and high importation costs, most people eat local, fresh, and in season, bringing a whole new vision of farm-to-table.

4. There’s affordable healthcare.

One of the main reasons to move to New Zealand over other popular destinations is the policies in place that make wellbeing a priority. Unlike many other countries around the world, permanent residents receive the same rights as citizens, including the right to vote, to travel freely, to public education, and most importantly, to affordable healthcare.

They are able to keep healthcare simple and affordable, thanks to a government-subsidized system. Public hospitals are free, but you might need a little patience with the wait times. Even private visits usually cost just $75–$100, depending on the provider. Not only that, but medication prescriptions are also very affordable. Best of all, the quality of care is extremely high, which can be difficult to find in other countries with lower-cost healthcare systems.

5. It’s extremely laid-back.

Hakuna Matata may not be a Kiwi phrase, but it fits the lifestyle!

There’s no arguing that Kiwis, New Zealanders, are some of the most down-to-earth, genuine, funny, and welcoming people in the world. One of the benefits of living here is the ability to adopt the relaxed lifestyle that Kiwis embrace. To live in New Zealand means you don’t take life too seriously.

You have a healthy work-life balance that allows you plenty of time to relax and stay in tune with nature, spending time outdoors—whether you prefer days at the beach or finding inner peace at the top of a mountain. There’s less traffic and stress, it’s more quiet, and it’s easy to make friends in a place where you can smile and say “hello” to every person you meet.

6. It’s easy to get a work visa.

Saving every coin in your piggy bank for your big move abroad? Good on you! But if you'd like to top off your travel fund with a little extra spending money once you're there, you're in luck. One of the best perks of living in New Zealand is the working holiday visa, available to adventurers aged 18 to 30. There are only a handful of countries that offer working holiday visas and give you the opportunity to spend an extended time abroad with the ability to work and travel.

This means you can take a year to live life abroad, explore the country, make money, gain work experience, and dive into all the reasons to live in New Zealand before making a more permanent move.

Check out working holiday programs in NZ!

Are there any bad things about living in New Zealand?

Living in this beautiful country sounds pretty perfect, hey? Well, just as with any country around the world, there are both advantages and disadvantages of living there. It’s just as important to explore the cons about living in New Zealand so you can determine if making the move will suit your goals and lifestyle. So what are the disadvantages?

1. The sun and snow come in extremes.

Summer days are full of sunshine in New Zealand, but one of the bad things is its location right under a hole in the ozone. This means higher UV rays and an increased risk of sunburn and skin damage. In a country where most of your time will be spent outdoors, the risk increases that much more.

At the same time, winters offer the opposite extreme. The sun disappears and winters are dark and gray, yet many of the older housing structures are not built with sufficient insulation, meaning very cold days and even colder nights! If you’re considering moving to New Zealand, remember to pack the sunscreen, as well as the extra layers to protect you in every season.

2. It’s isolated from the rest of the world.

Did you know that New Zealand has more sheep than people?

There’s no doubt New Zealand is far away from the rest of the world. Living on a small island at the bottom of the globe means you’re bound to encounter limits when it comes to seeing the rest of the world.

To travel anywhere overseas means you’ll need to spend a lot of money on extremely long flights, and if you’re moving from the USA, it can be really expensive to visit your family and friends back home. If you’re expecting to continue a lifestyle as a world wanderer, it’s important to consider—is New Zealand too far removed from the rest of the world?

3. Life is quiet.

Many people are drawn to New Zealand because of its quiet, laid-back lifestyle, but this can also be one of the not-so-great things if you’re looking for hustle and bustle. Nightlife is quite limited, especially if you’re not in one of the main cities.

While bars and clubs do exist, finding a place to drink, dance, and party outside of Queenstown will be very difficult. If you despise the great outdoors and prefer live music, festivals, and clubbing, New Zealand may not be the best place to live abroad. The quiet is perfect for some, but it’s important to consider, “How quiet is too quiet?”

4. Dental care is expensive.

While New Zealand offers government-subsidized healthcare, dental care is not included. In fact, dental costs are extremely expensive for adults. Even the cost of an appointment alone is expensive, let alone the actual treatments. This means most of the population never goes to the dentist, especially those with lower and middle-class incomes.

5. The cost of living is high.

You’ll need some savings before your big move to New Zealand, but the views alone will be worth it!

Partly due to its isolation from the rest of the world, the cost of living in New Zealand is quite high compared to other popular destinations around the world. Many goods are imported from overseas, including food, electronics, and even clothing, meaning you will find much higher prices.

The cost of housing has also skyrocketed in recent years, with an influx of immigrants. In the major cities, you can expect to pay up to half of your income on rent. While the cost of living is still affordable if you’re working, your savings may be significantly lower than if you moved elsewhere.

Insurance? Finances? Accommodation? Ease the stress of settling into your life in New Zealand with these travel resources.

The reasons to move to New Zealand are hard to argue with, mate!

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” -Unknown

While there are both pros and cons, there’s no arguing that a move here can offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sure, there are bad things about living in New Zealand, but are they deal breakers? Only you can decide.

If you’re a down-to-earth adventure junkie who loves good food and government perks, then this quite possibly could be the destination of your dreams and the perfect place to call home. Are you ready to take the leap and live abroad in New Zealand?