How much do groceries cost in New Zealand?

We are regularly asked about the cost of living in New Zealand, and one of the ways you can compare is to look at the cost of groceries. Items that may be a staple in your country could be disproportionately expensive in New Zealand due to availability, whereas others are disproportionately cheap. To save costs, many migrants change their shopping habits to reflect what is available and priced within their budget.

Many Kiwi’s grow their own vegetables, and it is quite common to visit the butchers, fishmongers and supermarkets separately, using freezers to store cuts of meat and fish.

This table shows a cost comparison of groceries for British Pounds, American Dollars, Canadian Dollars and South African Rand.

Prices updated 2023.

   
        
        NZD
        GBP
        USD
        CAD
        ZAR
        

    Source
    Countdown
    Sainsburys
    Walmart
     Metro
     Picknpay
    
Milk (2L/4 Pints)  
     3.81
     1.55
     2.14
     5.29
     34.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        3.18
        3.43
        6.42
        3.19
        
White Bread Loaf  
     3.90
     1.20
     1.46
     3.59
     18.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        2.46
        2.34
        4.36
        1.73
        
Eggs 12p (free range)  
     10.90
     2.85
     5.16
     4.99
     35.98
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        5.84
        8.27
        6.05
        3.28
        
Butter (500g)  
     5.30
     3.25
     5.77
     7.14
     74.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        6.66
        9.25
        8.66
        6.84
        
Tea bags (100pk)  
     3.00
     1.25
     2.23
     8.32
     54.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        2.56
        3.58
        10.10
        5.02
        
Penne Pasta (500g)  
     1.50
     0.95
     3.11
     1.38
     22.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        1.95
        4.99
        1.67
        2.10
        
Olive Oil (1L)  
     12.50
     5.95
     3.57
     34.10
     179.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        12.19
        5.72
        41.38
        16.43
        
Apples 1kg (loose)  
     3.99
     2.00
     3.44
     6.17
     29.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        4.10
        5.52
        7.49
        2.74
        
Potato 1kg  
     4.49
     0.63
     1.70
     4.38
     21.66
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        1.29
        2.73
        5.11
        1.98
        
Lamb Leg Steaks (Fresh) (240g)  
     13.50
     3.80
     6.59
     16.71
     101.64
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        7.79
        10.56
        20.28
        9.28
        
Laundry Powder (1kg)  
     6.00
     2.30
     5.24
     5.78
     36.99
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        6.97
        8.40
        7.01
        3.38
        
Potato Chips / Crisps (150g)  
       1.90
2.50
     2.10
     4.79
     27.49
     
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        5.12
        3.37
        5.81
        2.51
        
Own-Region Sauvignon Blanc (750ml)  
     17.00
     11.29
     14.98
     18.49
     45.00
             
Approx NZD conversion:
        
        23.13
        24.01
        22.43
        4.11
        
  
     
     
     
     
     
             
Total:
        87.79
        39.52
        72.47
        121.13
        685.69
        
Total approx NZD conversion:
        87.79
        80.96
        116.16
        146.97
        62.51
        

Lydia WalkerJuly 26, 2023

	NZD	GBP	USD	CAD	ZAR
Source	Countdown	Sainsburys	Walmart	Metro	Picknpay
Milk (2L/4 Pints)	3.81	1.55	2.14	5.29	34.99
Approx NZD conversion:		3.18	3.43	6.42	3.19
White Bread Loaf	3.90	1.20	1.46	3.59	18.99
Approx NZD conversion:		2.46	2.34	4.36	1.73
Eggs 12p (free range)	10.90	2.85	5.16	4.99	35.98
Approx NZD conversion:		5.84	8.27	6.05	3.28
Butter (500g)	5.30	3.25	5.77	7.14	74.99
Approx NZD conversion:		6.66	9.25	8.66	6.84
Tea bags (100pk)	3.00	1.25	2.23	8.32	54.99
Approx NZD conversion:		2.56	3.58	10.10	5.02
Penne Pasta (500g)	1.50	0.95	3.11	1.38	22.99
Approx NZD conversion:		1.95	4.99	1.67	2.10
Olive Oil (1L)	12.50	5.95	3.57	34.10	179.99
Approx NZD conversion:		12.19	5.72	41.38	16.43
Apples 1kg (loose)	3.99	2.00	3.44	6.17	29.99
Approx NZD conversion:		4.10	5.52	7.49	2.74
Potato 1kg	4.49	0.63	1.70	4.38	21.66
Approx NZD conversion:		1.29	2.73	5.11	1.98
Lamb Leg Steaks (Fresh) (240g)	13.50	3.80	6.59	16.71	101.64
Approx NZD conversion:		7.79	10.56	20.28	9.28
Laundry Powder (1kg)	6.00	2.30	5.24	5.78	36.99
Approx NZD conversion:		6.97	8.40	7.01	3.38
Potato Chips / Crisps (150g)	1.90	2.50	2.10	4.79	27.49
Approx NZD conversion:		5.12	3.37	5.81	2.51
Own-Region Sauvignon Blanc (750ml)	17.00	11.29	14.98	18.49	45.00
Approx NZD conversion:		23.13	24.01	22.43	4.11

Total:	87.79	39.52	72.47	121.13	685.69
Total approx NZD conversion:	87.79	80.96	116.16	146.97	62.51