Compare countries · Australia vs New Zealand
Australia vs New Zealand
Australia(Oceania)·
New Zealand(Oceania)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Australia leads on 4, New Zealand on 6, 3 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Australia cheaper than New Zealand?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Australia at 67.9 and New Zealand at 60.3. New Zealand is about 11% cheaper overall.
Is Australia or New Zealand safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Australia scores 1.60 and New Zealand scores 1.34. New Zealand ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Australia or New Zealand?
On the UN Human Development Index, Australia scores 0.958 and New Zealand scores 0.938. Australia scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Australia compared to New Zealand?
GNI per capita runs $64,120 in Australia against $46,630 in New Zealand; people live 83.1 years on average against 82.0; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 68. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
67.9
Worse than 87% of countries
New Zealand
60.3
Worse than 81% of countries
New Zealand: 11% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
33.7
Worse than 92% of countries
New Zealand
26.2
Worse than 84% of countries
New Zealand: 22% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Australia
1.60
Better than 88% of countries
New Zealand
1.34
Better than 99% of countries
New Zealand: more peaceful (1.34 vs 1.60).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Australia
52.5
Worse than 57% of countries
New Zealand
51.2
Worse than 61% of countries
Australia: higher perceived safety (52.5 vs 51.2).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Australia
0.958
Better than 96% of countries
New Zealand
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
Australia: higher human development (0.958 vs 0.938).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Australia
$71,934
Better than 88% of countries
New Zealand
$57,350
Better than 81% of countries
Australia: 25% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Australia
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
New Zealand
82.0 yrs
Better than 84% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Australia
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
New Zealand
68.2
Better than 62% of countries
Australia: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 68.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Australia
157 Mbps
Better than 69% of countries
New Zealand
202 Mbps
Better than 78% of countries
New Zealand: 29% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Australia
75/100
Better than 81% of countries
New Zealand
77/100
Better than 87% of countries
New Zealand: freer press (77 vs 75 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Australia
6.92
Better than 90% of countries
New Zealand
7.00
Better than 92% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Australia
700
Better than 94% of countries
New Zealand
700
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Australia
91.9
Better than 80% of countries
New Zealand
97.2
Better than 95% of countries
New Zealand: more pleasant climate rating (97.2 vs 91.9).
Deciding between Australia and New Zealand for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Australia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full New Zealand profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.