Compare countries · New Zealand vs United States
New Zealand vs United States
New Zealand(Oceania)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: New Zealand leads on 6, United States on 2, 4 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is New Zealand cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts New Zealand at 60.3 and United States at 68.8. New Zealand is about 12% cheaper overall.
Which has the higher quality of life, New Zealand or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, New Zealand scores 0.938 and United States scores 0.938. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in New Zealand compared to United States?
GNI per capita runs $46,630 in New Zealand against $88,810 in United States; people live 82.0 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 68 against 67. 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)
New Zealand
60.3
Worse than 81% of countries
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
New Zealand: 12% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
New Zealand
26.2
Worse than 84% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
New Zealand: 36% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
New Zealand
51.2
Worse than 61% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
New Zealand
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
New Zealand
$57,350
Better than 81% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 57% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
New Zealand
82.0 yrs
Better than 84% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
New Zealand: 3.1 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
New Zealand
68.2
Better than 62% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
New Zealand
202 Mbps
Better than 78% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 53% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
New Zealand
77/100
Better than 87% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
New Zealand: freer press (77 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
New Zealand
7.00
Better than 92% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
New Zealand: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.00 vs 6.82).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
New Zealand
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
New Zealand
97.2
Better than 95% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
New Zealand: more pleasant climate rating (97.2 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between New Zealand and United States 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 New Zealand profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.