How much does the average New Zealand household spend each week? Stats NZ collects detailed household expenditure every three years. The most recent release covers the year ended June 2023, and the figures below come from it, not from any later update. These figures are useful benchmarks for building your own budget.
The average NZ household spent $1,598 a week (about $6,900 a month) in the year ended June 2023. Housing and household utilities was the largest expenditure group, at 24.9% of average weekly spending ($398), in the year ended June 2023. Food was the second-largest, at 18.7% ($300).
Average Weekly Household Expenditure: Year Ended June 2023
Source: Stats NZ, household expenditure statistics for the year ended June 2023, with no adjustment for inflation.
| Expense category | Average weekly (NZD) | % of spending |
|---|---|---|
| Housing and household utilities | $398 | 24.9% |
| Food | $300 | 18.7% |
| Transport | $252 | 15.7% |
| Recreation and culture | About $133 | 8.3% |
| Health | $50 | About 3% |
| Education | $20 | 1.2% |
| Miscellaneous goods and services (includes insurance, personal care and credit services) | $139 | About 8.7% |
| Total | $1,598 | 100% |
The rows show selected groups, so they do not add up to the total.
These are averages across all household types — singles, couples, families. A single person in Auckland will spend very differently from a family of four in Christchurch.
Average Weekly Spending by Household Type
| Household type | Average weekly household expenditure |
|---|---|
| One-person household (any tenure) | $808 a week |
| Couple-only household (any tenure) | $1,611 a week |
| One parent with dependent child(ren) only | $1,115 a week |
Housing — The Dominant Expense
On average, housing and household utilities is the largest expenditure group. Stats NZ also reports average weekly payments for households that pay rent and for households with a mortgage:
| Situation | Typical weekly housing cost |
|---|---|
| Renting: average rent payments, households that pay rent (year ended June 2025) | $505.50 |
| Mortgage: average total mortgage payments, households with a mortgage (year ended June 2025) | $690.90 |
Stats NZ reports that in the year ended June 2025, New Zealand households spent an average of $22.30 of every $100 of disposable income on housing costs.
Food
Stats NZ puts average household food spending at $300 a week in the year ended June 2023. Woolworths NZ and Foodstuffs (New World and PAK’nSAVE) dominate NZ grocery retailing. The Commerce Commission’s 2022 grocery market study found that competition in the sector was not working well for consumers and that NZ retail grocery prices appeared comparatively high by international standards.
Costco is a membership warehouse with an Auckland warehouse.
See how to save on groceries NZ for practical tips.
Transport Costs in NZ
| Transport item | Average annual cost |
|---|---|
| Petrol (average household, year ended June 2023) | About $2,800 ($53.90 a week) |
See our true cost of owning a car NZ guide for car costs beyond petrol.
Utilities
Stats NZ reports utilities inside its housing and household utilities group, which averaged $398 a week in the year ended June 2023, so this page has no separate figure for power, internet or phone.
How Does Your Spending Compare?
To build your own budget and compare against NZ averages:
- Download your bank statements for the past 3 months
- Categorise spending by the categories above
- Divide by 3 to get a monthly average
- Compare to the household type benchmarks
Budget tools:
- NZ Budget Calculator — build your full monthly budget
- Savings Rate Calculator — see what % you’re saving
If you’re spending more than the benchmarks in any category, our how to budget NZ guide covers practical reduction strategies.