Let's put real numbers on a New Zealand degree. We'll use an approximate rate of NZD 1 = ₹53, the rupee rate moves, so treat all INR figures as indicative.
Volatile figures ahead. Tuition, living costs and exchange rates all change. Always confirm tuition on the specific university's fee page.
Tuition (per year)
| Level | NZD/year | Approx INR/year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 25,000-58,000+ | ~13.2L-30.7L |
| Master's | 26,000-58,000+ | ~13.8L-30.7L |
| MBA | 30,000-50,000 | ~15.9L-26.5L |
Top universities such as Auckland sit at the higher end. Engineering, medicine and lab-based sciences cost more than arts.
Living costs
The student visa asks you to prove NZD 20,000 per year (about ₹10.6L) for living costs. This is a visa minimum, not a realistic budget for Auckland or Wellington.
Realistically, budget roughly NZD 1,500-2,200/month (about ₹79,500-1,16,600) in the bigger cities, less in smaller towns like Dunedin. Rent is the biggest line item.
Total first-year estimate: Tuition + ~NZD 20,000-26,000 living = often NZD 50,000-80,000+ (roughly ₹26L-42L) before flights, insurance and the visa fee.
One-off costs to remember
Visa fee (broadly NZD 430-850 incl. levies), health insurance, flights, and an establishment buffer for deposits and setup.
For a personalised, honest budget sanity-check, speak to a mentor who has actually paid these bills.