Wage Cost

Country comparison

New Zealand vs Australia

Compare average wages, historical trends and everyday price levels across two economies. A common wage-year frame and a visible United States = 100 price benchmark keep the view comparable.

All Countries
New Zealand$60,8962025 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 81.60 · 2024

Data reviewed: August 2026

Australia$72,0182025 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 92.70 · 2024

Data reviewed: August 2026

Compare average wages, historical trends and everyday price levels across two economies. A common wage-year frame and a visible United States = 100 price benchmark keep the view comparable.

Wage trend comparison

How Wages Have Changed

$76k$70k$63k$57k$51k20152025PPP-adjusted annual wage (USD)

USD PPP, constant 2025 prices · click a legend name to hide it; at least one line remains.

Price Level Comparison

Compare Everyday Price Levels

Compare eight consumer price categories using the United States benchmark of 100.

OverallAustralia +11.1
FoodNew Zealand +1.0
ClothingNew Zealand +6.7
HousingNew Zealand +13.2
HealthAustralia +41.3
TransportAustralia +7.3
RecreationAustralia +3.6
RestaurantsAustralia +12.0
New Zealand 81.60Australia 92.70
Overall
New Zealand 81.60
Australia 92.70
Difference Australia +11.10
Food
New Zealand 102.00
Australia 101.00
Difference New Zealand +1.00
Clothing
New Zealand 76.20
Australia 69.50
Difference New Zealand +6.70
Housing
New Zealand 105.00
Australia 91.80
Difference New Zealand +13.20
Health
New Zealand 45.60
Australia 86.90
Difference Australia +41.30
Transport
New Zealand 92.00
Australia 99.30
Difference Australia +7.30
Recreation
New Zealand 91.60
Australia 95.20
Difference Australia +3.60
Restaurants
New Zealand 103.00
Australia 115.00
Difference Australia +12.00

Key Differences

Understanding New Zealand and Australia

New Zealand records an lower 2025 PPP-adjusted annual wage than Australia, while both countries have overall price levels below the U.S. benchmark in 2024. The page keeps the arithmetic difference visible but does not turn it into a causal explanation or a living-standard judgement.

Wage Comparison

Australia shows the higher PPP-adjusted annual wage: $11,122 (18.3%) more than New Zealand. Over the latest reported year, both economies recorded positive one-year wage changes (+0.71% and +1.10%). The widest price category gap is Health at 41.3 index points, and both overall price levels sit below the U.S. benchmark of 100 in 2024. Wages are reported for 2025, while prices cover 2024; the two datasets are labelled separately.

Price Profile

Both overall price indices remain below the United States benchmark. Australia is marginally higher overall, while the largest category difference appears in Health, where Australia exceeds New Zealand by 41.3 index points. Each value remains relative to the United States = 100 benchmark.

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Data Notes

Wage data: 2025 common-year PPP-adjusted annual wages. Price data: 2022–2024, United States = 100. Missing values display – without zero fill, interpolation, or automatic year fallback.

Data reviewed: August 2026