Has your pay kept up? See what it's really costing you.
Prices in New Zealand rose 15% in the four years to September 2026. If your pay hasn't moved with them, you're taking home less than you think. Put in your salary and see the real dollar gap, using official Stats NZ figures. Nothing is saved or sent.
Your pay check
What has rising prices cost you?
Use your salary before tax. If you're paid hourly, multiply your rate by your usual hours a year.
Your pay is worth less by
Your salary, side by side
That's like working – a year for free
In the supermarket, that's – a week. Every week, like losing:
Average NZ prices, September 2026: milk $5.05, butter $7.62, eggs $8.37 (Stats NZ, selected price indexes). Over a year, that's – bottles of milk.
- That's, every week–
- Prices have risen since then–
- Salary that would buy the same as before–
- Rise needed to get back to even–
- Your offered rise still leaves you short by–
What this means
Worth knowing
Average pay rates in New Zealand rose 2.0% in the year to June 2026, below inflation, so plenty of people are in the same spot. A pay rise that just matches inflation isn't really a rise. It keeps you where you were.
Every role and employer is different, and pay is about more than inflation: your market rate, your results and timing all matter. If you're planning a pay conversation, it's worth talking it through first. Book a free 20-minute call →
Uses Stats NZ consumers price index (CPI) annual changes to each September quarter, compounded. Figures are before tax and a guide only: your own costs may have risen faster or slower than the average household's.
The numbers behind it
NZ prices and pay, at a glance
Updated each quarter when Stats NZ releases new figures. Next update: late January 2027.
Pay rates Salary and wage rates rose 2.0% in the year to June 2026 (Stats NZ, Labour Cost Index). The adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026 (Employment NZ).
Common questions
How much of a pay rise should I ask for in NZ?
At the very least, enough to match inflation, or your pay is going backwards. Prices rose 3.7% in the year to September 2026. Beyond that, your market rate and the value you've added matter more. The offer and negotiation planner helps you work out a number and how to say it.
Is inflation the same for everyone?
No. The CPI tracks an average household. If you rent, have a long commute or a young family, your costs may have risen faster. Treat the result as a starting point, not an exact figure.
Why is this before tax?
Pay rises are negotiated on your before-tax salary, so that's the number that matters in the conversation. Your take-home difference will be smaller, depending on your tax rate.
Where do the numbers come from?
Stats NZ's consumers price index and labour cost index, linked above. We update them each quarter.
Pay talk coming up? Practise it with someone who sets salaries.
Twenty minutes, free. We'll work out three things:
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