Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
#1462
,
Nomad Score:
64%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to larger New Zealand cities like Auckland or Wellington, but still higher than many global cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable for New Zealand standards but can be high relative to local wages.
🍎 Food & Groceries
63%
Weight: 40
Grocery prices are moderate; local produce is fresh and accessible.
🚌 Transportation Cost
72%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; many rely on personal vehicles or cycling.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
60%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are modest but affordable; fewer high-end venues.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
68%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced with several local options.
💱 Currency Stability
89%
Weight: 30
New Zealand Dollar is stable with low volatility.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
75%
Weight: 100
Good broadband infrastructure with average speeds around 100 Mbps; reliable fiber connections available.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
51%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces compared to major cities; a few local hubs exist.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
62%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
38%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known digital nomad hotspot; quieter scene.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good coverage.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
87%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on work-life balance and outdoor lifestyle.
🌳 Environmental Quality
84%
Weight: 15
Clean environment with good air and water quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
86%
Weight: 10
City is well-maintained and clean.
🗨️ Language Barrier
98%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language, minimal barrier for English speakers.
💨 Air Quality
83%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality with low pollution levels.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
80%
Weight: 25
Good schools, parks, and family-oriented amenities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
89%
Weight: 20
High-quality public healthcare system.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private care can be costly.
🏥 Healthcare
87%
Weight: 20
Accessible and reliable healthcare services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
52%
Weight: 80
Temperate oceanic climate; mild summers and cool winters with moderate rainfall.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes; low risk of other disasters.
🏞️ Green Spaces
81%
Weight: 10
Numerous parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
43%
Weight: 15
Limited need for air conditioning due to mild climate; many homes and businesses lack AC.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
70%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with mild variation; no extreme weather.
🔊 Noise Pollution
78%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution; quiet residential areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
65%
Weight: 20
Small city with local cultural events; less diverse than larger NZ cities.
🌃 Nightlife
47%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; more subdued compared to bigger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
89%
Weight: 15
Close to natural attractions, parks, and hiking trails.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; mostly English-speaking environment.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
62%
Weight: 10
Some local tours and cultural experiences available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
55%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
63%
Weight: 25
Good local cafes and restaurants; limited international cuisine variety.
🧠 Yoga Studios
60%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but not abundant.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
67%
Weight: 15
Adequate gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
71%
Weight: 15
Good availability of fresh and organic produce.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
45%
Weight: 20
GMT+12; favorable for Asia-Pacific but challenging for Europe/Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
42%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from outside.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
48%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
53%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but limited in number and amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
45%
Weight: 15
Small startup ecosystem compared to major NZ cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
74%
Weight: 10
Good banking infrastructure with popular digital payment options.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
55%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; no major hubs.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Small regional airport with limited domestic flights; nearest major airport is Wellington.
🚇 Public Transit
48%
Weight: 20
Limited bus services; no trains or metro.
🚶 Walkability
73%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable with good pedestrian infrastructure.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
60%
Weight: 15
Uber and other services available but less prevalent than in larger cities.
🚲 Cycling
75%
Weight: 10
Good cycling infrastructure and bike-friendly city.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Bus and train services available but limited frequency.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Limited scooter rentals; some bike rental options.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage; 5G available in parts of the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
87%
Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
89%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some public areas and cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Standard New Zealand visa processes; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no special tax incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
95%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
92%
Weight: 20
Stable democratic government with low corruption.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
68%
Weight: 15
Reasonably straightforward for residents; some requirements for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
70%
Weight: 10
Relatively easy and quick process.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but lacks dedicated infrastructure and community.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
35%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence or forums specific to Palmerston North digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
88%
Weight: 100
Low crime rates and generally safe environment.
♀️ Female Friendly
85%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming for women travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
79%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant and multicultural community.