Whangarei, New Zealand 🇳🇿
#1465
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
51%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to larger New Zealand cities; more affordable than Auckland or Wellington but still higher than many global cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
48%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but rising due to demand; more affordable than major urban centers but limited supply affects pricing.
🍎 Food & Groceries
62%
Weight: 40
Local produce is fresh and reasonably priced; imported goods can be expensive but overall grocery costs are manageable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
67%
Weight: 20
Public transport options are limited but affordable; many rely on personal vehicles or cycling.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
55%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are somewhat limited but affordable; local events and outdoor activities help keep costs down.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced, with several local gyms and fitness centers available.
💱 Currency Stability
89%
Weight: 30
New Zealand Dollar is stable with low volatility, backed by a strong economy and sound monetary policy.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Good broadband infrastructure with average speeds around 100 Mbps; reliable for remote work but not as fast as major cities.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
43%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces available; options exist but not abundant or highly developed.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
68%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi with decent connectivity, suitable for casual remote work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
59%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but overall scene is small and less specialized.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known digital nomad hotspot; relatively low community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
87%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on work-life balance with relaxed lifestyle and access to nature.
🌳 Environmental Quality
85%
Weight: 15
Clean environment with good air and water quality; surrounded by natural beauty.
🧼 Cleanliness
83%
Weight: 10
City is clean and well-maintained with low pollution levels.
🗨️ Language Barrier
96%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language, minimal language barrier for most digital nomads.
💨 Air Quality
88%
Weight: 15
Generally excellent air quality due to low industrial activity and coastal location.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
78%
Weight: 25
Good schools, parks, and family-oriented activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
81%
Weight: 20
Good quality public healthcare system with access to modern facilities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
65%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable for residents; private healthcare can be costly.
🏥 Healthcare
78%
Weight: 20
Reliable healthcare services available, though some specialists may require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
63%
Weight: 80
Mild oceanic climate with moderate rainfall; not overly hot but pleasant summers and cool winters.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional storms; generally manageable with good infrastructure.
🏞️ Green Spaces
90%
Weight: 10
Abundant parks, reserves, and proximity to beaches and forests.
❄️ Air Conditioning
42%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not common due to mild climate; may be a downside during warmer months.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
71%
Weight: 10
Distinct but mild seasons with moderate temperature variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
79%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution due to small city size and limited traffic.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Rich Maori and European cultural heritage with local festivals and arts.
🌃 Nightlife
40%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; more subdued compared to larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
94%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to hiking, beaches, and outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools; mostly English-speaking environment.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72%
Weight: 10
Good availability of local tours focusing on nature and Maori culture.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; more focus on outdoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
67%
Weight: 25
Good variety of local and international cuisine; seafood is a highlight.
🧠 Yoga Studios
58%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but not abundant.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
61%
Weight: 15
Adequate gyms and fitness centers, though options are limited compared to larger cities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good availability of fresh, organic, and health-conscious food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
34%
Weight: 20
Time zone (NZST) is far from Europe and Americas, challenging for synchronous work with those regions.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
41%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events; small local business community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
37%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
40%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but growing slowly.
🏢 Coworking Quality
45%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are basic but functional; lack of variety and amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
38%
Weight: 15
Limited startup ecosystem; most activity centered in Auckland and Wellington.
💳 Local Payment Services
73%
Weight: 10
Modern payment infrastructure with widespread use of contactless and mobile payments.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
52%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; regulatory environment is cautious but open.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Whangarei Airport offers limited domestic flights; nearest international airport is Auckland, about 2 hours away.
🚇 Public Transit
39%
Weight: 20
Public transit options are limited and infrequent; reliance on private transport is common.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
Central areas are walkable but city is spread out, limiting walkability overall.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
55%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing services like Uber are available but less prevalent than in major cities.
🚲 Cycling
70%
Weight: 10
Good cycling infrastructure and scenic routes; popular mode of transport for locals.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
53%
Weight: 15
Bus services connect to other cities but are infrequent; car travel preferred.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
47%
Weight: 10
Limited scooter rentals; some bike rental options available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong mobile coverage with 4G widely available; 5G coverage expanding.
🔒 VPN Reliability
85%
Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
58%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some cafes and public spaces but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
64%
Weight: 40
New Zealand offers various visa options but process can be bureaucratic and costly.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no capital gains tax but income tax can be high for some.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
92%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
90%
Weight: 20
Very stable political environment with transparent governance.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
68%
Weight: 15
Relatively straightforward for residents; non-residents face more requirements.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
70%
Weight: 10
Simple and efficient process for registering a business.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
20%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa as of 2025; standard work or visitor visas apply.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
45%
Weight: 50
Friendly locals and safe environment but limited infrastructure and community for nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
30%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events or meetups in the city.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
35%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads specific to Whangarei.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
84%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
80%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming environment for women travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
76%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant and multicultural society with ongoing efforts for inclusivity.