How much should I save each month?

The commonly cited rule in NZ is 20% of after-tax income toward savings and debt repayment (the 50/30/20 split). But housing costs in Auckland and Wellington mean many Kiwis realistically save 10-15% — start where you can and automate the transfer on payday.

What's the fastest way to save money in NZ?

Do a subscription audit first — most Kiwis have $50-150/month in recurring charges they've forgotten about. Next, check your power and internet providers against Powerswitch; switching often saves $200-400/year. Then automate savings on payday so it doesn't depend on willpower.

Can Steady help me save automatically?

Steady shows you your safe-to-spend amount, tracks progress on savings goals, and sends alerts when you're close to overspending. Because NZ banks don't yet support automated bank-to-bank transfers through Akahu, actual money movement still happens in your bank app — but Steady tells you exactly when and how much.

Back to blog

Tips21 June 20268 min read

Best Broadband NZ 2026: Cheapest Fibre Plans Compared

What should you pay for broadband in NZ in 2026? Average fibre prices, the cheapest plans, the 2026 price rises to watch, and how to switch and save — without dropping your speed.

Best broadband NZ — warm illustration of a home router and wifi, NZ light

Know your Safe to Spend every week

Steady connects your bank and tracks it all automatically — no spreadsheets. Join the waitlist for early access.

Kia ora. Broadband is one of those bills most Kiwis set once and never look at again — which is exactly why so many overpay. Here's what fibre actually costs in 2026, the cheapest plans, and how to switch in ten minutes.

Average broadband cost in NZ (2026)

Entry-level fibre runs under $60/month, with the cheapest mainstream plans around $55–$65/month for 100/20 Mbps. Mid and high speeds:

Speed tier	Typical price (2026)
100/20 Mbps (basic fibre)	$55–$70/month
300–500 Mbps (mid)	$80–$90/month
900 Mbps+ (max fibre)	$90–$110/month

For most households, 100–300 Mbps is plenty — you're usually paying for headroom you never use.

Watch the 2026 price rises

Several providers (One NZ, Spark, Mercury, Orcon) pushed prices up in 2026 — most commonly +$5/month. If your bill crept up without you noticing, that's why. A price rise is the perfect trigger to compare and switch.

Steady tip: Bills like broadband creep up quietly. Steady flags your recurring payments from your bank feed so a sneaky $5 rise doesn't slide past for a year. Join the waitlist for early access.

How to get the best deal

Compare on Broadband Compare or Glimp (free) — filter by your address and the speed you actually need, not the fastest.
Check for sign-up credits — new-customer deals (free months, gift cards) often beat a slightly lower monthly rate over a year.
Don't over-buy speed — gigabit is great marketing, but 100–300 Mbps handles streaming, video calls, and gaming for most homes.
Switching is easy — no downtime in most cases; the new provider handles the changeover.

The bottom line

Good fibre in NZ should cost you $55–$90/month depending on speed. If you're paying more than that — or got hit by a 2026 price rise — compare plans and switch. Ten minutes, often $60–$120/year saved.

Steady tip: Broadband, power, insurance, subscriptions — the quiet recurring bills are where the savings hide. Steady surfaces them all from your bank feed. Join the waitlist.

Written by Sam Wilson

Founder, Steady

Sam is a New Zealand founder building Steady — a personal finance app designed for Kiwis, integrated with every major NZ bank via Akahu. He writes about money, bank integrations, and what actually works for everyday New Zealanders.More about Sam