The cost of fresh fish is increasing, with a 9.2% rise in the last five years.

Statistics New Zealand has compiled a list of the most expensive, and the cheapest, fish available in New Zealand.

At the top is snapper - the most expensive commonly available fresh fish - averaging $38 a kilo.

Blue cod sits at $37.58 - on average $21 more per kilo than red cod.

Hoki is the cheapest, averaging just over $13 a kilo.

The most commonly available fish in the consumers price index is salmon, tarakihi and gurnard.

National variation sees snapper readily available in the north, but scarce in the south.