The cost of Living in NZ?
Oct 15th 2011, 3:34 am
#46
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Joined: Dec 2010
Location: Wanganui, New Zealand
Posts: 240
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
It was still relatively expensive (especially food, clothing and electrical items) prior to all the volatilty with currencies. The high dollar should make the cost of imports cheaper but apart from the saturated flat screen TV market, we may as well say 'yeah right', whatever for all the difference it has made. Retail industry seems to take a far higher cut of the pie here.
Talking of pies, there's a 'fancy' new range of pies in the supermarket, who'd have believed some puff pastry and four bits of meat and some onions in gravy could cost $16.99
Talking of pies, there's a 'fancy' new range of pies in the supermarket, who'd have believed some puff pastry and four bits of meat and some onions in gravy could cost $16.99
Element Cafe in Wanganui won an award for it's very nice chicken, cranberry and pistachio pie. Take it from me, it's yummy. One of those individual pies, delicious. Plus a vegetarian stack and salad and one coffee cost $25 dollars. Not cheap, but lunch out is a treat.
Oct 15th 2011, 3:48 am
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: Wanganui, New Zealand
Posts: 240
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
We are better off with my husbands wage as he pays less tax here. But worse off as I am not working, been too busy sorting out the house. But quess I should start looking.
On the whole we are slightly better off here and my hubby does not have 1-2 or sometimes more commute to work each day.
)
On the whole we are slightly better off here and my hubby does not have 1-2 or sometimes more commute to work each day.
)
Can wholly agree with the above post (which I edited for reference) except for kids and dog as we have neither, that is how my husband and I live too. He now has a 15 minute walk to work, not an hour or more commute by train and tube. I'm still looking for work, have been since the end of June. Hoping my cv doesn't unravel until there's a gaping hole in my work history.
Oct 15th 2011, 8:37 am
#48
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
Mine had a blooming geat bunker in it by the time I eventually found a job, I just used to lie and say I had taken a break to explore NZ and settle in before looking for work; told them I been busy back and forth to the UK selling the house and buying a new one here etc. How I was taking my time to look for the right job to come along, when really any job would have done.
Oct 15th 2011, 5:00 pm
#49
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Joined: May 2007
Location: Western Sydney For Now
Posts: 434
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
You are correct (luvwelly) in what you have said.
Schools fees are 50 % (in some cases) less than we pay in the UK and in truth the NZ schools look to have far better facilities.
Other than that our investigations led us to conclude that the cost of living was higher than in the UK ,but standard of living (e.g.standard of housing/infrastructure) was appreciably lower - certainly in Auckland.
I suspect that Auckland was probably a special case and that as house prices are less in other parts of NZ that the cost/standard of living was closer to if not better than UK- but that is something,sadly, that we will probably never be able to confirm!
Schools fees are 50 % (in some cases) less than we pay in the UK and in truth the NZ schools look to have far better facilities.
Other than that our investigations led us to conclude that the cost of living was higher than in the UK ,but standard of living (e.g.standard of housing/infrastructure) was appreciably lower - certainly in Auckland.
I suspect that Auckland was probably a special case and that as house prices are less in other parts of NZ that the cost/standard of living was closer to if not better than UK- but that is something,sadly, that we will probably never be able to confirm!
With regards to cost of items there is certainly a cartel environment with NZ's geographic location used universally as an excuse. For instance I have looked at bringing in certain types of specialist sports equipment, in NZ it costs between $40 and $60 never less, in the UK not more than £10. The cost for me to buy it and import it is no more than $12!
A friend does a lot of shipping and apparently shipping charges are actually cheaper to NZ than Oz, something conveniently hidden.
Oct 15th 2011, 8:24 pm
#50
~^_^~
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Wellington
Posts: 287
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
I've just been trying to discuss the whole cost of living / quality of life thing with my sister in the UK.
For us, we are so much better off here in NZ than we were in the UK so we haven't really noticed if the cost of living is more - we just know that we have more disposable income and have more savings, so the cost of living seems less (does that make sense?).
But I think we were probably in a different situation to most people on this forum....we lived in London for the last 6 years we were in the UK before that I was a full time student (ie poor). In the first couple of years in London I was in a training pharmacist or junior pharmacist position so earning next to nothing and pretty much no spare money - my partner was in a good job and so supported me. Together we got by, had the occasional weekend away (in the UK or across the channel) but we didn't really have much disposable income.
Then the last few years in London, when all the poop hit the fan in the financial world my partner was made redundant, couldn't get work, went on the dole and I was in a more senior pharmacist position. The tables had turned and I was supporting my partner. Again, not much spare money.
Don't get me wrong, we weren't living in poverty in any way at all, but didn't have much spare money and our lifestyle was very work focused (me with the job I had, my partner with trying to get a job).
It was at this point we decided to move to NZ - if my partner was going to have to completely rethink his career why not do it in NZ?
So for us, we are much better off here as I have a senior pharmacist position and OH has a good job - this is really the first time we have both been in good jobs with no debts (not counting mortgage) in our 11 year relationship.
Anyway, not sure how this helps anyone else, but I've written it now, so I'm gonna post it!!
For us, we are so much better off here in NZ than we were in the UK so we haven't really noticed if the cost of living is more - we just know that we have more disposable income and have more savings, so the cost of living seems less (does that make sense?).
But I think we were probably in a different situation to most people on this forum....we lived in London for the last 6 years we were in the UK before that I was a full time student (ie poor). In the first couple of years in London I was in a training pharmacist or junior pharmacist position so earning next to nothing and pretty much no spare money - my partner was in a good job and so supported me. Together we got by, had the occasional weekend away (in the UK or across the channel) but we didn't really have much disposable income.
Then the last few years in London, when all the poop hit the fan in the financial world my partner was made redundant, couldn't get work, went on the dole and I was in a more senior pharmacist position. The tables had turned and I was supporting my partner. Again, not much spare money.
Don't get me wrong, we weren't living in poverty in any way at all, but didn't have much spare money and our lifestyle was very work focused (me with the job I had, my partner with trying to get a job).
It was at this point we decided to move to NZ - if my partner was going to have to completely rethink his career why not do it in NZ?
So for us, we are much better off here as I have a senior pharmacist position and OH has a good job - this is really the first time we have both been in good jobs with no debts (not counting mortgage) in our 11 year relationship.
Anyway, not sure how this helps anyone else, but I've written it now, so I'm gonna post it!!
Oct 15th 2011, 9:32 pm
#51
---
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,994
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
Had we moved to NZ my wife would have been paid around $170k.However,even on that salary, we would have to accept a greatly reduced standard of living in NZ once housing costs (in Auckland) were taken into account and as someone else has posted "you can't eat the beach"!
In summary my wife was of the view that the cost of living in NZ (certainly in Auckland) now outweighs the standard of living and would make any move uneconomic for us - even if we both worked.
In summary my wife was of the view that the cost of living in NZ (certainly in Auckland) now outweighs the standard of living and would make any move uneconomic for us - even if we both worked.
We live in a rural area in the UK and so except for the beaches in NZ (which were fantastic) we would not gain to move.
I suppose the point I'm (badly) trying to make is simply that in our particlar case NZ would have proved to have been a low wage high cost country where we would not have gained from the move - financially or otherwise but that does not mean that NZ is not perfect for many other people.
I suppose the point I'm (badly) trying to make is simply that in our particlar case NZ would have proved to have been a low wage high cost country where we would not have gained from the move - financially or otherwise but that does not mean that NZ is not perfect for many other people.
Other than that our investigations led us to conclude that the cost of living was higher than in the UK ,but standard of living (e.g.standard of housing/infrastructure) was appreciably lower - certainly in Auckland.
I suspect that Auckland was probably a special case and that as house prices are less in other parts of NZ that the cost/standard of living was closer to if not better than UK- but that is something,sadly, that we will probably never be able to confirm!
I suspect that Auckland was probably a special case and that as house prices are less in other parts of NZ that the cost/standard of living was closer to if not better than UK- but that is something,sadly, that we will probably never be able to confirm!
I've said it before but I really do think that folk who find a happy home in NZ need to be well off enough not to struggle, but also once that qualifying hurdle is met they need to be looking for what New Zealand has to offer, rather than a 'shinier' version of Britain. If you don't know what that is then you need to do some research. If you've done some research and you still don't know what that is then it's fair to say Aotearoa probably isn't for you- no failing on either side, imo.
Have you had a look at Australia? It might suit you better
Oct 16th 2011, 12:35 am
#53
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,285
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
She means family size I expect such as the Love range which Moore Wilsons stocks. New World now have them occasionally too. They are very nice.
Oct 16th 2011, 5:58 pm
#54
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Location: Wales
Posts: 660
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
Hi all,
Thanks for all the replies and advice.
Lynn (my wife) and I are starting to get a good picture of the costs of living etc.
Regards,
Stephen
Thanks for all the replies and advice.
Lynn (my wife) and I are starting to get a good picture of the costs of living etc.
Regards,
Stephen
Oct 18th 2011, 3:31 pm
#55
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
I've just been trying to discuss the whole cost of living / quality of life thing with my sister in the UK.
For us, we are so much better off here in NZ than we were in the UK so we haven't really noticed if the cost of living is more - we just know that we have more disposable income and have more savings, so the cost of living seems less (does that make sense?).
But I think we were probably in a different situation to most people on this forum....we lived in London for the last 6 years we were in the UK before that I was a full time student (ie poor). In the first couple of years in London I was in a training pharmacist or junior pharmacist position so earning next to nothing and pretty much no spare money - my partner was in a good job and so supported me. Together we got by, had the occasional weekend away (in the UK or across the channel) but we didn't really have much disposable income.
Then the last few years in London, when all the poop hit the fan in the financial world my partner was made redundant, couldn't get work, went on the dole and I was in a more senior pharmacist position. The tables had turned and I was supporting my partner. Again, not much spare money.
Don't get me wrong, we weren't living in poverty in any way at all, but didn't have much spare money and our lifestyle was very work focused (me with the job I had, my partner with trying to get a job).
It was at this point we decided to move to NZ - if my partner was going to have to completely rethink his career why not do it in NZ?
So for us, we are much better off here as I have a senior pharmacist position and OH has a good job - this is really the first time we have both been in good jobs with no debts (not counting mortgage) in our 11 year relationship.
Anyway, not sure how this helps anyone else, but I've written it now, so I'm gonna post it!!
For us, we are so much better off here in NZ than we were in the UK so we haven't really noticed if the cost of living is more - we just know that we have more disposable income and have more savings, so the cost of living seems less (does that make sense?).
But I think we were probably in a different situation to most people on this forum....we lived in London for the last 6 years we were in the UK before that I was a full time student (ie poor). In the first couple of years in London I was in a training pharmacist or junior pharmacist position so earning next to nothing and pretty much no spare money - my partner was in a good job and so supported me. Together we got by, had the occasional weekend away (in the UK or across the channel) but we didn't really have much disposable income.
Then the last few years in London, when all the poop hit the fan in the financial world my partner was made redundant, couldn't get work, went on the dole and I was in a more senior pharmacist position. The tables had turned and I was supporting my partner. Again, not much spare money.
Don't get me wrong, we weren't living in poverty in any way at all, but didn't have much spare money and our lifestyle was very work focused (me with the job I had, my partner with trying to get a job).
It was at this point we decided to move to NZ - if my partner was going to have to completely rethink his career why not do it in NZ?
So for us, we are much better off here as I have a senior pharmacist position and OH has a good job - this is really the first time we have both been in good jobs with no debts (not counting mortgage) in our 11 year relationship.
Anyway, not sure how this helps anyone else, but I've written it now, so I'm gonna post it!!
Oct 18th 2011, 4:34 pm
#56
Life is what YOU make it.
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 3,312
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
Hi, I wonder if you got any idea how much is the salary of biomedical scientist in new zealand...I'm trying to gather info on how can I move to new zealand and possibilities on my profession if I can get a job in the hospital laboratory...any information is much appreciated. thanks!
Oct 23rd 2011, 7:11 am
#57
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 114
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
Hi all,
the family and I are finally decided that for various reasons we MUST leave the U.K. (BEFORE anyone asks, NO the police are not after us...)
In order to get sufficient points however I must get a job offer first but I feel, from research I have done and discussions with job agencies, that there is demand for my I.T. skills so hopefully this can be done.
What we are most worried about is a feeling that we are going to end up GREATLY financially worse off if we do move to NZ. Though our reasons for wanting to leave the UK are not particularly about the money and are in part about a change in life-style we do not, nonetheless, wish to have a worse lifestyle because we have spent all of our savings or because wages have not covered all necessary expenditures.
How do you all feel about wages v. the cost of living?
Stephen
the family and I are finally decided that for various reasons we MUST leave the U.K. (BEFORE anyone asks, NO the police are not after us...)
In order to get sufficient points however I must get a job offer first but I feel, from research I have done and discussions with job agencies, that there is demand for my I.T. skills so hopefully this can be done.
What we are most worried about is a feeling that we are going to end up GREATLY financially worse off if we do move to NZ. Though our reasons for wanting to leave the UK are not particularly about the money and are in part about a change in life-style we do not, nonetheless, wish to have a worse lifestyle because we have spent all of our savings or because wages have not covered all necessary expenditures.
How do you all feel about wages v. the cost of living?
Stephen
in nz: houses cheaper, mortgage rates higher, interest rates higher, car insurance cheaper, house insurance cheaper, running a car cheaper, no NHS, you pay for your own health insurance, food more expensive, wine more expensive, travel more expensive.
job wise: dont rely on it.
salaries: lower in NZ generally and in some cases higher in NZ
friendly people: dont rely on it
happy: dont rely on it
good scenery yes, fresh food yes,
culture - no
re the move: go to nz for a 2 year stint and that will give you a fair idea.
dont move all your money over!!
Last edited by tweetweet; Oct 23rd 2011 at 7:17 am.
Oct 23rd 2011, 4:20 pm
#58
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Location: Wales
Posts: 660
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
uk vs nz financially:
in nz: houses cheaper, mortgage rates higher, interest rates higher, car insurance cheaper, house insurance cheaper, running a car cheaper, no NHS, you pay for your own health insurance, food more expensive, wine more expensive, travel more expensive.
job wise: dont rely on it.
salaries: lower in NZ generally and in some cases higher in NZ
friendly people: dont rely on it
happy: dont rely on it
good scenery yes, fresh food yes,
culture - no
re the move: go to nz for a 2 year stint and that will give you a fair idea.
dont move all your money over!!
in nz: houses cheaper, mortgage rates higher, interest rates higher, car insurance cheaper, house insurance cheaper, running a car cheaper, no NHS, you pay for your own health insurance, food more expensive, wine more expensive, travel more expensive.
job wise: dont rely on it.
salaries: lower in NZ generally and in some cases higher in NZ
friendly people: dont rely on it
happy: dont rely on it
good scenery yes, fresh food yes,
culture - no
re the move: go to nz for a 2 year stint and that will give you a fair idea.
dont move all your money over!!
Thanks TweetTweet,
Which part of NZ are you based in?
Oct 24th 2011, 6:34 am
#59
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 114
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
it looks like you have been researching for over five years and have not left Pontypridd, South Wales. I would recommend a 2 year stint. That will give you the taste of working in a different country as well as an idea of whether you like that particular country. Try it, people globe trot all their lives - they are known as two year wonders and spend two years in each country.
try this site: http://www.goinglobal.com/
try this site: http://www.goinglobal.com/
Last edited by tweetweet; Oct 24th 2011 at 6:46 am.
Oct 27th 2011, 12:08 am
#60
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,298
Re: The cost of Living in NZ?
uk vs nz financially:
in nz: houses cheaper, mortgage rates higher, interest rates higher, car insurance cheaper, house insurance cheaper, running a car cheaper, no NHS, you pay for your own health insurance, food more expensive, wine more expensive, travel more expensive.
job wise: dont rely on it.
salaries: lower in NZ generally and in some cases higher in NZ
friendly people: dont rely on it
happy: dont rely on it
good scenery yes, fresh food yes,
culture - no
re the move: go to nz for a 2 year stint and that will give you a fair idea.
dont move all your money over!!
in nz: houses cheaper, mortgage rates higher, interest rates higher, car insurance cheaper, house insurance cheaper, running a car cheaper, no NHS, you pay for your own health insurance, food more expensive, wine more expensive, travel more expensive.
job wise: dont rely on it.
salaries: lower in NZ generally and in some cases higher in NZ
friendly people: dont rely on it
happy: dont rely on it
good scenery yes, fresh food yes,
culture - no
re the move: go to nz for a 2 year stint and that will give you a fair idea.
dont move all your money over!!