"Everyday" costs in NZ
Hello,
I just wanted to get a non-biased, insiders view of the everyday "costs" of living in New Zealand. By and large I want to avoid the argument of "you can't get PG Tips out here and the equivalent brand costs more and tastes rancid". I'm not bothered about that. I love a good food shop and in any case, my food needs are fairly simple, I make most stuff from scratch. My family and I are (supposedly) boring and don't eat a great deal of bread, sugary food, cereal, dairy, saving the naughty but nice stuff for meals out. I'm more likely to bake than I am to buy confectionary. I often hear the observation that food, in particular is more expensive in NZ. When I've visited, we're pretty much always staying with friends and family and always go on shopping trips to chip in and get some additional bits and pieces. I can honestly say that I never thought it was more expensive. So where does this oft quoted view come from? And if anyone does find it more expensive are these costs outweighed by other day to day/month to month expenses, such as; The NZ version of council tax, water rates, energy bills, petrol, home insurance, medical care, car insurance, the NZ version of an MOT, Sky TV ... anything else you might consider as a regular cost? Once weighed up, is it possible that in fact the "cost of living" in NZ is in fact negligible to the UK. I'm looking for your experience of actual cost, i.e. NOT relative to earning potential, etc, as all of the costs I mention don't take in to account earnings. Cheers, T |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
I,m of out to work but as a quick rule of thumb I would say our food shop is at least a third more expensive here
Neil |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
We have only been in NZ about eight weeks and have not as yet
stopped comparing prices, changing $'s to £'s in our mind. You cannot help yourself but we are trying. Not sure about the cost of running a house and all the associated bills but we do buy food and drink. (living with friends) Food generally is dearer than our UK Supermarkets and the choices limited. British products can be found at a premium. Items which are very dear are toms, mushrooms, fish, chicken and lamb. It is strange that we can buy NZ Lamb far cheaper in the UK. Forgot to mention cheese again expensive to what we were used to paying. Wine is dearer even the NZ brands, beer sometimes on par. Paint is, well don't go there buy a brick house not weatherboard why so dear who knows. (someone please tell) The Farmers Markets offers good fresh food and the beef joint for the Sunday Roast was a really good price very tasty also. Shop around as there are the reduced items. NZ is not the UK never has been and it never wants to be, so we have to accept the good with the not so good. We came for all the other reasons and are loving it here, the people have been great and the outside life is right up our street. |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Our weekly Pak n Save shop is about 25% more than our equivalent Tesco shop in the UK. That was a year ago and comparing against Tesco prices a year before that.
Since then we have all given up The Great Comparison so no idea (or personal interest), what the current difference is. |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Avoid Kiwi/Australian owned shops as much as possible and buy food at Asian groceries and prices will be OK.
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
I tend to eat simply too - no processed food etc. I used to shop at Waitrose and find the prices here about the same, but in the supermarkets the quality is not so good. However local fruit and veg shops and butchers are much better quality. Bear in mind that fruit and veg is seasonal so yes tomatoes are expensive right now because it's winter. Prices will be coming down soon to less than half what they are now. I grow my own however which is even cheaper!
I found generally costs are similar but I came from London which of course is pretty pricey. The problem is that wages are a lot lower. |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Originally Posted by Assanah
(Post 10227554)
Avoid Kiwi/Australian owned shops as much as possible and buy food at Asian groceries and prices will be OK.
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Originally Posted by higgy2
(Post 10227430)
Items which are very dear are toms, mushrooms,
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
We purchase food when we see its on offer and freeze.
Food and raw ingredients vary greatly in price, dependant on who has an offer on. For example fresh chicken fillets, these seem to range from $8.99 a kilo (on sale) all the way upto $23.99 a kilo a few days later in the same store (About 7gbp a kg in sainsburys). Picked up a pair of lambs legs a few weeks ago at $6.99 kg, on offer at new world for $9.99 today. Capsicum peppers as they are out of season are about $4 to $5 each (loose) used to be about 80p each or 3 pack for around 1.50gbp, I've seen fresh tomatoes at $18.99 a kilo recently, but in season were $1.99 a kilo at the local green grocers (used to pay about 2gbp a kilo in sainsburys). Whereas seasonal veg is pretty cheap now, 10kg of spuds $2.99 down the road, carrots 99 cents a kilo, onions 69cents. |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
This is useful, so far, but about food only.
Good to hear that veg is seasonal. OH hasn't mentioned this, perhaps I wasn't listening, either way, sounds cool. I like this. Getting inventive in the kitchen :thumbsup: In essence we eat a lot of lean meat, fish, eggs and veg. Sounds like a might be taking trips too couple of different supermarkets and investing in the chest freezer!! No one has really commented on the other regular costs of running a household and a car :confused: |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Petrol has just nudged up to $2.19 a litre again. :thumbdown:
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Originally Posted by Mark Smith
(Post 10227658)
Petrol has just nudged up to $2.19 a litre again. :thumbdown:
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
It had got down to $1.99 a few weeks ago, still there are always lots of petrol offers from the supermarkets.
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Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Originally Posted by Mark Smith
(Post 10227669)
It had got down to $1.99 a few weeks ago, still there are always lots of petrol offers from the supermarkets.
Also, are those specialist fruit and veg stores better for getting fresh produce over the supermarkets? |
Re: "Everyday" costs in NZ
Originally Posted by TommyLuck
(Post 10227673)
Also, are those specialist fruit and veg stores better for getting fresh produce over the supermarkets?
Here in Cambridge, I would say 100% YES. We have a great fruit and veg place and provided you avoid the bargain bins the produce is very fresh and cheaper. We buy milk, butter, cream and dried pulses from there too, as well as spices. But never canned goods, etc, cos they are much cheaper from Countdown. |
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