citybanklondon

Hello Folks,

As a ball park figure how much cash assets should new immigrants bring with them bearing in mind the cost of living ? I assume for Auckland more resources would be required but in places like Hamilton/ Chch for an initial period of 6 months how much should one have to feel secure for a family of 4 for things like:

Food
Utilities
Transport
kids schools
Rent
Internet/phone
other misc costs

If other members have had experience of this then please enlighten us especially those coming to NZ for the first time.... many thanjs

shocked kiwi

About the same amount of money as you would need for 6months in London. Groceries are more expensive in Nz as is internet.

citybanklondon

Thanks shocked kiwi (btw are you shocked due to the cost of living there?) anyhow it seems GBP 2500 x 6 or about NZ $ 28k should do for 6 months in that case and give us time to find jobs! cheers mate

old.sparkles

Don't forget to add on any extras like car purchase. We've been in Oz 3months and spent around that already and there's only 2 of us.

moonie2011

We have been here for a month and with car purchase (inc insurance etc), temp rental, permanent rental (bonds, rent up front, insurance, sky TV) food, school fees, school books, fuel, stuff you need but is in storage etc etc etc, the list goes on we have spent over $20,000 OUCH
There are 4 of us, 2 adults 2 kids

citybanklondon

old.sparkles-- was this spent whilst you were working or just from savings? or whilst looking for jobs, as surely if two people are working they will get by from their incomes, wont they, the reason I ask is that to budget initially for 6 months is a safe thing as we expect to be in work and earning within the 6 month period.

old.sparkles

I'm still job hunting - so this is from savings. If you have a job lined up already then obviously you wont need as much. (And the two is me and young spark )

MrsFychan

I really hope you are able to find work, I know a few people. some on here, who have been here over a year and are still unable to find work.

I think you need to be looking at the area you want to land, check out the rental costs, furnishing the rental, travel costs, insurance, money for Dr's, dentist, school fees, books, and then obviously the day to day running costs and then the days out fees etc. It does all depend on how you manage the money you do have but you do need to work out a realistic figure to be working to. IMHO the more the better

barnsleymat

$40k will just about be enough.

Rent, food and petrol will take nearly a grand a week and all the other living costs will be about another 500 a week. It ain't a cheap place to live unless you're willing to just get by like many have to.

citybanklondon

barnsleymat- that is a lot of money for 6 months and equates to about
GBP 4k/month, which is $8k NZD. Its the same problem as in the UK where average wage is GBP 20k and rent seems to consume 60% of peoples income and food 30% leaving too little for utilities and recreation/transport etc. Seems NZ and the UK have similar parameters as far as cost of living is concerned.

Assanah

You are moving from an expensive little island to an expensive, remote little island.

paddy234

I can't help but feel that most people on this entire New Zealand sub section who have moved from Britain feel it was a bad decision and regret it

BEVS

That's not the case at all. All that is being shown is that NZ is an expensive place to live. Most seem to settle into their new lives one way or another , regardless, of the COL here. I can't recall anyone regretting the move. Not even those that have moved on.

This is a 'costs' thread so people are bound to state it is not cheap to be here. Your post might make for a new thread and poll about your subject.
Good/bad decision
Regret/ No regret

Tom1983

NOT AT ALL

It's just part of the move

We bought over $10,000 with us and that survived us until first pay day. It was only till after first pay day did we then decide to get a car etc. We found a cheap place which didn't require much bond in the city centre but that was only short term due to Decembers rattle

helinuk

The cost of living has increased since we arrived 2007. Bring as much money as you can! (And bring all your furniture and white goods.) It depends on the lifestyle you want to have. Are you planning to buy a property? Go on holidays, buy a car? Eat out occasionally?

We have to budget carefully as my husband has not had engineering consultancy work for a year due to downturn, and I'm on a lowly T.A pittance of a hourly rate. I'm still glad we left UK but sometimes wonder if Australia would have been better for us work-wise where we would be earning a higher hourly rate and my UK qualifications are recognized .