I want to guage cost of living for a month...
 

Hi BE's,

I wonder if anyone local can help me with this..

I will be relocating to an Auckland suburb (in approx. 4-6mths) I'm trying to forecast monthly outgoings, but am really guessing - all i know is its expensive! - but how expensive is the question. So there will be me, the wife and our baby daughter + a dog! I want to get as close as poss to all monthly outgoings in NZ - to best negotiate my contract terms!! :thumbsup:
I will put down my (very rough, but over) estimates and please tell me if you think i'm way over, or under.

To kick off: (all monthly and in NZD)
Rental Property - $2000
Shopping bill - $1000
All Utility bills - $1000
Phone line & Broadband - $100
Socialising - $500
Unknown/Unforeseen bills - $400

If I've missed anything please say. Just to add though I will be getting a company vehicle and all fuel paid for, hence no accounting for that. Private healthcare will also be provided by the company.

Cheers guys, any guidance will be welcomed! :cool:

Phil

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

I'd double the broadband/phone costs. We pay $175 a month roughly for phone, 40gb broadband cap, call minder and a couple of other things. By the time we've made calls, etc. It rarely comes in under $200.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Thanks for that. Do you get any international call costs in that phone deal? Any idea what to budget for utility on top of rent a month as an estimate? Electric, water, etc... do they use gas over there too?

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Hi Phil,

Rent sounds about right, but will vary wildly depending on whereabouts in Auckland you want to live. Think you are way over for utility bills... About half that would be about more realistic...we live in a big house and never go anywhere near that amount.

Probably need to allow more for phone and broadband...we pay $80 a month for 40gb and phone, free calls for first hr on all calls to UK but all other calls on top of that.

Other amounts sound about right but depends on what you buy and like I said, where you want to live!

Good luck!

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Thanks, brilliant stuff appreciate the info.

Phil.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Yeah your utility estimation is way over. We (wife n I) pay roughly $140 a month for electricity and we've not had to pay for water yet. The account was $80 in credit 8 months ago from the previous tennents and I think it's still in credit.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

You may have done this already, but see if you can negotiate a free trip home in the first year.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

I guess you're not planning on being too strapped for cash if you can throw in $500 per month for socialising. :rofl:

Car or other transport for the mrs?
Petrol?
WOF $90 pa,
Road Tax depends on car,
Car Servicing $200 + per year
Insurances: car and house contents.
Phone & BB at least $120 to $150
Mobile Phones ?
Electricity $120 summer up to $250 in winter
Water meter - maybe $80 per year depends on rental arrangements.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Wow that seems expensive - I use Telecom $105 per month and Skype $8 for all International and non local calls. Telecom gives us Broadband @ 40GB so it can be done cheaper if you want to use a couple of providers. Orcom is even cheaper $75 per month but if you have a house alarm it is useless as you need a fixed line.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Your food bill is very high! Although maybe it does cost around 500 quid a month to feed 2 adults,a child and a dog... For the 2 of us we pay no more than $230-240 a fortnight on food (and we get a lot more for that than we used to in the UK - lots of fresh meat etc).

Good luck with the move.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

We spend around $100-120 per week on food for the two of us. It all depends on what your wants and needs are.
We spend $1000 a month on all bills [excluding rent or mortgage], food and going out. This is the joint outlay, we pay for our own cars and petrol.
We live in Chch, I could list how much we pay on bills but you're moving to Auckland so it may not be relevant. We also tend to cook from scratch and maybe drink 1-2 bottles of wine a week [all me!]

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Yep for my self , hubby ,son and dog We spend about £90-£110 per week depends if toiletries are needed that week to the cost. TBH thats only with 2 bottle's of wine in the trolley(nz white of course):-)......Then there is our socialising on top of that which is any where between £50 to £100 per week usually though it is the upper end of that .. God no wonder we r skint lol.....

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

You do that in Hampshire?

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

Confused Bevs.... :blink:

At home.. we'd typically spend a similar amount but wouldn't get as much fresh meat etc as we do here in NZ.

Alcohol was cheaper though, but we drink significantly less here so I guess it balances out.

Re: I want to gauge cost of living for a month...
 

You say you are in Hampshire. :blink:

"Fresh" meat is available everywhere though. I would prefer organic but it's way beyond us here .

I'm in awe of this. What is in the shopping list please?