sr71

That seems a bit low, mortgage stress is usually defined as spending above 30% of your gross income. (still a pretty rough guide, will obvious differ greatly on whether you earn $4,000 a month or $20,000)

kiwinow

I think that wage is an average wage, although generally in Wellington people earn a bit more and this is what allows them to live there. With another part time wage you'll find things easier, and with only one child you'll be OK, but you won't have a lot of spare. Many NZ'ers, especially in the cities, can't afford to live without two full time wages.

I worked in Wellington hospital and personally I wouldn't want to live in the surrounding area with kids and would travel a bit further. There is good public transport and people commute from the Hutt Valley and up as far as the Kapiti Coast to Waikanae for the better lifestyle and often cheaper housing.

I'm confused by the comment that Wellington is "remote". From what?
It's very central, it's a buzzing and beautiful city with loads of cultural happenings and a great choice of good schools.

Browner_

Remote from anything else apart from Wellington.
Its surrounded by sea on three sides.
North of Paraparam, a two hour drive gets you to nothing much at all apart from the Tararuas. Oh, Palmerston North I nearly forgot.

Compared to somewhere like, I dunno, Windsor, Wellington is very very remote IMO.

Plonk a city like Wellington where Lands End is in England and imagine living there, but with less towns and villages around.

Yeah there is a fair amount going on in Wellington, but after a while you realise that your opportunities to get out of it may be rather limited.

kiwinow

I guess you put your finger on the difference between UK and downunder, whether that be Oz or NZ - there are long travelling distances to anywhere.

Most NZ cities are 2 hours drive from the next large city, because that was a day's travel on a horse (I understand). Auckland is pretty isolated too in that case and which of those cities are the best to live in has been hotly debated. It depends what opportunities you want to make the most of.

Kiwiprincess

Much of New Zealand is remote. It's why even the small towns are (were) generally pretty self sufficient.

Apart from the Auckland spread, Tauranga and Hamilton, a lot of towns are pretty much 'separate' from the next.

It's probably a fair point for much of New Zealand!

luvwelly

Browner I totally agree - once here you are pretty much stuck until the next holiday when you take an internal flight to an even smaller NZ place or wait for it.... a holiday in Oz. Anywhere further afield and the time involved/cost of flights makes it prohibitive on average NZ wages.
If I have to be stuck somewhere in NZ for 11 months of the year...Wellington's where I'd choose and I have now visited lots of places on both islands.

Browner_

Exactly

zetland

Thank you all for your advice, esp Kiwiprincess. There is a general consensus that $55k isn't that good a wage for central Wellington!! Back to the drawing board..

sr71

But I absolutely love Aus and NZ for travel. I just don't see how anyone could get bored or frustrated.

luvwelly

Miss European cultural diversity..you know you cross the Channel and immediately know you are in France just from the architecture, likewise Germany etc etc need I go on.
Miss just being able to go to a different place within a short driving distance.

I'm happy enough but I can't imagine always being confined like this....and now I've spent in excess of two months touring NZ in depth over two summers....I do feel I've done a lot of NZ although will go back to favourite places - already have.

Oz despite the climate differences is just too similar and too hot for me to want to rush there regularly.

Month long trip back to UK is now planned and I really can't wait...even though a lot of relatives have been over to visit...I know it will quieten down now and hence I will feel the geographical isolation even more.

My OH's employer actually gives us an annual passage home but you don't want to take it every year because of the annual leave it eats up....I really think folk in the UK don't appreciate the isolation thing at all until they get here...it should be pointed out more I think. It's not finances that stops us travelling further afield, it's more the leave issue but on average NZ salaries, finances would make it difficult too...flights out are very expensive..especially if you have kids.

luvwelly

I didn't comment but I agree with that conclusion....would the equivalent of NZ55K be a good salary in UK? I doubt it....I really don't think the cost of living is that much cheaper here but many think the grass is greener.

sr71

Yes, that is hard but it's something that I've just had to accept, and really be grateful that I've done a lot more than most. Still do at least one longhaul a year but that will be Asia or the US. Hopefully Air NZ will be doing South America soon too. And all of those places are pretty much equidistant or further from the UK anyway.

zetland

I think the live further out option would make it much more viable, having looked a little at the 'trademe' website. And it doesn't seem that much of a cummute either - 17 odd miles from Plimmerton for example! Thanks for your advice. And the Pacn'Save tips!!

ukkiwi

How about negotiating the salary and what could your wife earn PT - $25k? That would give you a combined $80k+ and $4800+ a month to play with.

Charismatic

Even so...

In the country it wouldn't be such a problem but in Wellington NZ $55k doesn't go far . As a single bloke I lived in Wellington on just a little less when I first moved here nearly five years ago and even then it wasn't really a luxurious lifestyle.