Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

Funny you say that. Portugal was our first option, but with the language challenges we then thought NZ might be better for our daughter. Both are still on the cards. The cost of living is definately much more affordable in Portugal. Both fab options.

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

I live in Ireland myself and we were considering buying something cheap in Portugal, but then bought land in Spain (Girona region) instead. For us it's more the 2nd home thought and easier and quicker to drive from France to Costa Brava + I just love the area. Of course language can be the big challenge elsewhere and I wouldn't recommend to everyone. Your case is different though and with an income earned remotely, it might be an option.

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

You have to look closely at the demographic of the other folks living in the more 'affordable' places. Often its a self-fulfilling prophecy and the housing is affordable because nobody else wants to live there; usually because there is no work and that in turn drives a whole raft of issues which surround unemployment, poverty, crime etc.

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

Then again crime also happens where employment is high and poverty can be worse in and around cities that would be classed wealthy. If property is affordable and there is no work, might also mean that only people move there who don't have to rely on work, so it could be a desirable place:-)

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

Except we're talking about NZ; there's really only a few small pockets and few streets with coastal views and such like that would be truly classed as wealthy and few of us could afford to live there. To afford a regular / modest home in most of NZs larger towns and city fringes would require a budget of 2 or 3 times what they currently have.

The places that fit your description would likely be holiday type places and generally within striking distance of larger centres such as Whangarei Heads, Coromandel or Waiheke Island where city people retire to or have second homes that make then desirable during summertime but can be dead holes in the winter time or choked with campervans, people and traffic during holiday times.

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

Thank you Moses
there are some of us who are sick and tired of the nonsense and attitudes that goes with living among the Joneses
I and many I know have chosen to move away from "affluent" places to live of a simpler, less stressful life
I live in a very rural small town 100km in either direction to anywhere of a reasonable size
There's no crime where I live (2 incidents in 3 years), not much unemployment either and if you need something you just ask
and someone will help you out. Its a really old fashioned concept called community, it seems to diminish in the land of the ivory tower

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

Forget Kerikeri (or anything between that and Auckland) which is now a boom area. How about Golden Bay (west of Nelson) - great climate and community and I suspect prices reflect its semi - remoteness.

Re: Where to live for lovely low cost living
 

There seem to be some places in that price range in the central north island (Watch out for Taumarunui very remote) Also in Southland, people who live there seem to love it . Just put a top price in your chosen area in Real estate.co.nz and nothing else.