Living costs etc for NZ?
Discussion
Job market depend on what you do and where you want to live.
Pay is typicaly lower than what you'd get in the UK, housinf in the cities relative to income is high too, and high mortgage. If you can come over with some £ enough to have a small or no mortgage, or if two of you will work for OK wages (works out better tax wise) you should be fine.
Tho theres a difference(in affordability) between say living it large in the flash areas of Auckland with big cars & boats to a nice but not flash family home in an average Christchurch suburb.
You can get a starter home in New Brighton (pacific beach front property,almost!!) for $170k NZ, one of the cheapest areas in Christchurch... Same house in a flash area would be $400k+.
I'm on (with currect x rates) about the same as I was in the UK (in IT , which is doing OK here, chch, welly,auk), my wife is on about 2/3rds.
Pay is typicaly lower than what you'd get in the UK, housinf in the cities relative to income is high too, and high mortgage. If you can come over with some £ enough to have a small or no mortgage, or if two of you will work for OK wages (works out better tax wise) you should be fine.
Tho theres a difference(in affordability) between say living it large in the flash areas of Auckland with big cars & boats to a nice but not flash family home in an average Christchurch suburb.
You can get a starter home in New Brighton (pacific beach front property,almost!!) for $170k NZ, one of the cheapest areas in Christchurch... Same house in a flash area would be $400k+.
I'm on (with currect x rates) about the same as I was in the UK (in IT , which is doing OK here, chch, welly,auk), my wife is on about 2/3rds.
We have a lot of brit friends that have moved here and loving it. You have to decide what your going to give up and is it worth giving up, cause once your here you will miss it like mad. For example my neighbours whom I see a lot came from a nice area in UK, they are now mortgage free living in a modest five bedroom home with large built in swimming pool, boat the 4x4 for hunting etc you name it. She misses her parents badly and their closest friends which I know upsets her when we talk about them, I thinks shes getting better about it now though. On the whole though, they love the weather, beaches are awesome, plenty of space and loads to do. These guys are both employed in good jobs, they dont really need to work but they choose to. Kids are doing really well at the local intermidiate school. Most of the food they took for granted in UK you can pretty much get here now. i.e nice teas stuff like that. Its the little luxury things to consider which can add up.
Come out for an extended holiday and talk to as many brits here as possible. Its funny they arrive and most seem to stay, so thats saying something.
Come out for an extended holiday and talk to as many brits here as possible. Its funny they arrive and most seem to stay, so thats saying something.
If your serious its worth a look round here :
http://www.uk2nz.co.uk/forum/
Best moving to NZ forums, friendly people (me included:P)
Its a good move for most, but it does depend what your likely to miss.
'old' buildings, country pubs, football etc. Biggest is friends and family, especialy older rellies or young kids.
http://www.uk2nz.co.uk/forum/
Best moving to NZ forums, friendly people (me included:P)
Its a good move for most, but it does depend what your likely to miss.
'old' buildings, country pubs, football etc. Biggest is friends and family, especialy older rellies or young kids.
I totally agree with what has been said and you really should come out here for a nice long holiday. Having said this, try to look beyond the holiday mood and imagine what it'd be like to be actually working. Lots of people move to a country on the strength of a lovely holiday only to discover they have to go through or put up with the same issues in the new place as the place they were moving from. I know it sounds obvious but it's a very easy trap to fall into. Try and keep some money and/or property in the UK until you've been here a while just in case. I've known several people who've been here for a year or two and then suddenly decided it's not for them - events like a death in the family or a new baby can be a real test of your resolve.
No matter where you go you'll get homesick, miss people or be annoyed you can't buy something you've always been able to get. You'll adapt and appreciate the opportunities to enjoy things from home all the more when the opportunity arises - which reminds me, I've got the place to myself tonight and an unopened packet of Twiglets to attend to!
No matter where you go you'll get homesick, miss people or be annoyed you can't buy something you've always been able to get. You'll adapt and appreciate the opportunities to enjoy things from home all the more when the opportunity arises - which reminds me, I've got the place to myself tonight and an unopened packet of Twiglets to attend to!
Food is comparable in price, some things cheaper, some more expensive. I think the quality and freshness is far better in NZ. There is nothing I will miss food wise when I return.
Electrical goods/Computers seem equal too, I've notice massive drops in LCD TV prices in NZ - now much cheaper than the UK.
I earn 3 times what my brother does back in NZ - they seem to have a much better lifestyle. (that's not a comparison of salaries btw, just a statement on the fact low incomes in NZ still mean a good lifestyle - high incomes mean an awesome lifestyle)
Electrical goods/Computers seem equal too, I've notice massive drops in LCD TV prices in NZ - now much cheaper than the UK.
I earn 3 times what my brother does back in NZ - they seem to have a much better lifestyle. (that's not a comparison of salaries btw, just a statement on the fact low incomes in NZ still mean a good lifestyle - high incomes mean an awesome lifestyle)
kiwisr said:
Food is comparable in price, some things cheaper, some more expensive. I think the quality and freshness is far better in NZ. There is nothing I will miss food wise when I return.
Electrical goods/Computers seem equal too, I've notice massive drops in LCD TV prices in NZ - now much cheaper than the UK.
Food is an odd one. Anything imported can get pricey , especialy fresh. If your used to everything, all year round, NZ will be a shock financialy, and sometimes you just cnt get x or y. When its in season here its good and cheap, so eat seasonaly and eat good.Electrical goods/Computers seem equal too, I've notice massive drops in LCD TV prices in NZ - now much cheaper than the UK.
As for imported electronics etc, price isnt too bad but mainly due to favorable exhange rates at the moment.
Also everything produced localy is priced somewhat against its export value (wine, fruit etc) especialy by the big distributors, if you get off the beaten track a little and trade with the smaller guys it works out a lot better.
Aha, my favourite subject !
Friends still in London cannot believe that I can even feed and clothe my kids on what I earn here compared with what I used to earn and waste every month in UK!
DON1, how old are you? What do you do? Whereabouts in Blighty are you? Kids?
What value would you put on clean air, wonderful fresh, tasty food, great people (mostly), good education for your kids (if any), lower crime rate, less traffic and ROOM !
I may be oversimplifying the decision but it was stuff like that that made me bite the bullet and pack my/our bags. Never regretted it once! Although my stomach is rumbling as someone mentioned Twiglets.
Perhaps I should be an ambassador for NZ, about the only thing I have ever had cause to complain about is some of the driving.
I have changed from a nasty, lazy, fat, alcoholic slob into a slimmer, active, mildly alcoholic, wonderful father just by getting out of the rate race known as London!
One thing I should mention as I feel my shirt stick to the Aloe Vera gel I had to apply earlier, the sun is rather strong here. 10 minute burn times are not uncommon so allow something from your weekly budget for some factor 30!
Friends still in London cannot believe that I can even feed and clothe my kids on what I earn here compared with what I used to earn and waste every month in UK!
DON1, how old are you? What do you do? Whereabouts in Blighty are you? Kids?
What value would you put on clean air, wonderful fresh, tasty food, great people (mostly), good education for your kids (if any), lower crime rate, less traffic and ROOM !
I may be oversimplifying the decision but it was stuff like that that made me bite the bullet and pack my/our bags. Never regretted it once! Although my stomach is rumbling as someone mentioned Twiglets.
Perhaps I should be an ambassador for NZ, about the only thing I have ever had cause to complain about is some of the driving.
I have changed from a nasty, lazy, fat, alcoholic slob into a slimmer, active, mildly alcoholic, wonderful father just by getting out of the rate race known as London!
One thing I should mention as I feel my shirt stick to the Aloe Vera gel I had to apply earlier, the sun is rather strong here. 10 minute burn times are not uncommon so allow something from your weekly budget for some factor 30!
talk is dumbed down so you can understand it! Yeah Twiglets are very weird. They're one of those foods that aren't really that delicious (and I really do like 'em) but they are just so damn moorish. They do divide opinion though - you either love 'em or hate 'em - my wife hates them, my kids love 'em, the dog will eat 'em reluctantly and the chooks think they're great - just the right shape for sliding down.*
On the plus side they are higher in fibre and lower in fat than any crisp (or chippie).
Our regular food parcels from home usually keep us topped-up with Walkers crisps, hula-hoops, Wheat-crunchies and Marks & Sparks biscuits so I can't complain. I just place an order and it magically arrives a week or two later (aren't parents great?).
* Only stale or dirty dropped ones are squandered on the dog and chooks.
On the plus side they are higher in fibre and lower in fat than any crisp (or chippie).
Our regular food parcels from home usually keep us topped-up with Walkers crisps, hula-hoops, Wheat-crunchies and Marks & Sparks biscuits so I can't complain. I just place an order and it magically arrives a week or two later (aren't parents great?).
* Only stale or dirty dropped ones are squandered on the dog and chooks.
RobDickinson said:
kiwisr said:
F
Food is an odd one. Anything imported can get pricey , especialy fresh. If your used to everything, all year round, NZ will be a shock financialy, and sometimes you just cnt get x or y. When its in season here its good and cheap, so eat seasonaly and eat good.
As for imported electronics etc, price isnt too bad but mainly due to favorable exhange rates at the moment.
Also everything produced localy is priced somewhat against its export value (wine, fruit etc) especialy by the big distributors, if you get off the beaten track a little and trade with the smaller guys it works out a lot better.
Arguably, eating seasonably is the much better thing to do and is more sustainable. There is even a movement in the UK towards more seasonal foods as well, along with the whole organic and ethically reared thing.Food is an odd one. Anything imported can get pricey , especialy fresh. If your used to everything, all year round, NZ will be a shock financialy, and sometimes you just cnt get x or y. When its in season here its good and cheap, so eat seasonaly and eat good.
As for imported electronics etc, price isnt too bad but mainly due to favorable exhange rates at the moment.
Also everything produced localy is priced somewhat against its export value (wine, fruit etc) especialy by the big distributors, if you get off the beaten track a little and trade with the smaller guys it works out a lot better.
My Panasonic LCD cost me £649, it's still around that price, even on the web it only gets to £575 (+shipping). Yet the same model in NZ is urrently available for $1189 (£468). Six months ago they were $2000+
I don't find wine to be too bad in NZ, and you can even buy it cheaper than in the UK/Europe. Foodtown often have specials on Piper or Moet for example and it is cheaper than I have seen it in the UK.
I'm rather bullish about drinking wine from NZ whilst in NZ - I think NZ produces fabulous wines. I also thought they were very cheap until I stayed with my mate in France a couple of years ago - a good bottle (prob' equiv to a $15-20 bottle of NZ wine) was 70p to 1 pound in his local supermarket! That's just outrageous.
We're very lucky living in a more rural location as we have a market garden shop just around the corner - they grow most of their veggies on site and the ones they don't grow are brought in from local producers so in terms of being as carbon neutral as possible you won't get much better. They're also a damn site cheaper than the supermarkets and better quality too.
We're very lucky living in a more rural location as we have a market garden shop just around the corner - they grow most of their veggies on site and the ones they don't grow are brought in from local producers so in terms of being as carbon neutral as possible you won't get much better. They're also a damn site cheaper than the supermarkets and better quality too.
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