@@ykook7000 better wages in Australia. Cheaper houses. NZ slowly catching up on wages but housing is bloody stupid. Basically, its alot easier in australia than NZ.
Maybe other factors play a role in the cost of things, trade agreements and regulations, politics etc. I've found that buying a Samsung product in NZ is cheaper than in Korea. By quite a bit! Which is crazy because its made in Korea. One reason NZ may not have as much of an abundance of designer goods is there isnt the demand. Most Kiwis don't value material items as much as other countries. From what I've seen travelling, people in NZ are far less likely to judge someone based on what they wear or have. It's more about who and how you are.
I think you're right about the lack of demand for designer goods. And I think Tall Poppy Syndrome plays into it as well. High-end products like that are a display of wealth that will make people quickly sour against you in NZ. In other countries, middle class people use designer goods to show off how successful they are and it's culturally accepted and expected, whereas in NZ, everyone will turn against you if you display too much wealth.
You are wrong. The reason Samsung is more expensive in Korea is because the Korean govt allows Invisible trade barriers to be put up, which make foreign imports more expensive. Local firms are then protected from foreign competition, and take advantage of this and fleece their own people.
@@Ccb88888 Apple seems to almost dominate the market and appears to be cheaper than Samsung in Korea. I've recently purchased Xiaomi products on coupang in Korea and they're alot cheaper than NZ. Maybe you're right, but from experience it doesn't seem to add up to that logic.
Great video! You make me dream haha As a Canadian(Montreal!) too, I could go on and on and about why I love NZ so much(so I'll try to keep it short haha). I lived in Auckland about 5 years ago for a while, but the company I worked for unfortunately closed, so long story short, I had to come back home. Not to sound too dramatic, but there's almost isn't a day that I don't think about NZ because I always wanted(and hope I will) to come back and live the rest of my life there. The people, the AIR(soooo true haha), the laid back feel, the beautiful scenery(Canada has some great scenery too, but come on...it doesn't compete since you basically have Canada on the South Island hahah), etc made me a happier person. I thought I wasn't a stressed person, being from Canada, but I found that I reallly was when I got in NZ haha It's not too political of a country(compared to Canada and the USA), work life balance is great, etc I saw a doctor once in 15 mins when I'm used to like 4+ hours...it was crazy to me haha If someone from Canada reads this, NZ is not that expensive to be honest in a way. You have to think that you pay way less taxes in NZ than in Canada on your salary, there aren't tips(which is a huge when you are used to that haha), taxes are included in the prices you see, etc etc I mean, it's not a cheap country, but I was more comfortable there than in Montreal overall. But Chantal, you are right, for some stuff like food and clothes, you have to look more to get better deals ;) Warehouse (the equivalent of Walmart or Zellers) had some great deals on shoes, shorts, t-shirts, etc To me, NZ always felt like Canada(or at least Quebec), but just a tad better ;) It's far, yes, but the more you get older, priorities change and I prefer to be in a country where people are laid back with a beautiful scenery everywhere. It's a little heaven on earth :) Kia Ora.
Was interesting to read your post. I’m a Kiwi living in Western Canada and looking forward to moving back in a year or two. I’m from Auckland, but I’ll probably move to Nelson - top of the South Island. It’s beautiful there and I already know it well.
I’m a kiwi who has lived in Quebec, love both Quebec and my home country. Don’t miss the snow though 🥶🥶🥶. Work life balance is very important here in NZ. Stressed workers are unproductive and a tired stressed worker equals work place accidents. Happy work place, happy home equals happy healthy people and a more productive economy.
Im a kiwi and have traveled extensivly around Asia and its always amazing how cheap it is overseas compared to here. Even expensive places like Japan. I appreciate having my own garden but actually I could never afford to buy it now. So grateful I bought it 20 years ago.
@@johnnyboy1586 I think its up to our government but they are pretty gutless when it comes to policy that would help houses prices drop or even stabilise
A very good summary! Christchurch and Dunedin houses are less expensive than Auckland and Wellington. As for where I live you can get a decent 3 bedroom house for 400 - 500k or maybe less. Our own cottage( with a good size garden) is worth about 300k and we love it
We're actually heading to Dunedin for the first time next week! Let us know if you have any recommendations. We're just looking at home exchange options now :-)
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders My fav suburbs of Dunedin are St Clair and Maori Hill. Visit Larnach Castle and Otago Peninsula, also Coast Road to Karitane is very scenic
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Dunedin is a great place. Wander around the Botanic Gardens and check out the Peter Pan statue there. Also, a wander around the University campus can be inspiring. Dunedin is a big Uni city. Hanging out at The Esplanade at the beach is nice too. I live in Timaru and love to visit there. Oh, the insulation in NZ housing has vastly improved over the last 15 years and the use of log burners or wood burners in NZ is common and produce the best heat for homes. Enjoy Dunedin!
By my calculations a family needs around $2600 per week to pay for an average lifestyle on the city fringe if renting. For most of the population both parents work and teenagers have part time jobs which unfortunately leaves very little time to spend in nature and visit national parks
My childhood in a nutshell. I mean Saturday was family time where we would go to the beach, market museum but home before 5 cos dads got work and have never been to any of these cool places you see on the internet due to not being able to get the same days off, pricing and travel. All the local stuff we got to do but enjoying the whole country was a "one day" thing we never did.
Well there are a lot of places one can live here in NZ, just like any country. We moved to the far North of the North Island. We were told work opportunities are limited, beware of the criminals etc etc.what a load of bull poos. There is plenty of work opportunities, every community has a bad element, housing is cheap and cost of living is dependant on what one is prepared to live with. Our off the grid home and block of land cost less than a small house section in a city centre. We no longer have a mortgage. Rates are less than half. We can grow fruit and vegetables year round. The kids enjoy a country lifestyle away from the internet, as internet is limited. Yes it can take up to an hour to drive to work but that’s a rarity, and not the norm if you lived in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. We actually have savings at the end of the month for the first time since leaving the big smoke. A lot of big companies who have branches in the smaller centres struggle to get good staff because of the closed thinking of many people who are not prepared to consider their options to living out of the cities.
@@libbysevicke-jones3160 this! I understand that alot of people moving to NZ end up in cities (we did too for a few years) but just being that little bit flexible can open so many doors. We currently live rural but for a few years we lived in Invercargill, on one income and could still buy a house on a 1/4 acre section in TOWN. Now we rent out our house, live rural on 1 income still and can still save $200 per week after our costs. Family of 5 by the way.
Thanks for the video, I've just been approached by a company from NZ to relocate and work there, your video and the link to the cost of living are great help.
I know. It’s hard to get used to when you come from a northern country that experience is -20 C. We have insulated windows and insulated everything to keep the cold out in the winter.
Thanks Shantal. Lots of valuable information. Heard many good things about NZ but have not visited yet. Definitely on the list. Cheers, Dan (Toronto). 😀👍🇨🇦
You would find the overall mentality very similar to Canada and similar systems when it comes to govt healthcare etc... but it's more laid back. Maybe like the East Coast of Canada.
Growing Up Without Borders I know what you mean Shantal, I grew up in Halifax and have only been in Toronto for about 9 years. . Will probably return to East coast someday. We all go home eventually. Dan. 👍
Big thick wooly socks in winter to cut down on power cost with heaters, rugby socks, norsewood wooly socks are the best, slippers or ugg boots. Or home made brown sheeps wool jerseys( wool jumpers) or the Canterbury rugby jerseys. Wooly hats/beanies. I grew up in Hawkesbay, worst place in summer if you have bad hayfever and forgot your tablets,meds. Oh what I miss now I'm in Australia, is fejoas and L&P fizzy drink. Anyhoo without writing a novel I'll leave it at that.
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like what it was like for me growing up in Canada when we heated a big house with a wood stove. Wool socks all the way. I’m sure you miss the feijoas they’re so delicious! 😋
Good morning. In terms of the average person looking for a rental, Wellington has the highest rental prices in NZ. And when you compare on Trade Me the prices Auckland and Wellington offer, Auckland is a bit more fairer. 2 bedroom decent rental averages $500/week and 1 bedroom/Studio decent rental averages $340/week. Some rentals in Wellington can even be as high as $700/week. Auckland is cheaper in terms of rent. With people moving out to the outer region suburbs to pay a little less but face longer commute times. Minimum Wage is $18.90/hr. Australia's minimum wage is AU$19.84/hr (NZ$21.27/hr). NZ Living Wage is $22.10/hr and is the minimum amount necessary to earn in a 40 hr week in order to provide for the basic necessities. If you're on the minimum wage, you'll be struggling to get buy and would have to stick to a stricter budget. Australia pays a lot more and even though NZ citizens can live work and go to school in Australia without any restrictions or visas, you're not treated as a real citizen and get limited health care options vs what a full Australian citizen gets.
Thank, Chantalle, for the nice insight video. I tried Spain for 11 years; wonderful and very cheap, but.....no jobs. I live in my homecountry Belgium now, which is gruelling on taxes, lawyers and fines. Housing is much cheaper though...Anyway, New Zeeland looks like a very exciting country. Good luck! 👍👍🇧🇪❤
Yes, since then the house has gone up 50%, that means it earns about an average salary every year. I will be putting in central heating soon. It's an 1880's home
NZ housing is very expensive relative to typical household incomes. A very recent govt. report confirmed that supermarket food is fairly expensive in New Zealand compared to other developed economies. The high cost of living in New Zealand is especially high in NZ's largest city, Auckland. If you retire in New Zealand, you will not owe NZ income tax on USA Social Security, nor will you owe US income tax on NZ's old age pension. You will owe NZ income tax on the balance of your worldwide income. If you qualify for NZ's Old Age Pension (called Super), NZ will deduct from that pension your entire Social Security benefit.
We came to New Zealand from the UK in 2007. Back then I feel the cost of living in both countries was fairly comparable. Since then there have been things like the financial crisis and corona where NZ has done comparatively well. Because of that, NZ has become more expensive over time. It's the price we pay for our success as a country in recent years.
Yes your right i think the reason why housing more expensive in nz.nz a victim of its own success and the demand exceeds the supply to have a house in nz. Also to note the min wage is $18 per hour and restraunts are expensive but you don't tip.if you do shop around you can get discounts and cheaper prices also there's a website called firsttable.co.nz where you can book to eat at certain time at restaurants at certain times and its 50% off.
Really the only way you can measure if a country is expensive or not, is to take the income of a middle of the road job like truck driving or office administration roles. Then subtract all of your expenses for the year. The amount left over is the true comparison. Then if nz works out to be more expensive and let's say you have 10k left in nz and 20k somewhere else in the world although I doubt that would be the case, it's then up to the individual to say to themselves how much would I pay for this quality of life and real freedom. New Zealand will rank in the top 3 to 5 countries in the world for quality of life and general happiness of the people. When you factor everything in New Zealand is cheap as.
Exactly! All things considered, the quality of life here far exceeds the cost of living. It's more than a great deal, it's a lifetime return on investment.
Exactly. And even a not so glamorous jobs can own a home, I for one doing only a cleaning job and my husband is a tradie and we own our home with big section here in Auckland.
@@Kiwigrunt im in fisheries and i earn more than teachers and nurses and that doesnt seem right. Not struggling but not globe trotting either unless you call going back and forth to aussie globe trotting 😂
The cheaper the products get the more mass produced and cheaper the quality. So it’s worth paying more for locally made groceries as your supporting the local man or woman in NZ to live Which is good
You’re right. It would be nice to somehow see this happen in the clothing industry too. Simply because of the poor working conditions for many but I know that probably won’t ever happen.
Thank goodness new builds must now be insulated including double glazing for glass doors, windows. the healthy home standard is now mandatory for rentals so hopefully NZ get up to Speed sooner than later in providing warmer homes
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders mandatory for new builds. For Rental (not new builds) insulation in the roof space if able to, underfloor insulation if able to, but not compulsory for walls
But.... not mandatory if you are living in own home ie not rental. The new build legislation under the building code started for quite a number of years now. So basically if you are building new, you must abide by the law. I also think that there is something in the building code or council bylaws that mentions about renovations. Just too much info to mention as it covers all kinds of different scenarios.
Hi guys yes NZ is expensive but manageble I feel people only move here for its culture beauty and lifestyle overall NZ producers workers not millionaires which is good for gdp😎❤️🇳🇿
Wow you're really doing your homework. One thing i find that is an advantage to most foreigners that move here is if they come with money, because of exchange rates it'll go that little bit further especially when buying property, for example imagine what 500,000euro would buy you in any city around the world to what it could buy you in rural NZ if you can live mortgage free and work then cost of living is not so much of an issue on a NZ wage. Also your ROI on property is very good plus we have a very stable government and allways have. Have you ever looked at our star system at night without that pollution?
Yes overseas folk have more purchase power than nzders in general Every plane load of immigrants basically pushes out a plane load of poor kiwis at the other end
I live 7 months in Austria near Slovenian and Italian border. The other 5 months I live in Nelson. I ldislike winters and I am early retired. At current exchange rates housing in Nelson is 100% more expensive per m2. Supermarkets around 50%. Restaurants the same. Sunshine hours slightly higher in Nelson. As I live only in summer in Nelson the low building standards do not matter. If I were to live permanently in NZ I would pay higher taxes.
Hi Manfred, we're in the car driving between Blenheim and Christchuch and just before you sent your message we were talking about living in Slovenia and NZ! We would love to connect with you. Can you reach out to us by email through our website Growing Up Without Borders.
Food is expensive here, though she didn't exactly represent it honestly ; she presented the more expensive products, while claiming that it was the lower end of costs. The cost of bread, for instance, begins around $1 ; the cost of cheese begins around $7. Most people aren't bougie in Aotearoa ; we don't mind cheaper brands.
So... Trying to get a handle on this... Are you listing prices in USD or NZD? I'm trying to convince my wife (we're retired) to move to NZ and I need good talking points. Thanks!
i rent in New Zealand one bedroom house for $360 a week that includes power -heating-and internet and section gets mowed 😊 i find this way is cheaper for a single person than a mortgage and put money into my super etc. really its the only option i have got -plus im on a good wage . food is expensive for a family but a single person can do very well also
It's still expensive to live there I lived there for 8 years in total ( I'm a Hungarian native, returned to Hungary thank you Lord.) $360 can get you 3 bedroom home in Budapest monthly expenses. Food is a fraction of the price and wages are about the same. There are many cost in New Zealand that are not backed by the government there dental care notoriously expensive couldn't believe it the wages are low compared to cost of living petrol is insane and decent anything is absolutely absurd all these things listed are fraction of the price in my native country Hungary. Recent reports state that Hungary is 88% cheaper than New Zealand that's average for average across the entire board whether it's Auckland there or Budapest here ( both cities in both counties are above the national average).
Hi Chantel, informative and precise chat, well done. I like all the fruit trees there ... is that an avocado tree behind you ? We had all those trees plus a garden that recreated itself every year without any digging ...just left the fallen tomatoes etc. to sprout naturally. Never needed supermarket F & V except in emergencies .... many of our neighbours had a similar thing which is probably one reason why they are expensive. 😁👍
That's amazing!!! The fruit behind me is passion fruit which pretty much self seeded. We've been making juice out of it. I've always wanted to have a garden and we're just loving it! 🤩💕
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Sorry, I meant the large green tree down the property a bit. I like passion fruit too ... you should try it on a pavlova with Kiwi fruit and raspberries/blackberries. ... and cream of course. 😋
With Countdown (supermarket), they mostly sell fruit which is NOT from NZ (eg. Australian oranges, USA fruit, etc). With New World, at least they sell a good variety of fruit/produce that is actually from NZ. Countdown doesn't sell PAMS products. I'm with Vodafone NZ and their service is better and cheaper than Spark, but yes, mobile data in NZ is expensive. As for home, I'm on Vodafone's ultra fast cable pack which includes unlimited fast data at up to 400mb/sec download speed and 90mb/sec upload speed... which is very useful for getting big videos up onto UA-cam fast. Along with Vodafone Freeview TV, and landline. All for NZ$92.93/month. Don't get Sky, it's a rip off. A lot of companies in NZ do actually only pay the minimum wage. If you yourself get paid over $48,000+ per year before tax, you're considered Middle Class.
My Countdown sells NZ produce. Not much is imported in season. Mostly things that cant be grown in NZ or out of season. No different to my local New world.
Had a look what an apartment cost in rent in Ticino in Switzerland and in Tauranga...roughly the same taking exchange rate into account. I am certain building standards are not worse in CH.....
One thing to point out about the cost of restaurants is that there is no tipping here, for the most part, so the cost is the cost. Servers get paid minimum wage, which is $18.90 per hour. NZ isn't really all about that "hustle" culture. Things aren't generally open 24-7, which I personally think is a good thing. One thing I do miss a lot from Canada, though, is the London Drugs/Shopper's drug marts - the big drugstores. There are lots of little pharmacies here, but they are very limited in what you can find, and each one has different stock. Miss that selection!
Thanks for the details. I recently saw NZ on a Top 10 list of places to retire for less than $2000 per month. I have no idea how that conclusion could have been resched based on your information.
Im curious if your know about our Ambulance service that is voluntary, and what you think of its costs, and that our emergency number is 111, its called St Johns, and if this is a flog topic?
You infer that the NZ health system gives free medical services for everyone. That is not true. Children up to the age of 15 (I believe) get free doctor visits. Almost everyone else pays to go to a GP. There are special rates for low income and disabled people, but others pay between about $35 and $60 for a standard GP visit. However, if you have a life-threatening emergency that requires you to go to hospital, your time in hospital and subsequent specialist follow-up costs nada for anyone. I recently had a perforated appendix and the whole treatment cost me nothing. Things are different for non-life-threatening surgery such as plastic surgery or a hip replacement. While this can be free of charge, you have to go on a waiting list. There can be quite a wait, and that's why many people have medical insurance. Most -probably if you chop your finger off and go to the hospital emergency department, there will be no cost for that, even though it's not life-threatening.
That is only for old houses. All new houses now that are fully insulated and double glazed because of government regulations and as you can see many new built houses around especially in Auckland, I'm in Auckland on the North Shore. Despite the negatives I still prepare here compared to my country of origin as workers here have more purchasing power than most countries. I own my home here in Auckland with almost 3000 square meters of land and me and my husband is just an ordinary worker manual jobs.
Just watched this , being from NZ we are used to the price of things , some things are backwards I know but your video is very informative and helpful for the first time visitors, great job , I wish housing wasn't so expensive I pay $980 wk but it is a $2.7 million large 7brm two level home in Auckland , North Shore . Keep the good work up . @Growing Up Without Borders
I'm Australian and have never been to NZ which is crazy being it's only a few hours away but I'm planning to go this year if covid allows travel and keeps it open. where are the best places to go?
I.m not sure if you have gone yet. But if not I would recommend Wellington city Cuba street has lots of good food places there and quite a few stores. If your into natural nature rotaroua is great. Has tons of mud baths and heat pools very natural place
In the 60's and early 70's NZ did have central heating but was oilfired. The 1973 oil crisis made it uneconomical to keep the burner and it disappeared from the nation.
The way I say it is NZ is and has the best of everything... Food plentiful Supermarkets always full.. Dairy nation...plenty of selection of high quality meat....one of the best trout and salmon fishing spots in the entire planet.. Rivers and oceans mostly pollution free...mussle farms...trout farms salmon farms and plenty in fresh country stream... We don't have to travel far for snow sports or mountain or river / sea sports / entertainment.. Our hospitals are free . Free healthcare.. and beautiful clean unpolluted coastlines and beautiful forest parks...and all this mostly can be achieved by short and cheap travel. As far as I am concerned New Zealand is our home and proud of it....
With all of your travelling around how has it affected your daughters education? Have you got them enrolled in a local school while you're hear in New Zealand?
I can say in some parts of the U.S. renting by the week isn't totally unheard of. Granted it's not often advertised nor is it really should I say set with families in mind. So I being a single man not needing a family dwelling I'm guessing I'd find it cheaper?? I've rented in a men's boarding house for $100/ week. And I did rent my own place for $185/ week. Granted they're via 3rd party landlords.
NZ's health policy is great and covers every NZers. I was told the reason is that NZ government is focusing the resource on non serious illness cases. Those with serious cases say like stage 3 or above cancer are encouraged to be done in a natural way, staying home with family and take more rest. Actually, I like it that way.
Hi, for activities/restaurants we have websites like takeone and bookme that do cheaper tickets - sometimes up to 85% off the normal price. And you can book for the same day or weeks in advance.
There has been petition to the Government while back to remove GST from food items here, don't know if the current Government has looked into it. but I agree.. 10 years ago prices have definitely gone up.. contributing factors as I see it, we are two isolated islands in the bottom of the pacific Demand and Supply of goods which we are reliant on imports, Inflation (Consumer Price Index) Trade agreements where we are held in ransomed to pay for goods at fix cost. (even imported goods are cheaper than our own) Deflation of our currency our dollar purchasing power is not what it use to be. and Immigration, our boarders have always been open to overseas visitors who want to relocate here we have been a small population now the influx of people moving here need somewhere to live which has cause a major spike in real estate.
Removing GST from fruits and vegetables is something the Labour Party has talked about wanting to do for a while now, but whenever they're in government, they've always got so many expensive fires to put out that it doesn't end up happening. With how healthy the budget was at the end of their last term, we might have got it this term but then covid happened so I wouldn't hold my breath.
@@michaelheliotis5279 We have the resources to be self reliant even supplies of energy source in the ground. however because of our strong stances on protecting the land there will always be opposition to the idea. We have gas, oil refinery, and exploration of oil reserves in the ocean.
As I remember the way things were when I left nearly five years ago.You have it all about right. I have lived on freshly grown vegetables, and fresh fruit all my life. Until I came here, it has taken all of the time since coming here to become used to the food here. I realize now that there is no way I could return to live there. But I have to say the life lived there is worth the high prices . Relaxed living fresh air and amazing food makes one realize , just how amazing New Zealand really is. You pay for the quality of life. . . Kiwi from Virginia.
Earthquakes. If you can duck under a desk or step into a doorway they suggest you do that, then if you're near the coast you do need to be aware there might be a tsunami, so tuning into the radio for any evacuation alerts (or they just advise people to move to higher ground if you feel a large earthquake). Many people have a reasonable emergency supply of stored water and food so there's not a lot else you can do about them other than being prepared.
I’m a NZ’er living in BC, Canada and I find it pretty expensive here. The taxes on goods and services are absolutely ridiculous here. When I was in NZ I had to pay $60 dollars to visit a doctor and I’m a Kiwi! Have things changed? Here in BC medical care is absolutely free, doctors, specialists, operations etc. It’s wonderful. Power here (BC Hydro) very cheap. I pay like $50 every 2 months running a one bedroom condo. My heating is hot water heating provided by the strata so that would account for some of that, but it’s still inexpensive. Bananas and Tomatoes for some reason always cheap here. Gasoline is ridiculous in the Lower Mainland. I live in White Rock and pre-pandemic could nip across the border using my Nexus card to get cheap gas, but sadly the border has been closed for that purpose for more than a year. I’ll be moving back to NZ at some point, but still enjoying my overseas experience for now! Hope you continue to enjoy that little slice of paradise that you can call home for now!
You’re in Cambridge? Let me know if you want advice on places, cafes, activities etc. or want to meet up for a coffee / lunch. Or want to go horse riding.
Hello Chantelle, you have given us heaps of information and personal comment on the costs in New Zealand. And I am so pleased you stressed the quality of life aspect which is vitally important in these times. Much of the world with the daily stresses of Covid may envy the major South pacific countries. Your mention of the Numbeo website rings a bell because I use it extensively in my travels to Europe and it is a vital tool for me, or any traveller to assess costs that can be expected. A comparison with Auckland and Bern, Switzerland, which you would be familiar with, would scare the pants off most Kiwis so NZ is a good, cheaper Covid safe (safer) place to be stuck in. The last item on the Numbeo comparison is revealing because it gives the average after tax salary between the cities. Hang out in the "too far away end of the World" as many call us down here because we are safer than most in the world. I have watched many of your videos over the years and wonder if this is the longest stay in one country? Lionel, Australia.
Hi Lionel, Amazing that you do the same site to see the costs when traveling. It's always amazes me and yes it's great to see the average after tax salary of each as well. Yes, this is the longest we've stayed in one country. We're breaking a record on this one. We've also fallen in love with the land, its people, and and the easygoingness of the country.
Nz has a population equal singapore but it is quite a large country. Beautiful nature. I think cost wise, it is just equal australia and other western country.
Yes it’s a huge country with so much coastline and only a small population. Imagine all of Singapore spread out across 2000km in length? You can drive for miles and not see anyone until the next town.
Bloomberg says it's the biggest housing bubble in the world. It's not reasonable to pay 7 figures for a house in a geologically unstable area. If the cancer rates, suicide, taxes and dependence on foreign oil were lower there would be a stronger case. However, there are other micro nations that score higher in all these areas which will grant citizenship by investment with better housing costs. I think the NZ gov is stepping in on behalf of the locals for whom the median price is 17x ave. anual earnings. At any rate, NZ is going to have some pretty unhappy investors at some point. Great video. Thank you.
the bread I use to buy our supermarket which was one of the cheapest was $1.69 a loaf it s now about $3.50..I now buy our bread from couplands for $1.20 a loaf but of course not all cities or towns have a couplands
So basically NZ is expensive in all sectors except health care which is free (coz it's already covered in tax) However consider this Gdp per capita in US$ in 2019 NZ 42k France 40k Ital 33k Spain 29k So purchasing power of an avg person in NZ is also higher than some big European countries too. That kinda evens out higher cost of living isn't it? Minimum hourly wage in NZ is 18.9 NZ$ now. Considering 20 NZ$ per hour, a person earns 800 NZ$ per 40 hours in week. So it is sustainable. Not to forget the exceptionally HQ of life NZ offers.
Sadly it does not even out. A pair of jeans in the US = $19.99. In NZ = $40.00. And lets not get started on the price of petrol. And the outrageous house prices and rent. Pay your first electricity bill. Wow Pay your first internet bill - holly cow! Retirement in NZ is a pretty grim life - retirees in the US live a much higher quality of life. l have lived as a retiree in both Wellington and Seattle.
@@maxineb9598 Yep. A Kiwi who lived and worked in Seattle for 42-years. Decided to move back to my country of birth 4-years ago. Many days I regret my decision. My life as a retiree in the States was much better financially. Things are just way too expensive in NZ. Housing, rent, electricity, internet and petrol will eat your lunch! And I am finding that Healthcare in NZ is not free. My doctors visit here costs me $46. In the US it was free on MEDICARE.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp i guess its the price we pay for certain things here good sir. luckily we dont have nuclear power plants or oilfields scattered everywhere or for that fact we dont need to attack/control other countries to obtain it and is healthcare free or just the doctors visit?
A lot this is completely generalised. Especially with the heating. At least in my experience and that's coming from a Dunedin born Cantabrian. Sounds like you've been staying in some questionable accomodation hahaha FANTASTIC video overall though!
Is it hard to be a citizen in New zealand? I have a skillset in quality control and quality assurance and I am a investor. What are the necessities to be a citizen of New Zealand? I been dreaming about it for quite some time now and want to be there for a lifetime. It's too much political in the US. I really prefer the laid back and kind people of New zealand.Is it possible to travel there yet with covid restrictions?
Expensive Rent, Expensive Houses... Where a place like Tauranga has half the shops empty for lease in the city centre and has one real leisure centre and restraunts that barely cater to vegetarians which is now 1 in 10 New Zealanders. House prices in Tauranga are now average $900,000 and it has nothing on Auckland City... Go figure!
Instead of complaining about lack of vegetarian places create them. Alot of vegetarians are complaining theres no options for them in kfc that literally has chicken in their name 😑😑😑😑😑 chicken is their main product ffs. What youre really complaining about is that some eateries etc arent changing their product for a small percentage. That is why there are options and different places to eat. Rather than complain about maccas not having a vegan option just go to a place that does. As you said yourself. Its a small market and the only ones that can do vegetarians are vegetarians themselves. Maybe, complain to your own community
@@jeringatai3156 Great idea... I'm going to start a vegetarian restraint chain tomorrow... maybe I can inflate the food prices aswell... win win for everyone...
@@jeringatai3156 also I would not call 10% of the country a minority... A 100 people walk into KFC ten of them are vegetarian... I Beleive you are also referring to a recent article where KFC have usually had a Vege Burger on there menu to cater to the 10% but simply took the item of the menu even though all the ingredients consist of one of their meat burgers including the hash brown they use as a paddy... I agree with this woman... its absolutely ludicrous to take it of the menu... unfortunately most restraunts close at 9pm so we are only left with Wendy's, KFC, McDonald's, Burgerking if you are lucky enough to have one in your town... alot of people work night, shift work or even eat late... So to nate cater to 10% of the people is Bullshit... You will find with Bill Gates owning the most farmland now in America, in the near future meatless products will start to forced on people rather then allowing the option to eat meat... so eventually New Zealand will catch up... we hope...
@@bevanpalmer err... By definition anything less than 50% is a minority. It can be a large minority, a small minority, a plurality (that is, the largest minority when no majority exists in the context being measured), and may be big enough to warrent the effort of serving, financially, or not, but it's still a minority. So... You may not call it one... But you'd be wrong. Not that that has any particular bearing on the rest of your point, mind you.
I found Kiwi wine to be a lot cheaper in London,that's right,London,i was shocked,and our Whittakers chocolate was cheaper in Vancouver,not by much though.
2 things you missed -one for health ( acc) covers everyone including tourists , any accidents including self inflicted are covered the other one is the nzeqc New Zealand Earth Quake Commission - basically every man women and child pays $1 a week through taxes -after the christchurch earthquake the Govt was able to put 600m plus towards the rebuild and still has plenty left -its a completly seperate fund to general govt use
NZ can be very manageable if you know where to look,and things like power Bills can be manageable as well if you pay a small amount weekly or fortnightly,instead of waiting for the bill to arrive,it's all common sense really.
for some of the population We dont have the highest suicide rate in the OECD for nothing ..so high the government is no longer releasing figures. Homelessness is huge also
Prices of everything sound almost the same as here in Vancouver area Canada... yup also one of the most expensive places in the world. Love it here though!
Yes wages/ pay would / should be higher, but in a market of only 5 million people, a pro, becomes a con, more people= more competitive prices etc, but they don’t wanna be a UK and squeeze 65 mill in and become unliveable...
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
New Zealand is not expensive .. it's priceless! 😁
Absolutely! One hundred percent.
Can I give you a gold badge for your clever comment? Oh, never mind I'll just steal it and claim all the glory 😁
Is that why 15% of the NZ population live in Australia 😂
Horrifically expensive for sure.
Third world wages with some of the world's dearest housing and food prices.
Great place all the same .
@@ykook7000 better wages in Australia. Cheaper houses. NZ slowly catching up on wages but housing is bloody stupid. Basically, its alot easier in australia than NZ.
Maybe other factors play a role in the cost of things, trade agreements and regulations, politics etc.
I've found that buying a Samsung product in NZ is cheaper than in Korea. By quite a bit! Which is crazy because its made in Korea.
One reason NZ may not have as much of an abundance of designer goods is there isnt the demand. Most Kiwis don't value material items as much as other countries. From what I've seen travelling, people in NZ are far less likely to judge someone based on what they wear or have. It's more about who and how you are.
I think you're right about the lack of demand for designer goods. And I think Tall Poppy Syndrome plays into it as well. High-end products like that are a display of wealth that will make people quickly sour against you in NZ. In other countries, middle class people use designer goods to show off how successful they are and it's culturally accepted and expected, whereas in NZ, everyone will turn against you if you display too much wealth.
You are wrong. The reason Samsung is more expensive in Korea is because the Korean govt allows Invisible trade barriers to be put up, which make foreign imports more expensive. Local firms are then protected from foreign competition, and take advantage of this and fleece their own people.
@@Ccb88888 Apple seems to almost dominate the market and appears to be cheaper than Samsung in Korea.
I've recently purchased Xiaomi products on coupang in Korea and they're alot cheaper than NZ.
Maybe you're right, but from experience it doesn't seem to add up to that logic.
Bravo
Great video! You make me dream haha As a Canadian(Montreal!) too, I could go on and on and about why I love NZ so much(so I'll try to keep it short haha). I lived in Auckland about 5 years ago for a while, but the company I worked for unfortunately closed, so long story short, I had to come back home. Not to sound too dramatic, but there's almost isn't a day that I don't think about NZ because I always wanted(and hope I will) to come back and live the rest of my life there. The people, the AIR(soooo true haha), the laid back feel, the beautiful scenery(Canada has some great scenery too, but come on...it doesn't compete since you basically have Canada on the South Island hahah), etc made me a happier person. I thought I wasn't a stressed person, being from Canada, but I found that I reallly was when I got in NZ haha It's not too political of a country(compared to Canada and the USA), work life balance is great, etc I saw a doctor once in 15 mins when I'm used to like 4+ hours...it was crazy to me haha
If someone from Canada reads this, NZ is not that expensive to be honest in a way. You have to think that you pay way less taxes in NZ than in Canada on your salary, there aren't tips(which is a huge when you are used to that haha), taxes are included in the prices you see, etc etc I mean, it's not a cheap country, but I was more comfortable there than in Montreal overall. But Chantal, you are right, for some stuff like food and clothes, you have to look more to get better deals ;) Warehouse (the equivalent of Walmart or Zellers) had some great deals on shoes, shorts, t-shirts, etc To me, NZ always felt like Canada(or at least Quebec), but just a tad better ;) It's far, yes, but the more you get older, priorities change and I prefer to be in a country where people are laid back with a beautiful scenery everywhere. It's a little heaven on earth :) Kia Ora.
Was interesting to read your post. I’m a Kiwi living in Western Canada and looking forward to moving back in a year or two. I’m from Auckland, but I’ll probably move to Nelson - top of the South Island. It’s beautiful there and I already know it well.
I’m a kiwi who has lived in Quebec, love both Quebec and my home country. Don’t miss the snow though 🥶🥶🥶. Work life balance is very important here in NZ. Stressed workers are unproductive and a tired stressed worker equals work place accidents. Happy work place, happy home equals happy healthy people and a more productive economy.
Im a kiwi and have traveled extensivly around Asia and its always amazing how cheap it is overseas compared to here. Even expensive places like Japan. I appreciate having my own garden but actually I could never afford to buy it now. So grateful I bought it 20 years ago.
I bet you do. I've talked to many people who have said the same thing. Especially in places like Devonport and Auckland area.
Good for you ,but what about our children & grandchildren?
Yeah it’s just like Toronto Canada. No one can afford to buy a home. It’s madness.
@@johnnyboy1586 I think its up to our government but they are pretty gutless when it comes to policy that would help houses prices drop or even stabilise
@@ross1972 that's because most of the politicians invest in property.they are all career politicians feathering there own nest
A very good summary! Christchurch and Dunedin houses are less expensive than Auckland and Wellington. As for where I live you can get a decent 3 bedroom house for 400 - 500k or maybe less. Our own cottage( with a good size garden) is worth about 300k and we love it
That sounds like better pricing. 🙌
We're actually heading to Dunedin for the first time next week! Let us know if you have any recommendations. We're just looking at home exchange options now :-)
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders My fav suburbs of Dunedin are St Clair and Maori Hill. Visit Larnach Castle and Otago Peninsula, also Coast Road to Karitane is very scenic
Thanks Janette! We are looking forward to our visit :-)
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Dunedin is a great place. Wander around the Botanic Gardens and check out the Peter Pan statue there. Also, a wander around the University campus can be inspiring. Dunedin is a big Uni city. Hanging out at The Esplanade at the beach is nice too. I live in Timaru and love to visit there. Oh, the insulation in NZ housing has vastly improved over the last 15 years and the use of log burners or wood burners in NZ is common and produce the best heat for homes. Enjoy Dunedin!
By my calculations a family needs around $2600 per week to pay for an average lifestyle on the city fringe if renting. For most of the population both parents work and teenagers have part time jobs which unfortunately leaves very little time to spend in nature and visit national parks
My childhood in a nutshell. I mean Saturday was family time where we would go to the beach, market museum but home before 5 cos dads got work and have never been to any of these cool places you see on the internet due to not being able to get the same days off, pricing and travel. All the local stuff we got to do but enjoying the whole country was a "one day" thing we never did.
Well there are a lot of places one can live here in NZ, just like any country. We moved to the far North of the North Island. We were told work opportunities are limited, beware of the criminals etc etc.what a load of bull poos. There is plenty of work opportunities, every community has a bad element, housing is cheap and cost of living is dependant on what one is prepared to live with. Our off the grid home and block of land cost less than a small house section in a city centre.
We no longer have a mortgage. Rates are less than half. We can grow fruit and vegetables year round. The kids enjoy a country lifestyle away from the internet, as internet is limited. Yes it can take up to an hour to drive to work but that’s a rarity, and not the norm if you lived in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. We actually have savings at the end of the month for the first time since leaving the big smoke. A lot of big companies who have branches in the smaller centres struggle to get good staff because of the closed thinking of many people who are not prepared to consider their options to living out of the cities.
@@libbysevicke-jones3160 this!
I understand that alot of people moving to NZ end up in cities (we did too for a few years) but just being that little bit flexible can open so many doors. We currently live rural but for a few years we lived in Invercargill, on one income and could still buy a house on a 1/4 acre section in TOWN.
Now we rent out our house, live rural on 1 income still and can still save $200 per week after our costs. Family of 5 by the way.
@@5Seed how is invercargill like? I will be coming next year for my studies., I live in India
I love the idea of living in every country for a while!
It’s definitely something unique and we’re learning so much.
Thanks for the video, I've just been approached by a company from NZ to relocate and work there, your video and the link to the cost of living are great help.
I'm happy we moved here in NZ! Thanks for this video!
I bet you are. Especially these days.
I'm glad you mentioned our cold houses. Cold and expensive. As well as really hot in summer.
I know. It’s hard to get used to when you come from a northern country that experience is -20 C. We have insulated windows and insulated everything to keep the cold out in the winter.
Thanks Shantal. Lots of valuable information. Heard many good things about NZ but have not visited yet. Definitely on the list. Cheers, Dan (Toronto). 😀👍🇨🇦
You would find the overall mentality very similar to Canada and similar systems when it comes to govt healthcare etc... but it's more laid back. Maybe like the East Coast of Canada.
Growing Up Without Borders I know what you mean Shantal, I grew up in Halifax and have only been in Toronto for about 9 years. . Will probably return to East coast someday. We all go home eventually. Dan. 👍
Big thick wooly socks in winter to cut down on power cost with heaters, rugby socks, norsewood wooly socks are the best, slippers or ugg boots. Or home made brown sheeps wool jerseys( wool jumpers) or the Canterbury rugby jerseys. Wooly hats/beanies. I grew up in Hawkesbay, worst place in summer if you have bad hayfever and forgot your tablets,meds. Oh what I miss now I'm in Australia, is fejoas and L&P fizzy drink. Anyhoo without writing a novel I'll leave it at that.
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like what it was like for me growing up in Canada when we heated a big house with a wood stove. Wool socks all the way.
I’m sure you miss the feijoas they’re so delicious! 😋
Good morning. In terms of the average person looking for a rental, Wellington has the highest rental prices in NZ. And when you compare on Trade Me the prices Auckland and Wellington offer, Auckland is a bit more fairer. 2 bedroom decent rental averages $500/week and 1 bedroom/Studio decent rental averages $340/week. Some rentals in Wellington can even be as high as $700/week. Auckland is cheaper in terms of rent. With people moving out to the outer region suburbs to pay a little less but face longer commute times. Minimum Wage is $18.90/hr. Australia's minimum wage is AU$19.84/hr (NZ$21.27/hr). NZ Living Wage is $22.10/hr and is the minimum amount necessary to earn in a 40 hr week in order to provide for the basic necessities. If you're on the minimum wage, you'll be struggling to get buy and would have to stick to a stricter budget. Australia pays a lot more and even though NZ citizens can live work and go to school in Australia without any restrictions or visas, you're not treated as a real citizen and get limited health care options vs what a full Australian citizen gets.
That's really interesting about Australia. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting insight into Australia 💰numbers. NZ's closest neighbour👍
Most people may not realize but NZers do get visas when entering Australia. Its a Special Category visa on arrival.
Oh, and part of my NZ pension as a NZer is paid by the Australian government.
Thank, Chantalle, for the nice insight video. I tried Spain for 11 years; wonderful and very cheap, but.....no jobs. I live in my homecountry Belgium now, which is gruelling on taxes, lawyers and fines. Housing is much cheaper though...Anyway, New Zeeland looks like a very exciting country. Good luck! 👍👍🇧🇪❤
A very good summary, It gels well with my experience. I'm just glad I bought a house here in 2013.
Thanks! Yeah, I bet you've seen quite a big jump in home prices.
Yes, since then the house has gone up 50%, that means it earns about an average salary every year. I will be putting in central heating soon. It's an 1880's home
NZ housing is very expensive relative to typical household incomes.
A very recent govt. report confirmed that supermarket food is fairly
expensive in New Zealand compared to other developed economies.
The high cost of living in New Zealand is especially high in NZ's largest city, Auckland.
If you retire in New Zealand, you will not owe NZ income tax on USA Social Security, nor will you owe US income tax on NZ's old age pension. You will owe NZ income tax on the balance of your worldwide income. If you qualify for NZ's Old Age Pension (called Super), NZ will deduct from that pension your entire Social Security benefit.
We came to New Zealand from the UK in 2007. Back then I feel the cost of living in both countries was fairly comparable. Since then there have been things like the financial crisis and corona where NZ has done comparatively well. Because of that, NZ has become more expensive over time. It's the price we pay for our success as a country in recent years.
Yeah we were surprised at how cheap the groceries were in the Uk.
Yes your right i think the reason why housing more expensive in nz.nz a victim of its own success and the demand exceeds the supply to have a house in nz. Also to note the min wage is $18 per hour and restraunts are expensive but you don't tip.if you do shop around you can get discounts and cheaper prices also there's a website called firsttable.co.nz where you can book to eat at certain time at restaurants at certain times and its 50% off.
Asian owned food markets are cheaper than supermarkets as they often have direct links to market gardens.
Really the only way you can measure if a country is expensive or not, is to take the income of a middle of the road job like truck driving or office administration roles. Then subtract all of your expenses for the year. The amount left over is the true comparison. Then if nz works out to be more expensive and let's say you have 10k left in nz and 20k somewhere else in the world although I doubt that would be the case, it's then up to the individual to say to themselves how much would I pay for this quality of life and real freedom. New Zealand will rank in the top 3 to 5 countries in the world for quality of life and general happiness of the people. When you factor everything in New Zealand is cheap as.
Exactly! All things considered, the quality of life here far exceeds the cost of living. It's more than a great deal, it's a lifetime return on investment.
I work as a heavy earthworks operator, yes I work 5 12hr days per week but I earn more than my Bank manager... He love/ hates me lol!
Exactly. And even a not so glamorous jobs can own a home, I for one doing only a cleaning job and my husband is a tradie and we own our home with big section here in Auckland.
@@Kiwigrunt im in fisheries and i earn more than teachers and nurses and that doesnt seem right. Not struggling but not globe trotting either unless you call going back and forth to aussie globe trotting 😂
@@snowsansa1527 cleaning can pay alot if you know how. I mean, those that own cleaning businesses and have alot of clients make quite alot
The cheaper the products get the more mass produced and cheaper the quality. So it’s worth paying more for locally made groceries as your supporting the local man or woman in NZ to live
Which is good
You’re right. It would be nice to somehow see this happen in the clothing industry too. Simply because of the poor working conditions for many but I know that probably won’t ever happen.
Thank goodness new builds must now be insulated including double glazing for glass doors, windows. the healthy home standard is now mandatory for rentals so hopefully NZ get up to
Speed sooner than later in providing warmer homes
I didn’t know that even double glaze was mandatory. That’s good. Everyone will be warm and cozy. It makes a huge difference.
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders mandatory for new builds. For Rental (not new builds) insulation in the roof space if able to, underfloor insulation if able to, but not compulsory for walls
But.... not mandatory if you are living in own home ie not rental. The new build legislation under the building code started for quite a number of years now. So basically if you are building new, you must abide by the law. I also think that there is something in the building code or council bylaws that mentions about renovations. Just too much info to mention as it covers all kinds of different scenarios.
Going out to eat in NZ is not so bad. You don't need to include a tip so the price is lower.
Tipping is regarded as a vulgar American custom here in New Zealand.
@@nicholasmaude6906
I'm glad that I've read your comment before I go to NZ 😂
what would the waiter/waitress do if I tip them ? is it offensive?
@@AndroidMan1 Ask them.
Hi guys yes NZ is expensive but manageble I feel people only move here for its culture beauty and lifestyle overall NZ producers workers not millionaires which is good for gdp😎❤️🇳🇿
Exactly! It's the perfect work life balance for stress free living. Sweet as :-)
Living around whole world got expensive and with every year getting more and more expensive not only New Zealand.
@Shivam Gupta Hi
@Shivam Gupta I'm good, thank you, how are you? Are you from New Zealand?
@Shivam Gupta Interesting, one day when I have opportunity I would love to travel to India, i think its amazing, mysterious country.
@Shivam Gupta i don't have Instagram.
Wow you're really doing your homework. One thing i find that is an advantage to most foreigners that move here is if they come with money, because of exchange rates it'll go that little bit further especially when buying property, for example imagine what 500,000euro would buy you in any city around the world to what it could buy you in rural NZ if you can live mortgage free and work then cost of living is not so much of an issue on a NZ wage. Also your ROI on property is very good plus we have a very stable government and allways have.
Have you ever looked at our star system at night without that pollution?
$1NZ = .72US = .91CAD = .93AUD = .60EURO
Yes overseas folk have more purchase power than nzders in general
Every plane load of immigrants basically pushes out a plane load of poor kiwis at the other end
Can’t see galaxies as such is light pollution in the city
Stable government and economy my arse
@@someonewhocares5924 Happy much?? Clive Grumble
You picked the right place to be during this pandemic. All the best for your future travels. :)
We sure did. We pinch ourselves everyday to be able to be here during this time.
600 per week is hard to find for normal family house in auckland, $700-$750 would be the mean price
I live 7 months in Austria near Slovenian and Italian border. The other 5 months I live in Nelson. I ldislike winters and I am early retired.
At current exchange rates housing in Nelson is 100% more expensive per m2. Supermarkets around 50%. Restaurants the same. Sunshine hours slightly higher in Nelson.
As I live only in summer in Nelson the low building standards do not matter. If I were to live permanently in NZ I would pay higher taxes.
Hi Manfred, we're in the car driving between Blenheim and Christchuch and just before you sent your message we were talking about living in Slovenia and NZ! We would love to connect with you. Can you reach out to us by email through our website Growing Up Without Borders.
Stuff is till expensive, 2 yrs later. However, house prices have fallen 28% in Wellington since Jan 2022!
Food is expensive here, though she didn't exactly represent it honestly ; she presented the more expensive products, while claiming that it was the lower end of costs. The cost of bread, for instance, begins around $1 ; the cost of cheese begins around $7.
Most people aren't bougie in Aotearoa ; we don't mind cheaper brands.
Very interesting. Thanks
So... Trying to get a handle on this... Are you listing prices in USD or NZD?
I'm trying to convince my wife (we're retired) to move to NZ and I need good talking points.
Thanks!
We actualy dont want you were struggleing with houseing now
i rent in New Zealand one bedroom house for $360 a week that includes power -heating-and internet and section gets mowed 😊 i find this way is cheaper for a single person than a mortgage and put money into my super etc. really its the only option i have got -plus im on a good wage . food is expensive for a family but a single person can do very well also
It's still expensive to live there I lived there for 8 years in total ( I'm a Hungarian native, returned to Hungary thank you Lord.) $360 can get you 3 bedroom home in Budapest monthly expenses.
Food is a fraction of the price and wages are about the same.
There are many cost in New Zealand that are not backed by the government there dental care notoriously expensive couldn't believe it the wages are low compared to cost of living petrol is insane and decent anything is absolutely absurd all these things listed are fraction of the price in my native country Hungary.
Recent reports state that Hungary is 88% cheaper than New Zealand that's average for average across the entire board whether it's Auckland there or Budapest here ( both cities in both counties are above the national average).
Hi Chantel, informative and precise chat, well done. I like all the fruit trees there ... is that an avocado tree behind you ? We had all those trees plus a garden that recreated itself every year without any digging ...just left the fallen tomatoes etc. to sprout naturally. Never needed supermarket F & V except in emergencies .... many of our neighbours had a similar thing which is probably one reason why they are expensive. 😁👍
That's amazing!!! The fruit behind me is passion fruit which pretty much self seeded. We've been making juice out of it. I've always wanted to have a garden and we're just loving it! 🤩💕
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Sorry, I meant the large green tree down the property a bit. I like passion fruit too ... you should try it on a pavlova with Kiwi fruit and raspberries/blackberries. ... and cream of course. 😋
With Countdown (supermarket), they mostly sell fruit which is NOT from NZ (eg. Australian oranges, USA fruit, etc). With New World, at least they sell a good variety of fruit/produce that is actually from NZ. Countdown doesn't sell PAMS products. I'm with Vodafone NZ and their service is better and cheaper than Spark, but yes, mobile data in NZ is expensive. As for home, I'm on Vodafone's ultra fast cable pack which includes unlimited fast data at up to 400mb/sec download speed and 90mb/sec upload speed... which is very useful for getting big videos up onto UA-cam fast. Along with Vodafone Freeview TV, and landline. All for NZ$92.93/month. Don't get Sky, it's a rip off. A lot of companies in NZ do actually only pay the minimum wage. If you yourself get paid over $48,000+ per year before tax, you're considered Middle Class.
My Countdown sells NZ produce. Not much is imported in season. Mostly things that cant be grown in NZ or out of season. No different to my local New world.
So £90 000 is a good salary for a single guy?
Depends on where to live. Like in greymouth you could buy a really good house for like 400k. Or the same in nelson for a basic one.
Hardly any journalist bs in greymouth
Biggest employer there is the hospital lol
@@someonewhocares5924 I used to drive for aratuna freighters
Nelson is a lot more than400k for a decent house
Had a look what an apartment cost in rent in Ticino in Switzerland and in Tauranga...roughly the same taking exchange rate into account.
I am certain building standards are not worse in CH.....
One thing to point out about the cost of restaurants is that there is no tipping here, for the most part, so the cost is the cost. Servers get paid minimum wage, which is $18.90 per hour. NZ isn't really all about that "hustle" culture. Things aren't generally open 24-7, which I personally think is a good thing. One thing I do miss a lot from Canada, though, is the London Drugs/Shopper's drug marts - the big drugstores. There are lots of little pharmacies here, but they are very limited in what you can find, and each one has different stock. Miss that selection!
The variety of goods in any retail store in NZ is pitiful compared to in Canada or the States.
Thanks for the details. I recently saw NZ on a Top 10 list of places to retire for less than $2000 per month. I have no idea how that conclusion could have been resched based on your information.
The rental costs. I have a friend in Europe who pays about a fifth of what I pay.
shit - I thought that they'd demolished Colditz.....
Im curious if your know about our Ambulance service that is voluntary, and what you think of its costs, and that our emergency number is 111, its called St Johns, and if this is a flog topic?
You infer that the NZ health system gives free medical services for everyone. That is not true. Children up to the age of 15 (I believe) get free doctor visits. Almost everyone else pays to go to a GP. There are special rates for low income and disabled people, but others pay between about $35 and $60 for a standard GP visit. However, if you have a life-threatening emergency that requires you to go to hospital, your time in hospital and subsequent specialist follow-up costs nada for anyone. I recently had a perforated appendix and the whole treatment cost me nothing. Things are different for non-life-threatening surgery such as plastic surgery or a hip replacement. While this can be free of charge, you have to go on a waiting list. There can be quite a wait, and that's why many people have medical insurance. Most -probably if you chop your finger off and go to the hospital emergency department, there will be no cost for that, even though it's not life-threatening.
I live in New Zealand and for my data I'm paying about $19 a month. This is per a person so in total I'm paying $114 for the whole family
I like how you Break down things when it comes to cost...
Btw...yes my in-laws house is so cold in weather...
That's funny...so you know what I'm talking about. 😂😂
That is only for old houses. All new houses now that are fully insulated and double glazed because of government regulations and as you can see many new built houses around especially in Auckland, I'm in Auckland on the North Shore. Despite the negatives I still prepare here compared to my country of origin as workers here have more purchasing power than most countries. I own my home here in Auckland with almost 3000 square meters of land and me and my husband is just an ordinary worker manual jobs.
Thank you for telling the truth about NZ, I have been here for 14 years and I agreed with what you says😊
🙌😉
Lovely and informative but the positive picture is life is less stressful
Yes, definitely less stressful and more of a relaxed pace.
Just watched this , being from NZ we are used to the price of things , some things are backwards I know but your video is very informative and helpful for the first time visitors, great job , I wish housing wasn't so expensive I pay $980 wk but it is a $2.7 million large 7brm two level home in Auckland , North Shore . Keep the good work up . @Growing Up Without Borders
I'm Australian and have never been to NZ which is crazy being it's only a few hours away but I'm planning to go this year if covid allows travel and keeps it open. where are the best places to go?
I.m not sure if you have gone yet. But if not I would recommend Wellington city Cuba street has lots of good food places there and quite a few stores. If your into natural nature rotaroua is great. Has tons of mud baths and heat pools very natural place
Thanks for the information :)
New Zealand is a country very beautiful, I want to visit, form Thailand.
In the 60's and early 70's NZ did have central heating but was oilfired. The 1973 oil crisis made it uneconomical to keep the burner and it disappeared from the nation.
Interesting. I know more and more homes are starting to be better insulated too.
Is there any sites in the USA for people that want to move there?
I'm not sure. The best info is on the Immigration NZ website.
How do you pay for travel around the world???
The way I say it is NZ is and has the best of everything... Food plentiful
Supermarkets always full..
Dairy nation...plenty of selection of high quality meat....one of the best trout and salmon fishing spots in the entire planet..
Rivers and oceans mostly pollution free...mussle farms...trout farms salmon farms and plenty in fresh country stream...
We don't have to travel far for snow sports or mountain or river / sea sports / entertainment..
Our hospitals are free .
Free healthcare.. and beautiful clean unpolluted coastlines and beautiful forest parks...and all this mostly can be achieved by short and cheap travel.
As far as I am concerned New Zealand is our home and proud of it....
Don't forget the lovely earthquakes.
Agreeed 💯! We just went fishing today and caught dinner and cooked potatoes in the oven from the garden. Love it!!
Does New Zealand have costco?
What currency are you talking in? NZ dollars? thanks.
With all of your travelling around how has it affected your daughters education? Have you got them enrolled in a local school while you're hear in New Zealand?
Kia Ora !! Great video !!
I can say in some parts of the U.S. renting by the week isn't totally unheard of. Granted it's not often advertised nor is it really should I say set with families in mind. So I being a single man not needing a family dwelling I'm guessing I'd find it cheaper?? I've rented in a men's boarding house for $100/ week. And I did rent my own place for $185/ week. Granted they're via 3rd party landlords.
NZ's health policy is great and covers every NZers. I was told the reason is that NZ government is focusing the resource on non serious illness cases. Those with serious cases say like stage 3 or above cancer are encouraged to be done in a natural way, staying home with family and take more rest. Actually, I like it that way.
That’s an interesting perspective. I never heard it put this way.
When you need to use it, you will find that NZ health is substandard and much like a banana republic. Many have died on waiting lists.
Hi, for activities/restaurants we have websites like takeone and bookme that do cheaper tickets - sometimes up to 85% off the normal price. And you can book for the same day or weeks in advance.
Just started to follow you but as I checked the latest videos, I didn t understand, are you french, swiss or canadian?
There has been petition to the Government while back to remove GST from food items here, don't know if the current Government has looked into it. but I agree.. 10 years ago prices have definitely gone up.. contributing factors as I see it, we are two isolated islands in the bottom of the pacific Demand and Supply of goods which we are reliant on imports, Inflation (Consumer Price Index) Trade agreements where we are held in ransomed to pay for goods at fix cost. (even imported goods are cheaper than our own) Deflation of our currency our dollar purchasing power is not what it use to be. and Immigration, our boarders have always been open to overseas visitors who want to relocate here we have been a small population now the influx of people moving here need somewhere to live which has cause a major spike in real estate.
Removing GST from fruits and vegetables is something the Labour Party has talked about wanting to do for a while now, but whenever they're in government, they've always got so many expensive fires to put out that it doesn't end up happening. With how healthy the budget was at the end of their last term, we might have got it this term but then covid happened so I wouldn't hold my breath.
@@michaelheliotis5279
We have the resources to be self reliant even supplies of energy source in the ground. however because of our strong stances on protecting the land there will always be opposition to the idea. We have gas, oil refinery, and exploration of oil reserves in the ocean.
which is good nz or norway?
As I remember the way things were when I left nearly five years ago.You have it all about right. I have lived on freshly grown vegetables, and fresh fruit all my life. Until I came here, it has taken all of the time since coming here to become used to the food here. I realize now that there is no way I could return to live there. But I have to say the life lived there is worth the high prices . Relaxed living fresh air and amazing food makes one realize , just how amazing New Zealand really is. You pay for the quality of life. . . Kiwi from Virginia.
NZ will ways be home to me no matter where I am in the world! 💙❤️💜
Today $1 NZD = $0.64 USD. Need to keep in mind the exchange rates between NZ and where you are now.
Yes true.
Are you talking in USD?
That mouse on the railing stole the show for me))) Can you tell us how people in NZ respond to an earthquakes ? Did you feel the last one ?
Earthquakes. If you can duck under a desk or step into a doorway they suggest you do that, then if you're near the coast you do need to be aware there might be a tsunami, so tuning into the radio for any evacuation alerts (or they just advise people to move to higher ground if you feel a large earthquake). Many people have a reasonable emergency supply of stored water and food so there's not a lot else you can do about them other than being prepared.
Kiwis tend to sit where they are and say, ‘there’s another one’ - it’s no big deal, unless it is really rolling.
im european and we have land with our houses. i mean aslong as you dont live in an appartment you have land
Ummm same in Nz. Like, is there a country where you dont have land with your houses ???
I’m a NZ’er living in BC, Canada and I find it pretty expensive here. The taxes on goods and services are absolutely ridiculous here. When I was in NZ I had to pay $60 dollars to visit a doctor and I’m a Kiwi! Have things changed? Here in BC medical care is absolutely free, doctors, specialists, operations etc. It’s wonderful. Power here (BC Hydro) very cheap. I pay like $50 every 2 months running a one bedroom condo. My heating is hot water heating provided by the strata so that would account for some of that, but it’s still inexpensive. Bananas and Tomatoes for some reason always cheap here. Gasoline is ridiculous in the Lower Mainland. I live in White Rock and pre-pandemic could nip across the border using my Nexus card to get cheap gas, but sadly the border has been closed for that purpose for more than a year. I’ll be moving back to NZ at some point, but still enjoying my overseas experience for now! Hope you continue to enjoy that little slice of paradise that you can call home for now!
You’re in Cambridge? Let me know if you want advice on places, cafes, activities etc. or want to meet up for a coffee / lunch. Or want to go horse riding.
Hello Chantelle, you have given us heaps of information and personal comment on the costs in New Zealand. And I am so pleased you stressed the quality of life aspect which is vitally important in these times. Much of the world with the daily stresses of Covid may envy the major South pacific countries. Your mention of the Numbeo website rings a bell because I use it extensively in my travels to Europe and it is a vital tool for me, or any traveller to assess costs that can be expected. A comparison with Auckland and Bern, Switzerland, which you would be familiar with, would scare the pants off most Kiwis so NZ is a good, cheaper Covid safe (safer) place to be stuck in. The last item on the Numbeo comparison is revealing because it gives the average after tax salary between the cities. Hang out in the "too far away end of the World" as many call us down here because we are safer than most in the world. I have watched many of your videos over the years and wonder if this is the longest stay in one country?
Lionel, Australia.
Hi Lionel,
Amazing that you do the same site to see the costs when traveling. It's always amazes me and yes it's great to see the average after tax salary of each as well.
Yes, this is the longest we've stayed in one country. We're breaking a record on this one. We've also fallen in love with the land, its people, and and the easygoingness of the country.
Nz has a population equal singapore but it is quite a large country. Beautiful nature. I think cost wise, it is just equal australia and other western country.
Yes it’s a huge country with so much coastline and only a small population. Imagine all of Singapore spread out across 2000km in length? You can drive for miles and not see anyone until the next town.
I envy this family - but great videos !
Thanks! We definitely were so blessed to be in NZ for so long.
Bloomberg says it's the biggest housing bubble in the world. It's not reasonable to pay 7 figures for a house in a geologically unstable area. If the cancer rates, suicide, taxes and dependence on foreign oil were lower there would be a stronger case. However, there are other micro nations that score higher in all these areas which will grant citizenship by investment with better housing costs. I think the NZ gov is stepping in on behalf of the locals for whom the median price is 17x ave. anual earnings. At any rate, NZ is going to have some pretty unhappy investors at some point. Great video. Thank you.
the bread I use to buy our supermarket which was one of the cheapest was $1.69 a loaf it s now about $3.50..I now buy our bread from couplands for $1.20 a loaf but of course not all cities or towns have a couplands
We like the chocolate Anzac cookies they sell and keep them in the fridge so they are cold.
How many countries have you visit??
I've visited 100 countries.
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Wow
What are you doing for living????
So basically NZ is expensive in all sectors except health care which is free (coz it's already covered in tax)
However consider this
Gdp per capita in US$ in 2019
NZ 42k
France 40k
Ital 33k
Spain 29k
So purchasing power of an avg person in NZ is also higher than some big European countries too. That kinda evens out higher cost of living isn't it?
Minimum hourly wage in NZ is 18.9 NZ$ now.
Considering 20 NZ$ per hour, a person earns 800 NZ$ per 40 hours in week. So it is sustainable. Not to forget the exceptionally HQ of life NZ offers.
No, healthcare except for children and public hospitals isnt free.
Sadly it does not even out. A pair of jeans in the US = $19.99. In NZ = $40.00.
And lets not get started on the price of petrol.
And the outrageous house prices and rent.
Pay your first electricity bill. Wow
Pay your first internet bill - holly cow!
Retirement in NZ is a pretty grim life - retirees in the US live a much higher quality of life.
l have lived as a retiree in both Wellington and Seattle.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp Not every pensioner lives a grim life!! Are you a pensioner??
@@maxineb9598 Yep. A Kiwi who lived and worked in Seattle for 42-years. Decided to move back to my country of birth 4-years ago. Many days I regret my decision. My life as a retiree in the States was much better financially. Things are just way too expensive in NZ. Housing, rent, electricity, internet and petrol will eat your lunch! And I am finding that Healthcare in NZ is not free. My doctors visit here costs me $46. In the US it was free on MEDICARE.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp i guess its the price we pay for certain things here good sir. luckily we dont have nuclear power plants or oilfields scattered everywhere or for that fact we dont need to attack/control other countries to obtain it and is healthcare free or just the doctors visit?
Really helpful and informative video as always.
BTW tommorow is my maths exam. I am well prepared for it. Hope I perform well ☺.
Have a nice day ❤❤
Best of luck! You'll do great!!!
@@GrowingUpWithoutBorders Thanks a lot 😊😊 It means a lot to me😊😊
A lot this is completely generalised. Especially with the heating. At least in my experience and that's coming from a Dunedin born Cantabrian. Sounds like you've been staying in some questionable accomodation hahaha
FANTASTIC video overall though!
When you visit Curitiba/Brazil?
We were in Brazil back in 2016. I'm not sure when we'll be back.
... but we we will be back for sure! 🇧🇷😀
Is it hard to be a citizen in New zealand? I have a skillset in quality control and quality assurance and I am a investor. What are the necessities to be a citizen of New Zealand? I been dreaming about it for quite some time now and want to be there for a lifetime. It's too much political in the US. I really prefer the laid back and kind people of New zealand.Is it possible to travel there yet with covid restrictions?
Expensive Rent, Expensive Houses... Where a place like Tauranga has half the shops empty for lease in the city centre and has one real leisure centre and restraunts that barely cater to vegetarians which is now 1 in 10 New Zealanders. House prices in Tauranga are now average $900,000 and it has nothing on Auckland City...
Go figure!
Instead of complaining about lack of vegetarian places create them. Alot of vegetarians are complaining theres no options for them in kfc that literally has chicken in their name 😑😑😑😑😑 chicken is their main product ffs.
What youre really complaining about is that some eateries etc arent changing their product for a small percentage. That is why there are options and different places to eat. Rather than complain about maccas not having a vegan option just go to a place that does.
As you said yourself. Its a small market and the only ones that can do vegetarians are vegetarians themselves. Maybe, complain to your own community
@@jeringatai3156 Great idea... I'm going to start a vegetarian restraint chain tomorrow... maybe I can inflate the food prices aswell... win win for everyone...
@@jeringatai3156 also I would not call 10% of the country a minority... A 100 people walk into KFC ten of them are vegetarian...
I Beleive you are also referring to a recent article where KFC have usually had a Vege Burger on there menu to cater to the 10% but simply took the item of the menu even though all the ingredients consist of one of their meat burgers including the hash brown they use as a paddy... I agree with this woman... its absolutely ludicrous to take it of the menu... unfortunately most restraunts close at 9pm so we are only left with Wendy's, KFC, McDonald's, Burgerking if you are lucky enough to have one in your town... alot of people work night, shift work or even eat late...
So to nate cater to 10% of the people is Bullshit...
You will find with Bill Gates owning the most farmland now in America, in the near future meatless products will start to forced on people rather then allowing the option to eat meat... so eventually New Zealand will catch up... we hope...
@@bevanpalmer err... By definition anything less than 50% is a minority.
It can be a large minority, a small minority, a plurality (that is, the largest minority when no majority exists in the context being measured), and may be big enough to warrent the effort of serving, financially, or not, but it's still a minority.
So... You may not call it one... But you'd be wrong.
Not that that has any particular bearing on the rest of your point, mind you.
watching this 2 years after you made it and inflation means prices at least 20 percent more
I found Kiwi wine to be a lot cheaper in London,that's right,London,i was shocked,and our Whittakers chocolate was cheaper in Vancouver,not by much though.
Kiwi wine cheaper in the USA
Americans always say it's expensive...but kiwis get higher min wages. Plus out prices are inclusive of taxes and we don't tip.
When you say dollars I’m assuming you mean New Zealand dollars?
Dear Family,
You are always welcome to my country, so if you want to discover, then visit Pyongyang!
Thank you!
Kim 🇰🇵
That made me smile
@@keithdouglas9848 why exactly? 😀
@@kimjong-un6096 why do u think??it's not kim jong.cmon dude
@@keithdouglas9848 Yes, you are right, I am not Kim Jong Un, I am his Manager and I am supporting this channel, called Kim Jong- Un.
@@kimjong-un6096 n I'm elvis presley 😜
Thanks 🙏
2 things you missed -one for health ( acc) covers everyone including tourists , any accidents including self inflicted are covered the other one is the nzeqc New Zealand Earth Quake Commission - basically every man women and child pays $1 a week through taxes -after the christchurch earthquake the Govt was able to put 600m plus towards the rebuild and still has plenty left -its a completly seperate fund to general govt use
ACC even covers NZers on their return to NZ if they have has any sort of mishap while overseas. The same mishaps that would occur in NZ.
NZ can be very manageable if you know where to look,and things like power Bills can be manageable as well if you pay a small amount weekly or fortnightly,instead of waiting for the bill to arrive,it's all common sense really.
Morning family 🌻
Good morning! 🌄
How do you afford it all
We work online.
numbeo site is great, going to use that once I can travel again.
Yeah I use it all the time. Fun to plug in different countries to see the differences.
NZ is a slice of heaven
for some of the population We dont have the highest suicide rate in the OECD for nothing ..so high the government is no longer releasing figures. Homelessness is huge also
Cost Food is one word INSANE
Is doesn't make sense the house prices keep on going up and up a lot of old house
Prices of everything sound almost the same as here in Vancouver area Canada... yup also one of the most expensive places in the world. Love it here though!
Sounds about right. Even though Canada is home for us we haven’t visited Vancouver yet.
Yes wages/ pay would / should be higher, but in a market of only 5 million people, a pro, becomes a con, more people= more competitive prices etc, but they don’t wanna be a UK and squeeze 65 mill in and become unliveable...