Hi, i am really confused about the entries i read where it is said that it is cheaper to live in NZ in comparison to the UK - i am just wondering if i am missing something???

After visiting last year and doing a bit of investigating we found the opposite to be true, especially when you take into account the drop in salary you will undoubtedly receive along with the exchange rate no longer being any use to you.

I am genuinely confused and would appreciate any feedback as it was a large factor in us deciding not to move out there (at least for the time being).
 

cost of living in NZ is not cheaper than the UK, i dont care what anyone says.
It might be cheaper than London, but thats it, its no cheaper than anywhere else, not on the whole, for clothes, power, phones, food, you know the basics, no way is it cheaper. I defy anyone to say it is.
I've lived here for 2 years (only 3 more weeks, god i cant wait) before anyone questions my experience.  

[quote="GALACTICO2000"
I've lived here for 2 years (only 3 more weeks, god i cant wait) before anyone questions my experience.[/quote]

Hi Galactico2000,

just wanted to wish you all the best back in the UK, if that's where you're headed. Along with yourself, Sunshinelover, mum of three, donks, we'll be away from here in due course, just ticking the days off.  

Thanks Smudge, I am heading back to the UK, looking forward to it.
It sounds like you're leaving too, good luck with it all, hope the experience in NZ has been a good one, or positive parts of it at least.

I will say this, for all its problems, the 'holiday' side of us being here has been great, just too rare to justify being here for anything more than 5 or 6 weeks on holiday.

good luck & thanks  

We are heading for the Middle East. Hubby already there and loving it!!

Without doubt, NZ cost if living is much higher compared to salaries.

It is high taxes here, low salaries, high cost if food, small selection, power..well, lets not go there! Expensive!!!
Double what I paid in the UK for half the use.

Been totally drained of every penny living here, each week, outgoings are more than incomings.
Just bills, bills, and more bills. Nothing is cheap when you earn peanuts and pay high tax.
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Paradise not found 

I tend to disagree a little about the UK being that much cheaper. Over the period of a week, try filling your car up with fuel, going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, buying a nice 3 bedroom house 10 minutes from the financial city of London for under a million dollars.

Granted some things here are expensive i.e air travel, mobile phones but in general things seem to be on par and depending on your occupation etc (personally speaking) my salary is within 15% of what I was earning in the UK.

Obviously this is my own opinion and other people may disagree..  

Hi,

just a quick reply to poplar pete, & this isn't meant to be remotely inflammatory, but if you're suggesting that some things are more expensive, (phones, etc), & the rest is on a par, but your wages are 15% less than the UK (which by the way you are lucky to get so close), then......arent we all surely worse off, things cost the same, but we earn less.
Whatever happened to the myth that yes NZ pays less, but at least things are cheaper, now it seems that everyone is admitting that 'yes we earn less, but things cost the same or more'.

I fail to see how people can justify this & defend NZ, when clearly everyone is worse off.