Living costs

[walshdon]

Here is my comparison of what I have found since moving here five weeks ago from uk.

In NZD

Car Insurance. UK $1000 in NZ $500 for fully comp
Rent UK $1100 NZ $2000 per month

Food bill extra $50 per week

Not had any utility bills yet but will let you know

Tax on car UK $ 480 NZ $ 300

Petrol UK $ 3.00 NZ $ 2.12 per litre

Leather boots UK $ 120 NZ $ 220

Council Tax UK $220 NZ $ 0 per month (rental so landlord pays it)

Sky TV UK $ 80 NZ $ 100 per month inc movies

Broadband 80gb UK $ 14.00 NZ $ 100 per month

So looks like you win some you lose some.

You have to shop around for the best price no go compare websites really here. I have found that Warehouse & Briscoes Good bit like our Wilkinsons.

I prefer Countdown supermarket to pack n save, don't like having to pack my own things like kwiksaves used to be. Plus massive trolleys and mega busy on a weekend.

Food is more expensive but quality is much better especially when eating out.

[anski]

Originally Posted by walshdon

I prefer Countdown supermarket to pack n save, don't like having to pack my own things like kwiksaves used to be. Plus massive trolleys and mega busy on a weekend.

If you a doing a weekly shop the difference in prices will be apparent. In countless surveys Pak'n Save win as cheapest.
The coffee I buy is $2 cheaper at PaknSave compared to New World etc. I don't mind doing my own packing I take my own bags anyway (to help the planet) & save a bundle over a year.

Weekends & after school or work are always the busiest times. If you can go during the day or later in the evening sometimes the shops are almost deserted.

[carosapien]

Originally Posted by walshdon

Here is my comparison of what I have found since moving here five weeks ago from uk.

In NZD

Car Insurance. UK $1000 in NZ $500 for fully comp
Rent UK $1100 NZ $2000 per month

Food bill extra $50 per week

Not had any utility bills yet but will let you know

Tax on car UK $ 480 NZ $ 300

Petrol UK $ 3.00 NZ $ 2.12 per litre

Leather boots UK $ 120 NZ $ 220

Council Tax UK $220 NZ $ 0 per month (rental so landlord pays it)

Sky TV UK $ 80 NZ $ 100 per month inc movies

Broadband 80gb UK $ 14.00 NZ $ 100 per month

So looks like you win some you lose some.

You have to shop around for the best price no go compare websites really here. I have found that Warehouse & Briscoes Good bit like our Wilkinsons.

I prefer Countdown supermarket to pack n save, don't like having to pack my own things like kwiksaves used to be. Plus massive trolleys and mega busy on a weekend.

Food is more expensive but quality is much better especially when eating out.

That's a big difference in the rent there, almost double and you're spending more on food too. Let us know how your utility bills go.

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by walshdon

Here is my comparison of what I have found since moving here five weeks ago from uk.

In NZD

Car Insurance. UK $1000 in NZ $500 for fully comp
Rent UK $1100 NZ $2000 per month

Food bill extra $50 per week

Not had any utility bills yet but will let you know

Tax on car UK $ 480 NZ $ 300

Petrol UK $ 3.00 NZ $ 2.12 per litre

Leather boots UK $ 120 NZ $ 220

Council Tax UK $220 NZ $ 0 per month (rental so landlord pays it)

Sky TV UK $ 80 NZ $ 100 per month inc movies

Broadband 80gb UK $ 14.00 NZ $ 100 per month

So looks like you win some you lose some.

You have to shop around for the best price no go compare websites really here. I have found that Warehouse & Briscoes Good bit like our Wilkinsons.

I prefer Countdown supermarket to pack n save, don't like having to pack my own things like kwiksaves used to be. Plus massive trolleys and mega busy on a weekend.

Food is more expensive but quality is much better especially when eating out.

Hi,
We've been in NZ 5 months now and here's our take on living costs......

Car insurance - UK $1200 / annum, NZ $600 / annum comprehensive cover 2 adults.

Fuel - UK $3 / litre, NZ $2 (always use a supermarket voucher to reduce the cost slightly).

Road Tax - UK $800 / annum, NZ $280 / annum.

Rent - UK $2000 / month, NZ $3800 / month.

Weekly food shop - extra $50-$100.

Essentials like over counter medicines, paracetamol, etc - at least double the cost of UK.
Same with shampoo, BO spray, razors etc. you really have to shop around to find the best prices.

Same story with clothing, shoes or housewares. If you shop in high street stores generally double the price of the UK but all you do is wait for the sales or shop at Kmart or The Warehouse etc which is like UK supermarket or primark etc stuff.

Electric / Gas - UK $300 / month, NZ $360 / month although it is winter so hoping this comes down!!!

Water & Wastewater - UK $70 / month, Wellington $free / month.

Council Tax - UK $500 / month, Wellington $free / month.

Having your bins emptied - UK $free / annum (paid for with Council Tax), NZ $250 / annum (private contract).

Sky TV family package + sports - UK $85 / month, NZ $75 / month.

Landline & unlimited broadband with caller display & voicemail - UK $75 / month (broadband was free with mobile phone contract), NZ $130 / month with only 40gb data maximum.
Both include call costs. We phone UK a lot which is double cost of local calls.

iPhone mobile phone contract - UK $70 / month (which included unlimited home broadband & 750mb mobile data), NZ $40 / month (no free broadband & 1.1gb mobile data).

Public transport I'd say is half the UK cost.

So yeah it's all swings & roundabouts.

[mia5]

Hi there ,
Thanks for the information its really helpful . I'll wait more info
Michelle

[Krazyspence]

I am finding all these comparisons very helpful too!

As im impatient to get over to NZ I have been looking at random things (rent, bills, shipping, broadband, mobile, landlines etc..) and have found a deal that says it will provide the broadband, mobile and landline for $100 a month.. reading the comparisons above I am now doubting that!

Its from telecom.co.nz and its their 'total home mobile' package.. can someone more 'in the know' than me see if iv missed something glaringly obvious? :P

(link : Total Home Mobile - Packages - Telecom NZ Ltd )

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by Krazyspence

I am finding all these comparisons very helpful too!

As im impatient to get over to NZ I have been looking at random things (rent, bills, shipping, broadband, mobile, landlines etc..) and have found a deal that says it will provide the broadband, mobile and landline for $100 a month.. reading the comparisons above I am now doubting that!

Its from telecom.co.nz and its their 'total home mobile' package.. can someone more 'in the know' than me see if iv missed something glaringly obvious? :P

(link : Total Home Mobile - Packages - Telecom NZ Ltd )

It's correct - we have one of the larger download allowance packages - mainly because we don't find 40Gb to be enough!
You'll probably have to buy your phone though.

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by Krazyspence

I am finding all these comparisons very helpful too!

As im impatient to get over to NZ I have been looking at random things (rent, bills, shipping, broadband, mobile, landlines etc..) and have found a deal that says it will provide the broadband, mobile and landline for $100 a month.. reading the comparisons above I am now doubting that!

Its from telecom.co.nz and its their 'total home mobile' package.. can someone more 'in the know' than me see if iv missed something glaringly obvious? :P

(link : Total Home Mobile - Packages - Telecom NZ Ltd )

No you're right $99 a month for landline, broadband (40gb) and mobile phone line rental if you sign up for a 12 month contract and you will have to provide own mobile phone or purchase one off Telecom.
Not a bad deal, however after comparing mobile phone networks you may find Telecom comes out the worst of the three. Most expensive to call landlines, mobiles and international than any other and you may also need more than the one mobile ?

We needed 2 so we steered away from the deals and just bought 2 pay as u go micro sims from 2degrees whilst still in UK for iPhones then upgraded to contract when we'd been here a week or two.
It meant we already had our NZ mobile numbers to give out b4 we left and could give the numbers out to family etc.

We went with a landline/broadband/sky tv package from Vodafone after much research. Not really any cheaper just get it all on the one bill instead of 2 or 3.

[ClemClan]

Originally Posted by escapedtonz

Hi,
We've been in NZ 5 months now and here's our take on living costs......

Car insurance - UK $1200 / annum, NZ $600 / annum comprehensive cover 2 adults.

Fuel - UK $3 / litre, NZ $2 (always use a supermarket voucher to reduce the cost slightly).

Road Tax - UK $800 / annum, NZ $280 / annum.

Rent - UK $2000 / month, NZ $3800 / month.

Weekly food shop - extra $50-$100.

Essentials like over counter medicines, paracetamol, etc - at least double the cost of UK.
Same with shampoo, BO spray, razors etc. you really have to shop around to find the best prices.

Same story with clothing, shoes or housewares. If you shop in high street stores generally double the price of the UK but all you do is wait for the sales or shop at Kmart or The Warehouse etc which is like UK supermarket or primark etc stuff.

Electric / Gas - UK $300 / month, NZ $360 / month although it is winter so hoping this comes down!!!

Water & Wastewater - UK $70 / month, Wellington $free / month.

Council Tax - UK $500 / month, Wellington $free / month.

Having your bins emptied - UK $free / annum (paid for with Council Tax), NZ $250 / annum (private contract).

Sky TV family package + sports - UK $85 / month, NZ $75 / month.

Landline & unlimited broadband with caller display & voicemail - UK $75 / month (broadband was free with mobile phone contract), NZ $130 / month with only 40gb data maximum.
Both include call costs. We phone UK a lot which is double cost of local calls.

iPhone mobile phone contract - UK $70 / month (which included unlimited home broadband & 750mb mobile data), NZ $40 / month (no free broadband & 1.1gb mobile data).

Public transport I'd say is half the UK cost.

So yeah it's all swings & roundabouts.

Hi there, you're off to a good start with your summarisation of NZ living costs. I just wanted to enquire about the cost you put for Gas/elec in UK - 300 pounds a month - WOW, was that for a pretty big house or have prices rocketed? Five years ago we paid an average of 100 pounds a month for elec and gas for a three bedroomed house.

NZ power bill will come down during the better seasons and will rise during winter anywhere from a $100 to $150 extra a month. And you paying some really high rent there at $3800 per month!

However, I do think that although you can make comparisons from NZ dollar to UK to weigh up whether you're paying more or less here than the UK, it doesn't always work out to be the best way as you have to take in to consideration your income in NZ dollars. After a while it becomes irrelevant of how much it is in GBP because your salary is NZD and therefore how much it would cost in the UK becomes irrelevant.

Best of luck in your new life

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by ClemClan

Hi there, you're off to a good start with your summarisation of NZ living costs. I just wanted to enquire about the cost you put for Gas/elec in UK - 300 pounds a month - WOW, was that for a pretty big house or have prices rocketed? Five years ago we paid an average of 100 pounds a month for elec and gas for a three bedroomed house.

NZ power bill will come down during the better seasons and will rise during winter anywhere from a $100 to $150 extra a month. And you paying some really high rent there at $3800 per month!

However, I do think that although you can make comparisons from NZ dollar to UK to weigh up whether you're paying more or less here than the UK, it doesn't always work out to be the best way as you have to take in to consideration your income in NZ dollars. After a while it becomes irrelevant of how much it is in GBP because your salary is NZD and therefore how much it would cost in the UK becomes irrelevant.

Best of luck in your new life

Hi,
No the summary of costs was in equivalent NZ$ - we were paying £144 a month dual fuel so around NZ$300 on a big 5 bed house and that also included a private supply fee for the gas as we lived on a private unadopted estate where a 3rd party owned the gas pipeline.

Yeah we are paying very high rent here - my fault as I wanted us to rent a big house within cycling distance of the city and one big enough for family and friends to stay in when visiting.
We just couldn't find anything decent and big enough in the areas we wanted to live for our budget so had to increase it.
With hindsight we were a bit naive and didn't completely understand the law with regards to being a tenant here. Was a bit of a rush trying to find somewhere with our temporary accommodation rental end date looming.
We wish we had looked further out of Wellington to give us more choice & you do get more for your money.
Since signing up to a contract we have found other properties further out that we would rent for less dollars but hey ho not much we can do about it now.

Yeah I agree with the comparisons but its purpose is to give the forum an idea of costs using the simple 1/2 rule for UK migrants to turn dollars into pounds.
In reality it has cost us more as we got a rubbish exchange rate when transferring money from UK - 1.86 to the pound and I earn approx 30% less here for a job with more responsibility.

I don't agree that cost comparisons become irrelevant after a while. Maybe they would if we completely severed all ties with the UK but we still spend a lot of money in the UK via Internet shopping etc as it is so much more value for money even with the shipping costs and risk of paying GST on any goods. We still have an income in the UK from rent so the comparisons will continue for many years to come I'm sure.