B3.3.3 New Zealand: Cost Of Living
Description
This article is from the New Zealand FAQ, by Phil Stuart-Jones and Lin Nah with numerous contributions by others.
B3.3.3 New Zealand: Cost Of Living
B3.3.3.1 Rent
A moderately decent house/week (VERY approx!):
Dunedin $130 - $180
Christchurch $140 - $200
Wellington $160 - $300
Auckland $200 - $350
The average house price is hovering around $140K, mortgage rates are
fluctuating around 11% currently. Mortgage rates include inflation
adjustment.
Lin Nah adds (2 Dec 1996):
"Auckland: Nice comfortable 3 bedroom house around $250 - $350 per week but
you won't be very close to the central city. Broken down 3 bedroom house
close to the city for around $240 per week. A room in a flat for around
$100 per week. An inner city appartment (depending on location) anywhere
from around $200 per week for a studio."
Normally 2 weeks bond and two weeks rent are required in advance. Talk to
the local Tenants Protection Association about your rights.
B3.3.3.2 Wages
The govt would have us believe an 'average' income is around $26K, people
with an income over $30K are considered well off. That was in 1994-5.
Superannuation is sorted out with the employer. It's no longer compulsory.
No doubt some will regret this later.
B3.3.3.3 Transport
Petrol is $0.93 per litre (+/- $0.05), insurance on a small car (eg. 85
toyota starlet 1.3l) is a mere $240 per year, registration is another $200
per year. There are lots of cheap Japanese used imports over here, so you
can get a good car for as little as $5K, and a cheap car for less than $2k.
Repairs are the worst cost - especially parts for late model cars, so
getting something reliable is a good idea.
B3.3.3.4 Food
Pretty cheap depending on how much you eat of what. It'd be easy to eat
your way through a lot of money, but it is possible to live on less than
$40/wk and probably quite a lot less depending on how keen you were...
B3.3.3.5 Consumer Goods
Most import duties have been abolished, and instead we have a flat 12.5%
goods and services tax (GST). Beware of advertised prices which exclude
this. This means that imported goods (electrical appliances, clothing
etc.) are pretty reasonably priced.
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