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After a year in Australia: 'Honestly, this place is cheaper than NZ'
When I left NZ, it seemed I was part of an exodus. Little did I know that exodus was only going to intensify.
It seems every other week, another friend or colleague announces their move across the Tasman. And, look, the lure of Australia is undeniable – better pay, improved working conditions, and yes, the sunshine.
Watch Aziz's price comparison in full on TVNZ+
A year on, we now know more than 85,000 New Zealanders have flocked across the ditch. It seems while the ibis might be notorious for scavenging, the kiwi is now the one crossing the ditch in search of better pickings.
Here’s why.
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Let’s kick things off easy with housing. According to CoreLogic’s latest figures, if you’re looking to buy a home, Australia seems to have the edge (unless you’re planning to buy in Sydney, then good luck).
The median house price in Australia is, in NZ dollars, just over $880,000, compared to New Zealand’s $931,000, Even in the pricey cities of Sydney and Auckland, the numbers are comparable, with homes costing nearly $1.3 million.
If you’re renting like me, you’re going to be paying more though, especially if you’re living in Sydney. The average national Aussie rent is around $695 per week, while TradeMe says it’s slightly cheaper in New Zealand at $610.
But if you’re in Auckland, prepare to shell out about $660 weekly compared to Sydney’s eye-watering $820.
Utilities and Groceries
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When it comes to utilities, shock-horror, Australians again come out on top. Canstar Blue shows the average monthly electricity bill is $122, far cheaper than the $196 Kiwis pay. And in Australia, we pay our power quarterly.
Personally, because I live on my own here, my bill roughly hits $200-$250 every three months.
When it comes to groceries, prices are on the rise in Australia, with the latest figures showing they are actually the most expensive we’ve seen in a while. The kicker is we are spoiled for choice when it comes to our supermarkets.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the average Australian household spends about $208 a week on food, while New Zealanders are hit with a whopping $300 weekly bill (Source: Stats NZ).
It appears more competition and scrutiny in the Aussie market drive prices down, giving shoppers better deals.
Salaries: Show me the money
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The average weekly wage in Australia is around $2,094, adding up to nearly $109,000 annually (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Compare that to New Zealand’s $1,593 weekly wage, or about $80,000 a year (Source: Stats NZ), and the difference is stark.
This earning potential is a huge draw for Kiwis, especially professionals like nurses and police officers, as highlighted in my Great Brain Drain series. 1News revealed 322 New Zealand officers applied to work with Queensland Police in the last year, and our nursing sector has lost nearly 24,000 registered nurses to Australia. Those are only the ones we know of who have registered under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Agreement.
With a salary increase of almost 30% in some cases, the promise of higher pay and better working conditions is hard to resist.
A mixed bag of inflation and employment
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It is no secret Australia is also grappling with its own cost-of-living crisis, but there's a silver lining. Recent figures show a robust job market with low unemployment in June 2024 (Source: ABS).
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, inflation has dipped slightly, leading to a cut in home loan rates, but unemployment remains a concern as many Kiwis seek better opportunities abroad.
The overall picture
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Is the move worth it? For many, it seems the answer is a resounding yes.
But Australia does have its own cost-of-living challenges. People are struggling to pay their rent and keep their fridges stocked.
As a Kiwi who has just come here, I can say hand on heart the cost of living in New Zealand is just as bad as Australia, made worse by our lower salaries.
With that said, while it’s crucial to weigh individual circumstances and long-term goals, the grass does seem greener on the other side.
But I’m still holding out hope for New Zealand. Addressing these issues at home could help retain our talent and make our own patch of grass just as green.
After all, there’s no place quite like Aotearoa.
Sources:
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• Australian Median House Price: CoreLogic Australia
• Sydney Median House Price: CoreLogic Australia
• NZ Median House Price: CoreLogic NZ
• Auckland Median House Price: CoreLogic NZ
• Australia Rent: CoreLogic Australia
• NZ Rent: TradeMe
• Australia Power: Canstar Blue
• NZ Power: Canstar Blue
• Australia Groceries: Finder, Australian Bureau of Statistics
• NZ Groceries: Stats NZ, Wise Move
• Australia Salary: Australian Bureau of Statistics
• NZ Salary: Stats NZ
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Q&A: Ask a question about...Online Safety
Continuing with Neighbourly's online Q&A with experts in their field, this week we are tackling online safety with Jandy Fiske from Netsafe.
Jandy Fiske has been with Netsafe for nearly 8 years. Starting on their helpline, she's now Netsafe's Community Engagement Advisor. Jandy says: 'I'm passionate about online safety because I strongly oppose bullying and want to support those affected by it.'
Jandy is passionate about protecting vulnerable communities and is promoting online safety to ensure no one falls prey to online scams. She can answer your questions about any type of online scams, and also about online harm such as online bullying.
↓ Ask your question below now and she'll be online on Wednesday, 11th September to reply to you ↓
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Police are investigating after a bus driver was allegedly punched in the face and "had some teeth knocked" out in Avondale.
Police said it was alerted to the incident at about 10.17am yesterday.
"The driver received facial injuries and was transported to hospital," a spokesperson said.
"Police are making inquiries into the assault to identify those involved."
Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt said the driver was allegedly punched in the face by a passenger.
Froggatt wanted more to be done about "issues like this".
"I realise you can't have a policeman on every bus, but the drivers and the unions seem to be left out of the conversation.
"He's in hospital getting stitches put in his knee. He had his teeth knocked out," he said.
Froggatt said he got "about three or four calls like this" from drivers a month.
"I feel for the family, the drivers should be able to go to work and go home safe."
Auckland Transport said it was aware of the incident and assisting police with their investigation.
Group manager of public transport operations Rachel Cara said the bus operator was ensuring the driver has the support they need.
"We operate over 13,000 bus services every weekday and fortunately the majority of our passengers are amazing, but these isolated incidents are concerning.
"Our bus drivers work tirelessly to keep Aucklanders moving and deserve to feel safe in their place of work.
"We continue to work closely with police, other agencies and communities to improve safety on public transport."
Police urged witnesses to call 105.
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Poll: Have you ever had a scary flight?
A plane flying from Christchurch to Wellington on Sunday had smoke billowing out of the engine and upon landing, passengers had to open the emergency exit and jump out. Have you had any scary flying experiences?
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56.4% Yes!
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43.6% No, it's always been smooth flying