Which is MORE EXPENSIVE? Australia or New Zealand? Comparing the Cost of Living in 2023

[@BrentColeman]

Where have you seen huge differences in price between New Zealand and overseas? Are you thinking of moving to Australia to increase your salary or to benefit from lower costs? Let me know down below in the comments!

[@EriX88888]

comparing tax will be beneficial too

[@jkl1202]

You can’t compare the price of housing in Sydney to NZ . You picked the most expensive city in the country as you probably know. You didn’t even mention other cities are much cheaper depending on the area. So you’re given false information to the kiwis considering living here, basically saying all of Australia is the same.

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

Are dairy products cheaper in NZ?

[@samgreer8274]

Brisbane is cheaper than Wellington. I know as I use to stay in Wellington last year. Sydneys prices is expensive compared to Brisbanes.

[@bass5445]

I think a key component missing in your comparison is wages. Sure, something can be more expensive in AU, but if you are earning 20%+ more in wages than in NZ, the slight increase in certain things is completely mitigated. Interesting vid nonetheless.

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for watching, you're absolutely right! Cost of living is only half the picture, and wages in Australia on average are a lot higher. Here's a great article that discusses just how much better the wages are in Aussie: www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/125827143/why-wages-are-higher-in-australia-and-what-it-says-about-new-zealands-economy

[@bass5445]

@@BrentColeman Good read, thanks!

[@coopsnz1]

@@bass5445 taxes higher in Australia tho.

[@Glenn-ei3xp]

@@coopsnz1 incorrect. Look it up. And let’s not talk fuel prices lol. NZ over $3. Aust under $2.

[@coopsnz1]

@@Glenn-ei3xp taxes overall in Australia higher idiot , NZ only has higher fuel tax , Australia higher income tax , consumption taxes , car taxes

[@nursebronnie1]

I work as a nurse in oz and my sister in law in NZ. When you add salary sacrifice, super, leave loading and shift rates (afternoon, nights, weekends) to a better base rate, I earn twice as much as her.

[@BrentColeman]

Wow thanks for sharing! I guess it comes as no surprise NZ has a shortage of nurses. It sounds like you’re doing a great job!

[@jingawabby]

But now nurses got a historic pay rise. I m in dhb too i make more here. M in transcription dept. i work from home for both private contract and dhb but in oz it is at best hybrid working arrangement with equal or less salary.

[@ianmaher4348]

Sydney is a world-class city and so the most expensive city in OZ. I think a more equal comparison would be with Brisbane or Adelaide as far as the cost of housing is concerned.

[@stanleyjaxen8759]

Perth and adelaide are similar sized to auckland

[@KingFahtah]

I lived in Sydney for a long time. There is nothing world class about it. It is a tacky prefabricated dirty generic boring overpriced dump.

[@terencemason3245]

Full of world class traffic jams, world class tolls and world class idiots on the road

[@ianmaher4348]

@@terencemason3245 Thanks for your bitter and twisted comment. Cheer up!

[@josephstalin2138]

@@stanleyjaxen8759 m8 what? Perth is a desert that’s still not fully developed, Auckland is much much larger.

[@bb54321abc]

I have just returned from Oz after 20 years there. I was in Townsville, North Queensland and I personally have been shocked by the higher price differences on EVERYTHING in NZ. Australia seems to have a lot more competition, choice & affordable products & the pay is better as well. In NZs favour though, I have just paid my vehicle rego and this is definitely way cheaper here :)

[@killing1493]

I'm in Sydney and I'm moving back to Auckland to I miss NZ

[@claravanholst2371]

Brent, thank you for this comparison - yes, I still shakes my head on why NZer still pay higher price on most things, including seafood & we get imported seafood items nowadays from Vietnam and India. But the biggest winner for this Oz vs NZ is the warmer weather & more opportunities / higher pay & wage in Sydney = better quality of life & mental health status. Have you done a comparison for Amazon US vs Australia (noting down their import tax & shipping) for electronics, gadgets, vitamins & supplements, etc? Would love to know who is the winner. Would love to buy more from Amazon Australia since it’s closer for fragile items but they don’t deliver to NZ & Amazon US does (albeit with higher US$ & distance). Subsequently, you can also do Amazon UK comparison with either Amazon Australia &/ US for fun? Would be awesome to see side by side comparison. Thanks 😇

[@benandstefflauchlan3946]

Once again great format , I think Sydney like Auckland is easily the most expensive city in regard to housing , I think in places like Melbourne you get more for your money than say wellington , hard to compare all those city’s I know , it feels when I travel to Australia that luxury goods are just as costly but day to day living is cheaper if that makes sense

[@SauloSouz]

I definitely would like to see more content like this.

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks Saulo! I've just made another similar video looking at the UK, let me know if there are any other countries you'd like for me to compare!

[@SauloSouz]

Hi @@BrentColeman it would be awesome if you considered comparing Brazil's cost of living with NZ. There is an amazing community of Brazilians residing there and I think many of us would appreciate it.

[@R.T_Go_Your_Own_Way]

I've been living in australia for 10years now , Kiwis back home are getting royally ripped off in almost every regard. Wages are low, living costs are high, the government wastes a crapton of money on garbage so essential services they provide are subpar compared to other western first world nations. I wish i could live back home but I don't feel like becoming a indentured servant again.

[@virginiaking6716]

Already my hubby been Australia working resort off cairns for three weeks getting way better salary than our homeland nz. Groceries cost of living power way benefitting 😊 can't wait to join him permanently soon 😊

[@Cloudmountain3033]

Great info., Thank you. How about overall comparison chart. ? Wages, taxes and ease of setting up a private business included.

[@TheAbbottAbode]

The cheaper grocery items in NZ aren't necessarily healthy - booze and chocolate.

[@BrentColeman]

Thank you for pointing that out! It's important to spread awareness about the connection between affordability and health, which unfortunately in NZ is an issue. We need more accessible and nutritious options for everyone.

[@TheAbbottAbode]

@@BrentColeman Didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer. We can only do our part! Curious to hear your comparison of a small town in AU vs NZ, or even having similar incomes in both places but the actual take home pay.

[@Enzedwriter]

I moved to Australia in 2020 as my partner was doing his masters here. I earn a similar salary than in NZ but money seems to go further here. However there are things that surprised me that are more expensive but I guess are trade offs on a policy basis: Rego here in Melbourne is 1k, something I balked at initially but petrol overall is cheaper. Medication is much more expensive in Australia but bulk billing means it's free to see a doctor. I'm used to a free ambulance being from Wellington but Ambo insurance is a must in Australia or you could be paying thousands without it. Mobile plans in Australia are cheaper but arguably Internet is more expensive if you compare how fast nz fibre is compared to lacklustre nbn. Stamp duty and cost of houses are still more expensive than nz in Victoria but there are cheaper places to live in Australia.

[@BrentColeman]

Wow thanks for sharing! You've shared some really interesting areas here, some I would never expected like free doctor visits

[@julianhussenet7633]

I thought it’s $98 for the ambulance in nz

[@Lizziej1234]

@@julianhussenet7633 depends where you live in NZ. Wellington I know has free ambulance

[@geoffcon100]

@@julianhussenet7633 yep. $98.00 Got a bill yesterday (living in Auckland). Happy to pay it but disappointed that it isn't fully funded

[@jacobnewton6875]

Brisbane offers free ambu insurance covered by govt for it's citizens. Canberra you have to pay for private ambulance insurance. It depends where you live in Australia

[@samdekker90]

Interesting video! Couple of things I want to point out though. Sydney shouldn't be used as a representative of Australia as a whole. Housing and transport are far cheaper in places like Perth and Adelaide where we can still afford to buy a house and don't pay motorway tolls. Also, as a Kiwi living in Australia, the increase in wages makes anything that costs more in Australia still more affordable than if I were still in NZ. The margin between income and living cost here leaves me with much more disposable income, especially with the generous penalty rates. Only thing is, you can't beat the outdoor lifestyle in New Zealand.

[@intwominds1943]

Yea i think its not all about money. NZ offers a unique lifestyle that is worth paying for.

[@rickyelvis3215]

Beautiful.. but too bloody cold! cheers.

[@FreewayAngel]

Very interesting comparison! FYI - Since 2012 F&P has been owned by Haier, a major Chinese appliance manufacturer.

[@sarge_4412]

Also, council rates are way cheaper in Australia. We pay $415 quarterly on a million dollar home jn Sydney, while my brother pays over $1000 quarterly on a $800k home in NZ

[@BrentColeman]

That’s a huge difference! Thanks for sharing

[@trialbear3771]

Another important difference is the superannuation vs KiwiSaver… employers in au have to contribute 9.5% minimum … in nz most only contribute 3% … over a 30 year investment horizon that is huge … not sure why the government in nz does not push employers to contribute more 🤔

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for watching! That's very true, the difference is huge over the long run! A big point here is that kiwis are forced to also contribute 3%, whereas in Australia the burden is entirely on the employer and it's a much larger amount as you said. Cheers!

[@silviaonpc6069]

@@BrentColeman Australian workers are far better off in every regard when it comes to super/kiwi saver. Even though kiwis have to contribute they still lose out by 33%. This also doesn't change the fact that when Australians don't pay into it they essentially get an extra 3% in their wages.

[@del2887]

@@silviaonpc6069 also if you are in a lower income threshold and contribute to your super you receive .50c to the $1 to a maximum of $500. Essentially if you give your future self $1000 the government will give you an extra $500. This is great for those that don't earn a lot.

[@markzhu9912]

yeah but nz operates on a non biased basis every one in right age will get super whereas australian pension is asset/income biased - you could get nothing and rely entirely on your super

[@scottfree993]

​@@silviaonpc6069I recall years ago Australians had to sacrifice pay rises to get additional employer contributions to superannuation.

[@josephstalin2138]

Finally some one that shows the price difference for housing, everyone keeps saying houses are cheaper in Australia, they are if you don’t mind living 50+ mins away from the main CBD

[@unsettled1821]

the thing about public transport in Australia. Few things to keep in mind. As they say time is money. 1. You have significantly more trains and bus available and not have to wait over an hour for your next train if you just miss the last 1 especially in rural areas. 2. For people who likes to work early like me public transport (in melbourne, but not sure if it's the same w/ the rest of australia) is free as long as you get off the train/bus before 7am

[@jaynemeulman8484]

isn't some of the difference due to the value of your dollar...so depends on whether what you are buying is local or imported...plus we don't have gst on foodstuffs generally...

[@BrentColeman]

Hey Jayne, thanks for watching! Very true on the GST side of things where Australia benefits from it being waived on food. I have converted all prices into New Zealand Dollar so they could be compared side-by-side

[@fairynuff167]

I dn't know where your rental prices come from but average rent in Auck for 3br is $760 a wk

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Gillian, not sure about the price to rent a 3bdrm house as I briefly just looked at a 1bdrm apartment and flat. This link could give a rough idea on where averages lie, but aren't specific enough to draw many conclusions: www.interest.co.nz/charts/real-estate/rents-average-auckland

[@MrBond007shiv]

5:28 This is a stunning fact!! thanks Brent🎉

[@BrentColeman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brohenben]

Is charging for housing per week normal? I’ve never seen that before lol

[@BrentColeman]

Weekly is the norm in Australia and New Zealand. When I lived in Singapore rent was shown monthly, and in Dubai it's often shown annually.

[@trends2morrow107]

How much is the monthly cost of cockroach and Mossi sprays ...comparison ?

[@tacorevenge87]

Lol😅

[@Jumbaride]

Which one were you referring to regarding cockroaches?

[@overworlder]

Australia’s about to go back into El Niño and if it’s anything like last time I will start thinking about moving to NZ.

[@felix121984]

Kind of like Norwary and Sweden, Singapore and Malaysia.

[@bikepacker9850]

Beer is cheaper from a bottle shop but a Schooner at the pub in NZ is $14, it's half that in Australia.

[@K_one_w_one]

As an expat, I was shocked by how expensive Aotearoa is

[@richardorsulich4698]

New Zealand is also expensive

[@K_one_w_one]

Kia ora. Yeah but as I've lived in all 3: Aust, Aotearoa & NZ , I can definitely say New Zealand's much more expensive. eg 5 bucks for pie! In my day they're were only $1. Also having a duopoly doesn't help. Cheers

[@kimpham7846]

What is Aotearoa?

[@ykchang7171]

What about the salary difference between Oz and NZ?

[@BrentColeman]

Hey! This depends on the job, but generally Australia will pay higher especially when considering their additional super contributions

[@madbutcher162]

3 b/room $230 a week in Auckland? That might be for 1 of the 3 rooms

[@BrentColeman]

Yes it is for just one of the rooms in the flat

[@nikserof2183]

Goodness me. 0:14 I have never heard anyone from NZ pronounce "pastures" like that, unless they're from the Midlands in England. I can't imagine which school you went to.

[@BrentColeman]

Haha my vowels are a bit mixed up from my time living in Singapore 😂 went to state schools in NZ and university at NUS over there

[@allfatherasia5579]

@@BrentColeman Damn bro. Didnt know you took your uni in my country..Welcome to singapore :D

[@BrentColeman]

@@allfatherasia5579 I love Singapore! Such an awesome place to live, I was involved in moving Sunshine Bakery to Malaysia in my previous job :D

[@nzkid07]

Great video. But renting in Auckland can cost you around $720 to $900 per week for a 3 bedrooms. And for a $1.1 mil home you'll get a shipping container box or a very run down house... unless of course, you wldn't mind the 45 mins drive to central. Whereas in Melbourne, you can get a decent house for around a mil.

[@didjavegoodweekend]

Not so sure with your fibre prices as I had the NBN unlimited download data with dodo for $70 on the super fast speed.

[@kumarapatch1234]

Iv spent 30yrs in Oz way better lifestyle better wages better climate depends where you live as well

[@tarugardiner4287]

Home is home for me , got the river , land and sea . Can't beat home .

[@BrentColeman]

Absolutely!

[@Andy_M986]

I don't know where you got the info that cars are cheaper in Australia, cars are far cheaper back home in NZ,having brought cars in both, they are definitely cheaper back home.

[@killjoyredux8361]

Yep unless buying new or high end...second hand for sure

[@barish0999]

also the house price comparison should me the some priced house than you can see you pay less mortgage au

[@adrianfeeger]

Hmm I would think quality of life might be better in NZ, and I'm from Australia. So it seems mostly to balance out financially, however I think my interest in moving to NZ might have been validated.

[@Magyarorsz]

But my favorite country to live in terms of living was Hungary Budapest same size as Auckland but considerable cheaper. McDonald's $11 NZD Milk 2L $2 Petrol $1.08 Rent $150 a month Power bill - about the same Car - about the same ( depending of model and brand varies wildly) Even cheaper than this is places like Nyíregyháza Debrecen Szombathely Székesfehérvár.

[@BrentColeman]

I love Budapest - great city and of course, very cheap to get by!

[@scottfree993]

Not to mention Hungary's cheap alcohol, especially in Aldi.

[@tolaisolia8743]

My brother in-law has a friend in Australia he pays 700 a week for a 2 bedroom apartment over here you'll be paying around 450 a week for a 2 bedroom apartment here in New Zealand he reckons that it's basically the same we get left with nothing after food and they get left with nothing after rent I'm thinking about making the move but not really thinking about it after that lol

[@BrentColeman]

A 2 bedroom apartment for $450 is a steal - Auckland CBD is now about that for a studio!

[@navindrachand7101]

Recently moved to Gold coast Australia nothing seems cheaper than New Zealand. If you compare dollars , Beer 🍺 in Australia is twice as much expensive than nz.

[@Magyarorsz]

Gold Coast- Tweed area is a resort area you do realise that right?

[@errolmeulen6127]

West Gold butter smaller town NZD $8.40 sth island Woolies - Sydney AU $5.40

[@kathywu2007]

Countdown transfer stock from Australia to Nz which the reason why countdown more expensive in Nz. 2nd Australia government add 9% ( sorry can’t remember duty or tax) on the alcohol import 😊

[@lucabrasi2130]

Brent. If you want to retire faster with more savings, go to Australia. You even get a higher pension than here. 22 universities compared to only two universities here

[@scottfree993]

NZers get the pension at 65 with no assets test, so everyone gets it, while Australians have to wait until 67 and get through a gruelling assets test and can take several months to get approved

[@explorerjlc1743]

rego in Oz is more expensive than NZ

[@John-kl9pb]

With air quality reaching hazardous levels in Sydney how is it in Auckland ?

[@BrentColeman]

Air is fine here

[@runforrestrun1965]

As one who’s lived around the world and in both these countries, both are expensive compared to Europe and the US/Canada, but factoring in distance to Aus then even further again to NZ, it’s understandable imports are dear. Both countries have their positives, but for me personally NZ is my chosen winner. If I was younger and wanted bars and clubs life then Sydney or Melbourne out does Auckland. But Auckland does that to the rest of NZ! lol.

[@VideosCPS]

I’m not sure you claim that Canada is cheaper holds up - not at least for BC and Alberta.

[@julzhunt7790]

You should’ve visited Perth🤔❤️🇦🇺

[@gabagaba1220]

So in aus there is no GST on fresh fruit and produce We also have a guarantee on milk cheese eggs and bread And you will also find ppl in Nz tend to go to brisbane first

[@toma0000]

Great video on lots of researches. Only looking at lower costs and higher income, All NZer should fly there straight away, but I still wonder what about other factors that affect whole income like the difference of taxation system?

[@alblack6518]

Wages are $500 per week higher, which covers the few things dearer in Australia than in NZ.

[@tonifoster1835]

Car rego is way cheaper in NZ than Australia, great vlog

[@BrentColeman]

Wow I just looked at the price, that's huge! Thanks for watching Toni!

[@didjavegoodweekend]

It’s free in nsw if you’re on the pension

[@lindsaybrown7357]

Yes, but no road user charges in Oz. And way cheaper fuel.

[@7Sean7]

Since ive moved to Melbounre from Auckland i telll eveyone this "Living is cheaper in Australia, the fun stuff is cheaper in NZ" (by fun stuff im talking drugs and alc)

[@BrentColeman]

Hahaha I know the alcohol is cheaper here at the supermarkets, not sure about the other ‘fun’ though!!

[@Andy_M986]

Car registration is far cheaper in NZ, my car rego for 12 months is $834,in NZ it was a mere $160,but they don't have warrant of fitness in Australia, it's up to the owner to keep it road worthy.

[@julzhunt7790]

It depends what State you’re in. Some States you have to get an RWC. Road Worthy Certificate and pay Toll roads. Don’t have either of those in WA. 😁

[@lindsaybrown7357]

Not to mention cheaper fuel in Oz and no road user charges.

[@stephendickson9000]

Do these prices onclude exchange rates?

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Stephen, yes they do!

[@stephendickson9000]

@@BrentColeman interesting thing with fuel, yes it's cheaper there but I've always found you use a lot more of it

[@babibau2781]

Wait....so are you comparing Sydney against auckland ??? 😅

[@kirstynutt5751]

Can't believe butter is one of the things nz has cheaper prices... so weird when cheese is almost twice the price. Ps Whittakers is world class Cadbury ain't shit

[@BrentColeman]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@BelladonnaRN]

love ur vids! thanks

[@Magyarorsz]

Sydney has more to offer bigger population than the entire New Zealand population economy is Australia is far more robust than New Zealand. You get paid better in Australia on average for doing the exact same job as you would in New Zealand on average $3-$4 more on average. AUD is stronger as well for buying things online aswell. In terms of living Australia is still better it has far more open market doesn't have what New Zealand has limited options at retail unlike New Zealand has duolopy run system where there is really not much competition so they charge whatever they like.

[@sooknandannishan]

but you earning potential is on average $500 per week higher in Australia, compared to NZ.

[@toddyoung913]

What but the alcohol in Australia is heavily taxed but you didn't mention that.

[@allfatherasia5579]

um he did...The pack of coronas?

[@NicholasPapamarcos-zx8ty]

To be accurate you need to adjust the money it doesn’t look like you have

[@BrentColeman]

All the prices were adjusted to NZD

[@mistah118]

Great work 👍

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheRwinny]

yeah i think auckland / sydney isn't comparable

[@TheRwinny]

great vid otherwise

[@deantaukamo9426]

Does that allow for conversion rate be pretty close

[@Andy_M986]

Internet is far cheaper in Australia,and they give out more data, so that makes it a far better deal,and more favourable,alcohol is also cheaper in NZ then Australia as well

[@lifesayzzz]

Who pays more income tax? An Australian or New Zealander ? Plz reply

[@BrentColeman]

I made a video on this a couple months ago! Please find the link here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2GciJqmi8hmrZY

[@PKar03]

Video was too fast when having a look at the picture!

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Karan! Whoops sorry, will try to slow the pace in future videos!

[@goldentripexperience]

@@BrentColeman , please, tks!

[@andy3949]

Dont know why you would pick the most expensive areas in both countries to own or rent a home. How about we just use the national average? Would have been easier and would have shown Australia is overall cheaper for housing.

[@BrentColeman]

Heya! Definitely could have used that approach too - I made the video with kiwis in mind, with the greatest flow between the two countries likely being Auckland and Sydney. I have some friends that recently moved up to Brisbane and they can't believe how much cheaper everything is, especially housing

[@andy3949]

Fair enough! Just thought I'd give another option for comparison. I liked the video so keep them coming brother! @@BrentColeman

[@Just_Start_Drawing]

Comparing Aukland to Sydney for housing is hardley fair. Sydney has a higher population than all of NZ so it's not an acurate comparison.

[@BrentColeman]

The idea behind it was if I were to move from one city to the other, what would housing cost

[@hmilydylan]

I have to say this comparison is biased. Specially when it comes to Auckland and Sydney. Australia has many cities If you put Auckland in Australia, it is a small city. Small cities in Australia usually have much cheaper house and rental price. In terms of the city size Auckland is somewhere between Perth and Adelaide. If you compare the price standards from those 2 cities. Australia cost of living is much cheaper than new Zealand. But as far as I know lots of Kiwis love moving to Brisbane which is a bigger city than Auckland but also cheaper than Auckland.

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for the comment. Definitely see where you're coming from, perhaps I'll follow up this video in the future with one comparing Auckland with equivalent sized cities in Australia.

[@denyswoodroffe490]

You are well out with the housing coast.

[@ninjapirate123]

I lived in NZ for 17 years and I can agree that it's horrible living here, but more peaceful and quiet, still I prefer living in Australia

[@Dragoon-tie]

the thing that gets me about comparing nz dairy products to other countries is why in the hell we pay so much for it when we produce almost all of our own dairy products and we are one of the biggest exporters per capita in the world it makes no sense

[@Dragoon-tie]

also note that you are comparing auckland to sydney which are almost 2 totally different spectrums when it comes to living sydney is more like New york living where as auckland is more like L.A so you would be better comparing it to brisbane rather than sydeny it would be good to see you redo this with those factors included as having another variable would definitely add to peoples perspective and influence thier decisions note dropping a sub in hopes you redo this haha

[@AKR088]

You said it yourself, NZ is exporting food which makes the prices more aligned international levels not local. Food prices are pretty similar everywhere in the world. You literally have to grow food yourself and work in your small farm, go to forest and pick free berries, go to sea and catch free fish with a wood stick etc

[@Dragoon-tie]

@@AKR088 actually most countries pay alot less for NZ dairy products than what we do

[@AKR088]

@@Dragoon-tie yeah, many variables making up these prices. Corruption in local competition, local sellers could pay higher price because of lower volume and export country is buying higher volume with better discount etc etc.... It can not work without being international, because all the machinery is also international, same tractors in every country. Similar thing is in Russia too, they are massive exporters, but food not so cheap. Personal mini farm would really be the best for quality and probably cost as well. Own chickens, fish and veggies for keto.

[@brendabidois1264]

Now the cost of renting in Australia has sky rocketed

[@DakeZak]

Almost all the jobs in australia pay higher than nz. Nz is like 3rd world wages and 1st world prices, which is the reason there is mass emigration from Nz

[@killjoyredux8361]

NZ is not third world wages. I earn $140k.

[@elisebalk]

The Big Mac scale: How long must you work to afford a Big Mac, groceries, transport, housing, & utilities.

[@lisajackson3452]

We did 10yrs in Australia, been back over 4yrs. Yes it's cheaper on many things there but you don't have healthcare unless you go private and no assistance from Govt for most things if you're a kiwi. NZers are classified as international students so all higher learning following high school is horrendously expensive and not always open to you. You also have to pay indemnity insurance no matter what on a property, even if it's a rental you are liable for morons as no acc. You also have to pay more often for drivers licensing and higher costs for car usage with forced insurances. If you can work for Australian company though you will win every time on wages/super/holidays/union advantages etc we still work for an Australian based company whilst living in NZ, zero regrets as you are looked after so well comparatively to in NZ.

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for the insights Lisa! It's very interesting to hear about the realities of living over there, and the things we benefit from here that are out of pocket there. Thanks for sharing!

[@lindsaybrown7357]

Not sure about the healthcare statement. I don't have private and haven't had a problem in the Australian public system. I also note Australia funds more new drugs and medicines not available to Kiwis. Also, was a lot of Kiwis coming over to Australia for cancer treatments and radiology not available in NZ.

[@Why.not.so.serious]

From this video, overall both are expensive at same level but where Australia has edge is the fact that average purchasing power for Aussie is 20% more than Kiwi. However I have seen n heard from people in NZ that NZ life should not be measured only on expensive parameter but also quality parameter. It's more expensive as well as more in quality and even better HDI than Australia which is also a highly developed nation amongst top 10. But NZ feature among top 3 😎

[@BrentColeman]

Hey, thanks for your insightful comment! Definitely agree on all the points you've raised!

[@stevehartnett9665]

The GST in NZ is higher

[@shaunlockwood1535]

Hey mate , as a expat kiwi living in Aus for 16 years you have a fairly respectable comparison. But you have to be careful and compare apples to apples with your real estate costs . You are comparing Auckland with Sydney. Not the same matey , Auckland is not a huge international city like Sydney . Your better off day using Brisbane vs Auckland … similar population. You’ll find realestate better value and you get more bang for your buck . Sydney is up their with London , Paris & New York . I’ve been living on the Gold Coast since moving here and no way would I or all my family ( my parents, my grown up children and grandchildren) ever go back . Nz is a basket case , forgot crazy cost log living ( a friend txt me this morning, your eggs $10 a dozen … $4 odd dollars here free range ) you can’t add your dodgy weather & Rampant crime to the list … oh and as you get older your health care system is near breaking point ….. not good at all . Cheers , Shaun . Ps the more kiwis wake up to the fact NZ is a lost cause and more of the smart ones move over here the better !

[@YokNg]

Talking about Singapore at the end. I'm from there. Yea sure haircuts are cheap but 1 honda civic here is roughly 200k NZD and a similar house in NZ going for 500k is probably 5mil NZD here in SG. for 500k we only have 40 year old shitholes to live in.

[@BrentColeman]

Yup I’m in Singapore now, was talking about an isolated item and not the country as a whole. Know the situation in this country well haha

[@rhettwilliams9497]

Where's other places of New Zealand prices rather than Auckland prices

[@kumarapatch1234]

I spent 30 yrs in Oz better wages better lifestyle more opportunities

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s definitely a common experience from many kiwis that have shifted over

[@rcast3763]

Haha who moves to Sydney? Moved to Melbourne 9 years ago, money moves further even with the same salary without factoring our 10.5% employer contribution to Super 👌

[@BrentColeman]

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

[@gillianwatt7421]

You've compared Auckland to Sydney which is Australia's most expensive city. You should have compared Auckland to a similar sized city. Adelaide or Perth perhaps.

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Gillian, thanks for watching! Thanks for the suggestion, this could be something I look at in a future video. In this video I wanted to use Sydney as this is one of the more common places for kiwis to move to. It's always going to be a rough comparison as there's a significant number of variables to consider, but hope this gives a rough gauge for those currently looking to move abroad.

[@Why.not.so.serious]

Actually, Auckland is the most expensive city in NZ too. Ofcourse it is much smaller in size than Sydney. Entire NZ's population = Sydney population 😎

[@RaterisimoCBA]

Unfortunately comparing a couple of products / services against each other doesn't really help draw any solid conclusions. Only governments have the infrastructure to be able to survey different areas of the economy and really know what the real cost of living is, this can't be done by the average citizen. What IS a reality is that kiwis are still choosing to move to Australia wether that is because Australia has lower cost of living or higher wages (I'm more inclined towards the latter). What REALLY matters is HOW many products / services you can buy at the end of the day, not how much they cost you or what your wage / salary is (it's these two combined, also called 'purchase power'). Labourers in Australia are earning from 27 to 35 AUD which is insane when you consider that minimum wage in NZ is 21.50 If I'm not mistaken.

[@BrentColeman]

Definitely agree, it's extremely hard to make any definite conclusions from such a small sample size. Even between our two similar countries, factors as you say like minimum wage, taxes, SKUs, chains, cities, and regulations among many others mean there's so many variables to consider. Hopefully this video acts as a rough starting point for those looking to possibly move overseas, and they can then do their own research around the goods they are likely to purchase. Purchasing power is definitely a better measure, I wish I could have included salary information in this video but unfortunately the data is highly variable between sources. Funny story too, I once met a guy in Sydney washing windows for AUD$65 - not bad aye!

[@alexlanning712]

COL couldnt be worse in Kiwiland, could it?

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Alex! What's COL?

[@alexlanning712]

@@BrentColeman Cost Of Living Brent

[@takadaimaru8637]

I'm thiking of moving to Australia from Japan. Simply want a higher salary and better life...

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Taka - hope this video was useful! All the best for your research!

[@gabagaba1220]

What about health care. In aus it’s free

[@scottfree993]

Free in Australia if you don't pay federal income tax, otherwise you have the Medicare levy

[@coopsnz1]

Income tax " Duties " excise taxes much higher in Australia

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Ben, thanks for watching! Definitely agree there may be other areas where Australia is more expensive, their excise on alcohol is higher and they have numerous other taxes/levies such as stamp duties that NZ doesn't have. I did some maths around the income taxes in both countries and the breakeven is ~$146,500k p.a. If your income is below that you pay less income tax in Australia, higher you'll pay more income tax over there.

[@coopsnz1]

Car tax in Australia

[@HDscanner01]

Auckland is only the size of city to compare with Adelaide not Sidney….

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Jacky, thanks for watching. The affordability of a city is not dependent on its population size. The reason I compared Auckland and Sydney is because they were the largest city in each country, and are common places to move from and to.

[@ciroalb3]

there's another dimension of the relationship between the two countries. Australia offers a safety valve for the Kiwi population of younger workers, so that NZ can operate a less efficient, more costly socialist economy in the knowledge that unemployed workers can always find jobs in Australia

[@rakstill]

Either way it's living near a beach or living with deadly animals

[@FrightF]

HAH NBN HAHAHA Fisher & Pykel is owned by a Chinese company unfortunately btw. Haier. The Media, including NZ media, shockingly, praise Australia as some brilliant haven. I have never seen a well performed comparison just cursory ones.

[@christophermarshall527]

I believe the cost of buying a politician is also far less in Australia.

[@hannahmorris9172]

Do you really live in nz

[@BrentColeman]

Yes I do

[@rogermunoz1157]

Hi Brent, thanks for this video. I would like you to speak more slowly, please.

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Roger, thanks for watching! Yes absolutely :)

[@rogermunoz1157]

Hi@@BrentColeman I am Roger, no Carlos😊

[@BrentColeman]

Sorry! Replying to comments too late in the evening 😅

[@stevenrostron6671]

I think some of the comparisons are probably a bit more obvious in real life. Furniture is a good one, yes you can compare Freedom as it exists in both countries, but Australia has places like IKEA and loads of other stores that have more variety and are much cheaper than NZ

[@BrentColeman]

Hi Steven, definitely agree! Hopefully we have cheaper options here soon!

[@maniac-69]

There's a 9 percent difference in the dollar to factor in as well. Wages will usually reflect this as well so I think NZ may be a little cheaper overall.

[@BrentColeman]

Thanks for watching! In the video I had converted the Australian prices to the New Zealand Dollar.

[@maniac-69]

@@BrentColeman ahh I got ya. It's something that has interested me lately. Thinking about moving back to NZ. Thaks for your efforts.

[@silviaonpc6069]

@@maniac-69 As you can see in the video he has adjusted it to NZD. Even if both measured the same, the wages in Australia are substantially higher than NZ and such it's cheaper to live in Australia.

[@maniac-69]

@@silviaonpc6069yea he said he made the correct adjustments. Just using each in local currency won't be enough because there are far too many variables to give a clear answer.

[@silviaonpc6069]

@@maniac-69 Care to give examples of variable factors? I think most of what’s been covered is fairly reasonable.

[@bikepacker9850]

So it's settled, Australia is better than New Zealand....... And while we're at it, Crowded House is an Australian band.