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Thread: Auckland on $75k

  1. #1
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    Default Auckland on $75k

    I have a job offer to work in Auckland for $75k a year. We really, really want to do it, but we're afraid the numbers won't add up.

    Is this a reasonable income for two adults and a toddler? Housing costs are obviously a big issue. It doesn't look like you can get anything decent under $400pw. Cable/Internet and mobile phone costs are another big question. Everyone keeps saying how expensive groceries are in NZ, and that's got me nervous, as well.

    Can we do it? Or would we be subjecting ourselves to a life of scraping by?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Auckland
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    You may struggle on $75k. I am on my own so I am not the best judge.

    Have a look at http://www.salaries.co.nz/a/salary-tax-calculator/ for a rough guide for your take home pay. It may help a little in your calculations.

    www.vodafone.co.nz will give you an idea of mobile costs. They also do a reasonable broadband/sky package too.

    There are threads on food costs, but www.countdown.co.nz will help- try doing a weekly shop for guide price. Bear in mind that you need to seasonally shop here, otherwise it can cost a fortune and always look out for bargains! I love limes, but at $20 /kg, its a bit crazy.

    Hope this helps a little

  3. #3
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    India
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    A.C. whats your line of work, if I may ask?
    You could look for the range of salaries on seek.co.nz

  4. #4
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    Anything is possible if you are frugal enough. Maybe you go without certain luxuries like Sky tv etc. We chose to not pay for Sky and we love not having it to be honest. Either way, good luck.

  5. #5
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    Everyone keeps saying how expensive groceries are in NZ
    Your first impression of grocery prices is likely to cause alarm, because US food prices are artificially low. But many immigrants don't help themselves, certainly at first, because they try to buy the exact same selection that they would have done back home (wherever home was). For one thing, foreign brands will have had to be shipped, and will therefore carry a higher price than local ones.

    As lou76 says, NZers eat seasonally, using local produce. Many locals garden, and sell their surplus at their gates, and these neighbourhood sources are always worth looking out for, as are specialist shops - often MUCH better value (and quality) than the supermarkets. This goes for meat and fish as well as vegetables. Then, the supermarkets run weekly rotating price reductions, so, apart from when you first arrive and have to get your basics for the store cupboard, it's worth waiting - you stock up when your favourite kind of (sauce, or washing powder, or coffee, etc. etc.) is on special, so you don't need to pay the full listed price for it.

  6. #6
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    $75k is tight for two adults and a toddler in Auckland... In many NZ households, both adults work.

  7. #7
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    Thanks a lot for the responses, guys, although it is a bit disappointing. Based on my calculations, I'd be taking home about $1,100 a week, and if we could get a decent place for $400, that leaves plenty left over for groceries and utilities, but I assume there's a lot that I'm not taking into consideration. Where do you think the other $700 would go? What is a reasonable budget for groceries?

    Are there any reasonably cheap places to live outside of Auckland? We don't have to live in the city centre. I'd love to have a nice train ride into work.

  8. #8
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    @pereira I'm a web developer. I'm hoping I can get them up to $80k. Do you think that would be reasonable?

  9. #9
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    UK
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    Quote Originally Posted by A.C. Slater View Post
    Thanks a lot for the responses, guys, although it is a bit disappointing. Based on my calculations, I'd be taking home about $1,100 a week, and if we could get a decent place for $400, that leaves plenty left over for groceries and utilities, but I assume there's a lot that I'm not taking into consideration. Where do you think the other $700 would go? What is a reasonable budget for groceries?

    Are there any reasonably cheap places to live outside of Auckland? We don't have to live in the city centre. I'd love to have a nice train ride into work.
    A lot would depend on the nature of your stay in NZ; if it's long term, bear in mind in Auckland, to get even a reasonable property, you're looking at way more than $400 a week for that; more in the region of $750 a week. Then what about a car, furniture etc. - would you borrow money? Unlikely on $75K you'd build up enough cash. Again, that would be an issue.

    We have a wife and toddler in ChCh. As an idea of additional costs:-

    $400 week rent
    $200 week groceries (and I'm pretty frugal - pack and save, get bargains, shop around etc.)
    $60 week fuel
    $15 week car insurance
    $15 week life assurance
    $10 week contents insurance
    $70 week power
    $50 week towards car maintanance (servicing, WOF, REGO etc.)
    $100 week spending (sundries, lunches, entry to events etc.)
    $75 week on additional baby stuff as he gets older (clothes, stroller)
    $25 week on presents (christmas etc. - inc savings)
    $20 week on mobile for 2
    $50 week on Sky, home phone, broadband

    I'd say that's a reasonable, albeit not luxury lifestyle. Not much point moving to NZ and living on a pittance, and not having/doing stuff (may as well be in the UK doing nothing earning more)

    As you can see, that is taking your whole income - and have included no other expenses - i.e. holidays, unexpected expenses, unexpected costs, towards a credit card, loan for anything, car loan, savings etc. etc.

    To be perfectly blunt, I earn $120K in ChCh, wife not working, toddler, and we're not rich by any means, and need to plan expenditure etc. until my wife works again.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by A.C. Slater View Post
    Based on my calculations, I'd be taking home about $1,100 a week, and if we could get a decent place for $400, that leaves plenty left over for groceries and utilities, but I assume there's a lot that I'm not taking into consideration. Where do you think the other $700 would go? What is a reasonable budget for groceries?
    Have you had a go at the calculator on this site? Based on two adults and two children I understand but you can either accept the given values or put your own in. You then transfer that figure to the spend box and it works out what gross salary you need. Link to calculator here . It will at least give you an idea of what costs you might be overlooking.

    You may save on rent by moving further out from the city, but don't forget to factor in your commuting costs
    Last edited by RedVee; 30th January 2013 at 08:07 AM.

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