As it happens, I just put a spreadsheet together for our estimated weekly expenses if my husband and I lived in Auckland. (We don't have children but are considering having a baby in NZ). I wouldn't mind some feedback on it and it might be helpful for other people.
Assumptions: 2 / 3 bedroom apartment, one car, no kids, one international holiday per year
Estimated weekly cost of living:
Numbers picked from:
http://www.enz.org/cost-of-living-in-new-zealand.HTML
Expense: NZ $
Rent: 450 (Auckland centre)
Food: 192
Other supermarket Purchases: 23
House Maintenance: 15
Clothing: 18
Fuel: 22
Car Maintenance: 12
Public Transport: 15
House Insurance: 7
House Contents Insurance: 6
Car Insurance: 5
Internet: 12
Telephone Local and National: 12
Telephone International: 10
Mobile: 10
Council Rates: 33
Electricity/Heating: 35
Small Medical: 12
Misc./Entertainment: 53
Tobacco:
Medical Insurance: 20
Holidays: 150
Christmas: 10
Childcare: Note: childcare in a good preschool costs $160 - $200 per week
Your total weekly spend is: $1,122 NZD
Income Tax Rates ------------After-tax (limit)
$0 - $38,000: 19.5%------------$30,590
$38,001 - $60,000: 33% --------$45,330 ($30,590 + $14,740)
$60,001 upwards: 39%
Salary------------ After-tax------------After-tax per week
$80,000------------$57,530------------$1,106
$90,000------------$63,630------------$1,224
$100,000-----------$69,730------------$1,341
$110,000-----------$75,830------------$1,458
Some notes about salaries in NZ:
The result is that two people who each have salaries of $38,000 p.a. take home a total of $61,180 (that's $1,177 per week). A sole-earner with a salary of $76,000 p.a. takes home $55,090 ($1,059 per week). So the couple take home $118 per week more than the sole earner.
In 2003, the average gross family income (including social benefits) in NZ was $73,929 for couples with children. The figure for couples with no children was $62,390.