International recruiters tell us that fears about New Zealand’s cost of living are a big concern for candidates. People worry about relocating to New Zealand, only to find they can’t afford to live here. So we’ve put together 16 top tips to help expats and migrants make their dollars go further in New Zealand.
Savvy food shopping
1. Choose where you shop. Buying groceries at the corner store is expensive, and if you’re living in the CBD, that’s not where the cheapest supermarkets are located. It’s well worth making a weekly or monthly trip out to a Pak n Save store which are usually located in the suburbs. And Aucklanders will soon have access to Costco, due to open in late 2022.
2. Buy in season. As an island in the far reaches of the South Pacific, any imported food is going to be a lot more expensive than it is continental countries. So focus on what’s grown locally and seasonal to save money. New Zealand is a major food producer so at certain times of year there will be abundant supplies and prices will plummet - that is the time to buy and preserve or freeze.
See this helpful chart for when fruit and vegetables are in season https://www.produce.co.nz/seasonality-chart/
Save on utilities
3. Check your power plan. The Powerswitch website compares all the plans available to your address. By switching to a cheaper provider, people can typically save between $300 and $400 per year.
4. Dry your washing on the line outside. Electric dryers use lots of power and for much of the year the wind will do the job for free.
5. Bundle your services. Suppliers often offer packages which include electricity, broadband and phone plans which are cheaper than if you buy them individually. Sometimes you’ll even get deals thrown in like free Netflix.
Public vs private transport
6. Evaluate your car needs. Petrol and cars are expensive in NZ, so do evaluate whether it’s possible to do without a vehicle altogether. Or if you’re a family just have one. Investigate public transport for your commute, and in the major cities you can hire cars and vans by the hour if you need them. Many e-cars qualify for significant price rebates from the government so that may also be an option with significantly lower running costs.
7. Avoid school drop off. Most primary schools have a ‘walking school bus’ where kids go on foot together. And many older kids bus to school with subsidised passes.
Make the most of NZ’s public schools and healthcare
8. Challenge your assumptions. Don’t expect that if your children went to private schools and/or you had private health insurance in your home country, that you need to fund the same thing here in NZ.
9. Free public schooling. The public school system is well regarded, and there are no fees. Only 4% of Kiwi kids go to private schools. All pre-schoolers are entitled to 20 hours free early childhood education too, which can be used at private or public kindergartens or daycare.
10. Subsidised medical care. Doctors visits are highly subsidised, there is free dental care for children and public hospital care is free too. The government’s ACC scheme funds medical treatment required as a result of an accident, and also covers loss of income. Only around 25% of the population have private health insurance. Even if you do take out insurance, you may only need medical and surgical rather than comprehensive cover, and it is far cheaper than many counties eg US.
Join the sharing economy
11. Free online reading. Throughout New Zealand you’ll find libraries run by local councils, and most also offer free access to e-books, magazines and movies.
12. Why buy toys? There’s also a well developed network of ‘toy libraries’ with a small joining fee, that enables you to borrow new toys for your children each week rather than investing in your own playthings.
Rental properties
13. Compromise to save rental dollars. For most expats, rent is the most significant weekly expense. The key determinants of rent are location (proximity to the city or amenities like beaches), size and quality. To achieve your desired rental budget, go through these items logically and decide what you can do without. Can you put up with a longer commute in order to pay less further outside the city? Could your children share a bedroom?
14. Help your landlord. Explore ways to reduce your rent by offering to take on responsibilities such as maintaining the garden, or doing simple maintenance work like painting. Most landlords really value a good tenant so pay the rent on time and take care of the property, and you’ll be in a good negotiating position to argue against any future rent increases.
Furnishing a home
15. Don’t buy new. Setting up a home in NZ is one of the biggest expenses you’ll face. Trademe, NZ’s answer to Ebay, has great second hand deals as do charity shops like the Dove Hospice Shops and Salvation Army Stores.
16. Shop smart. Kmart offers excellent value kitchenware, crockery etc, and mega-store Briscoes has everything, but only buy here when there’s a sale (which is frequently!).
Mobile Relocation delivers resettlement and relocation programmes for businesses employing offshore talent. Our goal is to get your expat and migrant talent up and running in NZ as quickly as possible - reducing their time to effectiveness in their new role, and enabling them to deliver their skills and expertise to your the benefit of your business.
Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
Ready to move to New Zealand? Get our FREE Move to NZ Checklist here.