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Is it better to live in Australia or New Zealand?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 20, 2026

Living In New Zealand

Life in New Zealand tends to move at a more relaxed pace. In 2019, New Zealand was ranked as the second safest country in the world. New Zealand has a lower crime rate than Australia. Plus, you won't have to worry about any snakes!

Is New Zealand or Australia more expensive?

When comparing the cost of living in New Zealand vs Australia, New Zealand is the more affordable country to live in. On average, consumer prices in New Zealand are 3.96% lower than in Australia. Rent and groceries cost 17.70% and 5.92% less. Eating out at a restaurant will also cost less in New Zealand.

Is New Zealand friendlier than Australia?

While Australians have a reputation of being friendly, New Zealand "does it even better", the report says. New Zealand was named one of the easiest places in the world to settle in, coming in fifth place, while Australia ranked 20th.

Is New Zealand more beautiful than Australia?

Both countries deliver sweeping landscapes: New Zealand has its huge soaring mountains, glaciers, lakes, and forests, while Australia boasts impossibly beautiful beaches, long stretches of sand, coral reefs, rainforests, blood red deserts, and scrubby bushland.

Is Australia more developed than New Zealand?

Australians are a third richer than New Zealanders. Per capita GDP (adjusted for purchasing power parity) is NZ$48,000 in Australia compared to just NZ$36,400 in New Zealand. This difference is remarkable given that the two countries enjoyed the same level of income for most of the twentieth century.

33 related questions found

Is it worth moving to New Zealand?

New Zealand is known worldwide for its quality of life and relaxed pace. New Zealanders have a strong work ethic but also believe in having a good work life balance. Even in our biggest cities, you are never too far from a beach, bike trail, or national park.

Why is New Zealand's population so low?

As a nation that depends largely on international migration as a means of population growth, the inability for any international migration as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, has dramatically reduced population growth around most of New Zealand.

Is living in Australia worth it?

Australia is the fourth happiest country on the planet, making its lifestyle one of the most known and envied in terms of carefree living. No hectic pace from a big metropolis and a perfect balance between work, family, and leisure time.

Are houses cheaper in Australia than NZ?

Research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that across the Tasman the average price is $669,700 AUD. That means Australia's average property price is around $180,000 AUD more than New Zealand's.

Are houses cheaper in Australia than New Zealand?

The study still considers Australia as severely unaffordable, but overall the market is slightly cheaper than New Zealand's, with median prices 5.9 times the median household income.

Is Australia cheaper to live than NZ?

Australia is 17.0% more expensive than New Zealand.

Where is better to live Canada or NZ?

New Zealand offers good career options, and Canada has better opportunities because of its sheer market size. The Canadian economy is much more robust (10th worldwide) in comparison to New Zealand. Canada as a country is rich in natural resources. Their dependence on these left them with a strong, stable economy.

Why are wages higher in Australia than New Zealand?

“The simple explanation as to the differences in wages in the two countries is that Australia is more productive than New Zealand.” New Zealanders worked longer hours for less output than their counterparts in Australia, he said. “With lower productivity, there is less available to pay workers and firms.

Is NZ a poor country?

Approximately 305,000 children in New Zealand live in poverty. This means over a quarter of children living within the country are underprivileged. Additionally, 14 percent of these children cannot afford basic food, housing or clothing.

Is 100k a good salary in New Zealand?

Because the cost of living varies throughout New Zealand, the definition of a high income also varies. $100,000 will not go far in Auckland or central Otago, for example, but could be considered plenty in an area like Southland. On top of this, income tax will also take a chunk out of your 100k salary.

What is the racial makeup of New Zealand?

As at the 2018 census, the majority of New Zealand's population is of European descent (70 percent), with the indigenous Māori being the largest minority (16.5 percent), followed by Asians (15.3 percent), and non-Māori Pacific Islanders known collectively as Pasifika (9.0 percent).

Why you shouldn't move to New Zealand?

Everything is expensive, lack of job/career opportunities, far from everywhere. Houses are too expensive, renting an apartment almost take all your salary. As much as we would like to see NZ expanding its population, there's a lack of job opportunities for locals and new migrants which is the main drawback.

Why is moving to New Zealand so hard?

There are visa quotas in place, and the limits are very low for applicants from most countries. Moreover, the deadlines for applications are short and open only once a year. That is why you need to look out for the right time to apply for a New Zealand visa, as the vacancies fill up quickly in the first few days.

Is New Zealand cheaper than us?

New Zealand is 11.7% more expensive than United States.

Is it better to study in Australia or New Zealand?

New Zealand is by no means the optimal place to study and live if you're a student, as the cost of living is relatively high. However, it ranks lower than Australia's cities in terms of cost of living. All in all, New Zealand is a bit more affordable for those with particularly tight budgets.

Are there slums in New Zealand?

Auckland's central city is home to some of the region's poorest people, living in tiny overcrowded apartments which are threatening to turn some areas into slums.

Is it difficult to live in Australia?

If your goal is to obtain citizenship, you will be happy to know that Australia is one of the easiest countries in which to accomplish this. Expats who wish to acquire permanent residency should plan to live in the country for at least four years and then pass a citizenship test.