Anna Kate, a recent expatriate from New Zealand to Australia, has highlighted that the cost of living in Australia isn't significantly better than back home, Newshub reported. Anna and her husband Matt relocated to Sydney in September last year to start a business.
Anna noted that while she expected the cost of living to be similar to New Zealand's, she found that apart from a few exceptions, things were mostly on par. She mentioned that petrol and alternative milk coffees are cheaper in Australia, but that doesn't necessarily make them better.
In a recent TikTok video, Anna described Sydney's coffee as average, expressing excitement about returning to New Zealand for a change to enjoy some "good coffee." She described the coffee across the ditch as "fine" when asked about it in the comments.
However, Anna mentioned that one of the more expensive aspects of living in Australia was secondhand cars, noting that they are twice as expensive as in New Zealand, along with license and registration fees.
This perspective comes at a time when many Kiwis are moving to Australia for better pay and, hopefully, lower living costs. According to a recent Statistics New Zealand release, there was a net migration loss of 52,500 New Zealand citizens in the year to March, with just over half of these migrant departures heading to Australia.
Despite the allure of better pay, some Kiwis are finding that the grass isn't always greener. Cassidy Skelton, 28, and her partner Nicolas, 32, recently moved back to New Zealand with their newborn son after being shocked by the work culture in Melbourne.
Nicolas, who works in marketing, could earn double the money in Australia, allowing Cassidy to be a full-time, stay-at-home mum. However, they were taken aback by the work culture, including bosses' treatment of staff and the expectation of regular unpaid overtime.
Cassidy expressed disappointment in the lack of emphasis on work-life balance and mental health in Melbourne, contrasting it with their experience in New Zealand. She noted that the move made her realize she had taken Aotearoa's work culture "for granted."
Ultimately, Cassidy and Nicolas decided to return to New Zealand, prioritising a more relaxed lifestyle over higher pay.
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