[Brit Boy]

Hi Folks

Can you tell me please a rough guide to running costs of a house in NZ.

In the UK we have council Tax,Water Rates ETC

What is there in NZ ? & are there any hidden costs we would not know about in the UK

Thanks

Brit Boy :cheers

[jubjub]

Just about the same really, heres our monthly bills


Phone/Internet $100-120
Leccy (we have a wood burner so less oil radiators on) $100-130
Rates $350 per qtr
Water rates twice a year, we paid $60 so far, suspect next bill will be bigger
Sky TV (no tv licence to pay for if you dont have sky, so thats one bill less!) $60 (sports but no movies)
Insurance (car, life, house) $200
Mortgage ($200k) $1500
Hope that helps...

[Singel]

Here are our monthly expenses for 2 adults, no kid :
- council tax $100
- electricity $85 (using heat pump everyday)
- gas/water $50
- road tax/car insurance $90
- hosp/life insurance $180
- petrol $200
- telephone/internet $120
- Sky TV $44 (without sports and movie channels)

[captnron]

What strikes you once you get here, is it's more than the simple costs of owning a house. The ancillary budget is quite intimidating. I agree with the above for the most part.

Rates at $100-200/Mo are quite common, and closer to $1000/mo on acreages near the ocean (!!!)

Electrical: We spend $120/Mo without heat :mad: and this goes up to ~$200 in winter (Note this is only for one warm room [like the UK in the 60's. Its hard to find an energy efficent home (www.eehnz.co.nz) and all the old ones are tragic] otherwise you are heating the outside. And I live in Auckland which is comparatively warm! An inverter heat pump is the cheapest heat once purchased. The electrical grid is in turmoil.

Having said that, the amount of sun in NZ is huge compared to the UK, and you can heat an energy efficient house 100% by using solar heat, if done right.

Cost of Living, beyond the house needs to be sorted. We spend over $130/Mo for food, just for 2, and we don't eat anything special, we don't smoke, & don't drink.

Cars can be relatively low cost to buy (used/import), $200/mo for fuel is easy to bust depending on many things. Petrol is less than the UK however you need it more as mass transit is crap.

Husband your UK funds, you will need them.

Having said that, NZ is the better place to live by far. I have been here over 10 yrs now, and when I go back to the UK to visit my relatives (who seem to be in stasis) guess what the best thing is when you first step onto British soil??

My return ticket! :yes

Cheers, I'm outa here :exit