[Natalieb]

Hello all you NZ experts, just a quick question:-

Since you have moved to NZ is there anything that has surprised you as being very expensive in comparison to UK prices. This could be food, toys, furniture, clothes etc.

Natalie

[anna_c]

It's a small thing, but the paracetamol sold in chemists (brand name Panadol) is hugely expensive. However you can get generic (signature range) from Foodtown (I haven't found it anywhere else) for a comparable price.

[gil]

Pak n Save do it cheap as well under the Pam's range
Gil

[willowshouse]

Books ..

because they are all imported and if you convert dollar for pound you actually pay more for them in NZ .... AND... the cost of living here means that they are out of line with other expenses.

Have found it cheaper to buy on Amazon and ship over here.

Dawn

[jess]

Thanks to anna and gil for the generic paracetamol info!! (fyi Americans - it's Tylenol). Does anyone happen to know if there's a place to get generic ibuprofen? Nurofen is pretty expensive compared to what I was used to. Sorry if I'm sidetracking the thread...

Natalieb - makeup is pretty expensive here, and willowshouse is dead on about those expensive books!

[Trigirl]

Thanks to anna and gil for the generic paracetamol info!! (fyi Americans - it's Tylenol). Does anyone happen to know if there's a place to get generic ibuprofen? Nurofen is pretty expensive compared to what I was used to. Sorry if I'm sidetracking the thread...

Natalieb - makeup is pretty expensive here, and willowshouse is dead on about those expensive books!

you can get one called i-profen in uni-chem (or any other chemist i would think)

[jess]

wow - I'm dense then. :o Hadn't noticed it at Radiance Phar., but then they always rush up to help me, and they took me straight to the Nurofen. Thanks Trigirl.

[Trigirl]

it comes in a dark blue box with pink tablets pictured on the front (might help you locate it) i think we paid about $20 for 100 tablets. it was a lot cheaper than nurofen.

[Avalon]

. Does anyone happen to know if there's a place to get generic ibuprofen? Nurofen is pretty expensive compared to what I was used to. Sorry if I'm sidetracking the thread...
!
Most pharmacies dont have it on the shelf - so just ask for generic Ibuprofen and you will get it.

In fact - try asking for the generic version of anything you want to buy. If its available and they can legally sell it - they will. Good example is Hayfever tablets - the generic versions are way less than half the price of the branded ones.

[Smiler]

it comes in a dark blue box with pink tablets pictured on the front (might help you locate it) i think we paid about $20 for 100 tablets. it was a lot cheaper than nurofen.

Yep I watch radius pharmacy online, get it in bulk and delivered to the door (along with other stuff as well, before anyone thinks I'm the local dealer).

http://www.radiuspharmacy.co.nz/home.html :D

[pieeater]

Claratyne 'non drowsy' antihistamine tabs.Pack of 30 are $50 at Unichem.Scary eh!.

[mossum]

HI

just purchased SR signature range ibuprofen at fresh choice today - 20 for $2.99
hubby is delighted as I was getting mean at handing them out :laugh ( still not quite as good as tescos 16 for 36p though !!!

vic x

[sarahw]

Moving away from pharmaceuticals... Make up & perfume - Clinique face cream over $100 a pot!! eeek!, Front loading washing machines $1200 for a basic one 2 years ago!, Dysons - the price has been reducing slowly but I wish I'd just shipped an entire container full of Dysons instead of furniture at the price differential!!, good quality fabric (imported from elsewhere always - if you're into making your own furnishings bring some material with you), books, wrapping paper & birthday cards - most of which are imported from the UK!!! pay about $5 for a birthday card, which, when you take the overall cost of living into consideration its a heck of a lot! All I can think of at the minute but sure there's loads more...

[incredible hulse]

Decent cheese

[Mexican in NZ]

Goodness!! where can i start??!!
I used to live in Mexico and then California and now i live in Auckland and the first thing that shocked me was the prices!
Good Brands, you should forget about them! Shoes here are so expensive, clothing the same, unless you dont mind and wait for some sales and buy your things in the Warehouse, or other places they have good sales, Makeup, CD's, electronic appliances, etc... the list goes on, but after a while you get used to know where and when to buy as if you want u can do it, is definately nothing like in the USA where u can find DKNY jeans for 20dlls or so here DKNY i have found it only in wellington and it ranges from 100dlls or more, oh well everything is worth it, people and country are beautiful and i dont regret the move, and look it this way if u r up to u can always ask some of your family or friends to send whatever you need, i go on internet order my clothing, my make up and my family sends it for me without any problem :nice1

[Jo_b]

I agree...cheeeeese. Cyressa haloumi is $14 in New World opposite Te Papa! (that australian pseudo-haloumi is nothing like the good stuff!)

And while I'm at it, how come a country with a huge dairy industry really isn't that great at making cheese? Is it the kiwi palete preferring subtle (tackful way of saying bland or mild) flavour?!

Mobile phones - you have to take out a gazillion year contract to get a good deal on a handset then calls still cost a bomb

Clothes (decent clothes anyway) - how I took for granted the British highstreet!

But, plenty of other things are cheaper. My home, contents and car insurance comes in at around 400 quid!

[barryp]

There's world class cheese in NZ, not just blocks of Colby. Moore Wilsons alone could keep me well-cheesed (though broke!) for years - aged, stinky, creamy, blue... from sheep, goat and cow's milk. Yum.

I do understand that the bulk of the good stuff is for export (gotta get hard currency, and dairy is one way to do it). But I don't understand why the small proportion that isn't exported is so expensive....

My ongoing cost rant regards data communication - at this point, fast and reliable IP to the home is widely available in Europe, North America, and all around the Pacific Rim. Voice traffic (low bandwidth) is almost free worldwide except for a few islands and remote corners of poorer countries. Yet here in NZ, crappy QoS + throttled bandwidth + ridiculously low data quotas are the norm - for very high prices. I can have a good internet drop installed in our Wellington flat - for $500 installation, 1 year contract, and $170/month - and that's a rarity.

[gil]

Dog food! (see thread http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9928&highlight=feed)
Have just got Olive Pedigree (Chum as was in UK)complete dry for a hugely relieving $18 for 8kg. Compares well with the premium brands which come in at (gulp) $120 for 15 kg!!! Sorry Olive, love you loads, but Pedigree will be your staple from now on!

Gil

[Moorf]

Yep, decent cheese is very expensive - I remember buying a small block of Parmesan (genuine stuff) and it was about $18/$20... even the cashier looked twice! :D Worth it though....

Mind you, don't remember it being THAT cheap in UK either.....

[gil]

Yep, decent cheese is very expensive - I remember buying a small block of Parmesan (genuine stuff) and it was about $18/$20... even the cashier looked twice! :D Worth it though....

Mind you, don't remember it being THAT cheap in UK either.....

Real Parmeggiano Reggiano (sp ?) is very expensive in UK. I always used to buy the cheaper Grana di Padano (sp ?) even when I lived in Italy...there goes my undiscerning palate again!

Gil
x

[Moorf]

Yep, reggiano is what I prefer if I can get it, shame it takes so long to make!

I wish I could remember how much bottles of spirits were in the UK, I'm not sure whether paying $38.50 for a large bottle of Bacardi is good or not - I know it makes my eyes water when I pay for it!!

[Avalon]

Lush products. Can be twice the UK price or more. Stock up before leaving home!

(its improted from Japan here)

[KerryS]

Parmesan is shockingly expensive - but worth it, as nothing else compares to the real thing.
I still wince when paying $30 for a lipgloss and over 100 bucks for a pair of jeans. (And those are cheap jeans, not designer labels!)
Magazines are ridiculous prices, and I find the content of most of the NZ/Aus ones quite poor. I rely on my friends to send me on old copies of Red or Eve - I'm no longer bothered about them being out of date, I just refuse to pay $20 for an import magazine...

[incredible hulse]

Just remembered another - carpets. For a country that hasn't a shortage of the furry things how they can justify the prices is beyond me. Cost us 6.5k to do 2 rooms in mid-range stuff.

[sarahw]

I wish I could remember how much bottles of spirits were in the UK, I'm not sure whether paying $38.50 for a large bottle of Bacardi is good or not - I know it makes my eyes water when I pay for it!!

Yep know that feeling - we get people coming out from the UK to bring bottles each time they come for us - spirits are v. expensive & I don't fancy drinking any of the 'budget' stuff they have on offer. Although I must say Prenzel is worth a visit (NZ made stuff - yum!) does a cheaper alternative to Baileys - not quite the same but not bad for $20 a bottle!

[ruthyroo]

Furniture - even Warewhare bookshelves are hideously overpriced IMHO for what they are. And second hand aint that cheap either. I know it's been said before, I know it's predictable and narrow minded but - I MISS IKEA!!

Books - we've been here for nearly 3 years and I've bought a grand total of about 3 books in that time. From someone who would regularly buy 3 a week at Waterstones, that's a big change. The only books I would consider buying here are non-fiction like recipe books, travel books etc. Libararies are really popular in Nz for this very reason.

Cosmetics / lotions / potions. Nuff said above on this. $79 is the cheapest I have seen Clinique moisturiser for (Farmers).

What else? Malt whisky (standard accommodation fee for visitors in a bottle of Islay malt), decent cheese (ditto all comments about rubbish / bland / boring cheese in the supermarkets despite the vast amount of milk sloshing around the country), good quality clothing (plenty of cheap and cheerful rubbish around), anything house related (paint, furniture). Oh and original artwork tends to be really ambitiously priced!! My parents buy a fair number of paintings etc by local artists in the UK and they were shocked at the price of such works here. And postage to the UK is ridiculous - everyone is getting online pressie next xmas!

But what's cheap? Good quality meat, especially steak. Fruit and veggies at the Dunedin farmers market are great. Insurance is okay. 2nd hand cars are really good value compared to the UK. Discount outdoors stuff - like Kathmandu / Doyles etc is cheaper than the UK (my sis splashed out on a Gore Tex jacket that she couldn't afford in the UK). Learning to live within my means and not keep up with the Jones - priceless!

[Trigirl]

Learning to live within my means and not keep up with the Jones - priceless! :clap :clap :clap

could not have put it bettter

[Moorf]

:clap :clap :clap

could not have put it bettter

Yep, that about sums up our experience too - lovin' it!

[colindp]

Paint, 2 litres of ordinary emulsion type paint cost me $90... I apprecite they had to mix it for me as you can't seem to just pluck the colour you fancy straight off the shelf. But flipping heck $90.
I have to admit I miss going to B&Q and picking a can off the shelf for less than £10

[Jo_b]

That's so true about paint! Couldn't believe it, and to make matters worse, I wanted a tester pot of a cream paint, and they couldn't mix me one because the measurements were to small for the machine to handle! The shop assistant suggested taking away loads of colour charts, peeling off a load of little rectangles and sticking them together! Strange.

And I was never a huge Ikea fan back home, but I'm be jumping with joy for one right now!

[Nelsonian]

Yup - Books almost prohibitively priced (and therefore there's a strong second hand market). Ditto decent furniture.
Banking - not free. I had gone with Kiwibank to support the non Australian banking sector - but they have just introduced a $2 fee for the privilege of me logging into my own account and setting up a regular payment to someone! Time to change banks - but they all charge.
Electricity works out expensive - but this could be because house insulation is poor.
Clothes - tragically expensive - especially decent shoes. Wish I'd known before coming out.
On the plus side, car costs are down - petrol cheaper than the UK, second hand cars good value, insurance and maintenance costs lower. Fresh food is also better value and better quality.

[Carol]

Time to change banks - but they all charge.
.

yeah - they all have pros and cons.
I couldnt get over the bank charges when we first came!
Even the fact that there were ANY at all!

Months before we came - we had been offered 700 pounds to stay with the Building Society we had our mortgage through in the UK. People here just looked at me in disbelief when I told them that.

Doctors bills can mount up.....

and DENTISTS!!!! aaargh! I am ashamed to say I have been once in 11 years - mainly because my teeth are OK - but hubby's are appalling - so he needs to go much more than me.

[Nelsonian]

yup - forgot doctors and dentists - the kind of thing it's easy to leave out of a budget!:uhoh

[*Paul]

NZ has traditionally always had high retail markups. 30 years ago prices where absurd for anything imported, while domestic products (milk, bread, produce) were equally cheap.

For any significant purchase paid cash or EFTPOS (debit) make a point of politely ask for a discount, as most retailers have significant wiggle room. If you are buying from wholesaler "trade" type business, there is always a lower trade price which will be given if asked for.

Having said that, Supercheap Auto Parts quoted me a non-negotiable NZ$325 for a Bosch distributor cap, normally $45 in the USA!

As for the electric power bill, one difference at least to California is that the fixed portion of the bill (line charge, I think) is much higher. Same with the city gas supply, and LPG bottles have a rental charge.

The internet speed really is variable. There's a bottleneck somewhere in the national system - often I can't even view youtube video in real time in Hawkes bay, my benchmark for the minimum acceptable speed. The DSL portion of my connection is great since the exchange is only a block away.

[DB]

Banking - not free.
Banking is never free, it's just a question of where the bank charges you. Here, they charge you very isibly per month. In places where banking transaction appear free, they just give you lower interest rates and higher borrowing rates.

Rule of finance number one - all financial institutions are rip-off merchants.

[Trigirl]

Another couple of things to add to this thread that have surprised me.

That in a country with so many sheep and such beautiful and plentiful lamb - it appears to be impossible to buy lamb stock. chicken stock, vege stock, garlic stock, mushroom stock, onion stock and even somehing called "green stock". but no lamb stock.*

And the miniature glasses of wine. I miss large glasses of wine*

*Neither of these things should be read in any way as a complaint - merely issues I need to work through ;)

[holland]

Hi,

Found this really intersting and informative, so thanks to all!!

Thought i'd post and get it back at the top!

J x

[stejude]

I guess its the same anywhere, you from places that offer value. Maybe its worth geting a list to gether stuff, say medicenes, food (staples), furniture etc etc, and saying where the best deals or bargains can be had throughout NZ. Other than that must be a business opportunity for someone to start importing stuff and selling it.

[xanctus]

Sport goodies quite xpensive here also. Tennis shoes here is whoooaaa ridiculously expensive (especially compare to US prices). Tennis balls (per can) also more expensive here.

Sad really.....

[Kim39]

As one who likes his sport clothes i am shocked also at the cost of sports clothing, but i have noticed that the brand Fila is cheap compared to UK prices. I have spent a few bucks worth in the Base in Hamilton on Fila products. As for the lovers of IKEA, well they have a site in Albany all ready for a store to go up. Working for Furniture Court here in TA i was surprised to find out that IKEA requires a population of 1m in a 150k radius to allow one of its stores to open. My boss was very interested in the franchise, but once he had the pop' figures he realised his dream of early retirement had gone.


Kim

[jubjub]

got another one, good quality toddler outdoor play equipment, if you have any good stuff, little tikes etc bring it with you! (just jet wash it first!)

For example, I just got my little boy a little tikes slide, cost in the shops here $299, (got it 2nd hand oft TM for $100) Toys r Us have it for sale at 49 pounds....

Generally you see the same stuff in $ at triple the price it would be in pounds, so in the case of the slide $150, plus a little bit extra on top for import costs, but thatslide 6 times the price shocked me a little!

[Tia Maria]

Just to echo what jub jub said, little tykes toys etc, general outdoors toys are really expensive. We tend to buy them from Trade Me also, not always second hand - there are lots of people like the Toy Lady on trade me who have fairly good deals.

Also Pipsqueaks (which can also be found on Trade Me):

www.pipsqueaks.co.nz

None are consistently good value, but we tend to have a list of things we'd like to get and then check in evey now and then to see if they are on sale.

We'd wanted a sand/water table for ages but they all seemed to cost $150+ (some as much as $400), eventually after about 6 months we found one on offer for $70.

Devonport has a Toy Library which is really good for borrowing the larger items for a couple of weeks. Or there are lots of places where you can hire toy items. For instance:

www.toystogo.co.nz

www.toyhire.co.nz

This is quite a good option for holidays or chidren's parties.

But if I had known what I know now I would have bought loads of this stuff, not only is it a lot cheaper back home, but it wears really well so can often be sold on Trade Me for more than you bought it for. :nice1 If you buy it new, just remember to take it out of the boxes before you ship it!

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Tia, me and my friends are big fans of the toy lady! Here are her trademe listings.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=553426&from=fav

and we have just discovered pipsqueaks, they are on tradme too.

And we hire toys lots too, great for a change of toys for a week or two

[Moorf]

Caravans - I still can't get over how much more expensive they are here, even for 20 year old models :no

[junej]

I'm coming out permanently in January.....wasn't going to bother shipping anything as there's only li'l ol' me but now I may change my mind and sell it all when I get there! So, I need to bring Ibuprofen, shoes, clothes, dysons, kids playthings, booze, tennis balls, washing machine, stock cubes, birthday cards & wrap....gee whizz, wish it was easy to become an importer of foreign goods - would be nice to see all the happy faces turning up for a knorr chicken stock cube or two!

Great information though, I'm really glad I read this thread. Tonight it's a visit to ASDA before I forget all this!

[Familyofmonkeys]

I'm coming out permanently in January.....wasn't going to bother shipping anything as there's only li'l ol' me but now I may change my mind and sell it all when I get there! So, I need to bring Ibuprofen, shoes, clothes, dysons, kids playthings, booze, tennis balls, washing machine, stock cubes, birthday cards & wrap....gee whizz, wish it was easy to become an importer of foreign goods - would be nice to see all the happy faces turning up for a knorr chicken stock cube or two!

Great information though, I'm really glad I read this thread. Tonight it's a visit to ASDA before I forget all this!

:laugh You'll need a very big trolley then.

[Pip]

also lip gloss (why so expensive here.. nothing like Boots or Superdrug). feminine things. tea lights/candles. pet things if you have pets (toys, litter trays/baskets) - can't believe MAF ignored the box marked "cat things"! but yes, def hoover and washing machine. (poss also tumble dryer, houses can be quite cold and things take a while to dry on a non sunny day - wish I'd done that)

I ended up bringing the contents of my store cupboard (tinned tomatoes, pasta, unopened packets of herbs, unopened make your own sushi kit!, sugar etc). Basically anything sealed that I hadn't used and Maf were fine. when you arrive you have to shell out so much in the first couple of months, it helps to not have to buy everything, so even the little things help. Also bathroom stuff - soap, shampoo, bubble bath - its all less stuff to buy when you get here.

it may sound a bit weird, but we had space in the container - so why not, - once you'd paid for it, you might as well use it. Also dusters.. I've yet to see what I consider a 'normal duster'.

When we go back at x-mas, we'll be hoarding Haribo, Fenjal body spray from boots, Lipgloss and things that come from M& S in 'short' length. Apparently the population is too small to justify making things in different lengths, so its all one length and you adjust as required!

[sidabrine]

I don't think I bought any item of clothing, household stuff, shoes, etc that wasn't on sale! Not that it is a great achievement, as we have sales 360 days a year in NZ... Just doesn't make sense to buy anything for the "real" marked-up price. Wait a couple of weeks and you can get the same under 50% discount! Where are the consumer affairs organisations?!!?

[sidabrine]

Cosmetics prices are way way way too high. You can buy most of the common "luxury" brands at fraction of a NZ retail price at http://www.strawberrynet.com

Reliable, quick delivery, discounts on already low prices and free gifts! Find your products in a shop (spend all your time choosing and trying everything on) and then buy them off strawberrynet!.

For example, Clinique foundation sells for 64NZD in the mall, 34NZD at strawberrynet.

As long as the tax value doesn't exceed 50$ (at 12% rate you shouldn't shop for more than 400$ in one go), customs won't come after you.

Happy shopping!

[swank]

Interior wood for building. I was in the Bunnings the other day and I was quite surprised to see how expensive it was (pine finishing boards, ply-wood) considering that a lot of it is produced in NZ (I think).

Anyone found a better place to buy?

[Moorf]

For example, Clinique foundation sells for 64NZD in the mall, 34NZD at strawberrynet.

I love you!! :raebanana

[Shoel]

Technical books are pretty expensive..
Ive noticed that Agatha Christie novels which are printed in the UK are cheaper in India than in NZ! (they have the same price in pounds marked on 'em)

Internet access is very expensive here...So are mobile phones tariffs.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Just bought the Wizardology Board Game for Xmas, and surprisingly, it was quite a lot cheaper in Whitcoulls that anywhere else, including Amazon!

[Soon2baKiwi]

Another place to have a look at skincare/cosmetics is www.skinstore.com They're in the US - whilst the $ is so high, it's really good value and I can get RoC there which I can't either in NZ or on strawberry.net. I use the USPS shipping option - $14.95 and it invariably arrives within 4/5 days.

Carpet One for carpets - they come to you - we've just had 3 rooms and 2 stairs done and it cost $3k for 100% wool carpet (sort of sisal ish), they removed the old one, disposed of it, moved the furniture and laid it - all in price.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Real Maple Syrup....about $10 for a tiny bottle :(