371–380 of 431 posts
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Sure. Many of us don't have any need to leave America at all.
But some do. So the reply to the GGG...P stands.
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30% is the highest tax bracket, in NZ on the equivalent of USD 55k pa (NZ$77600 right now) you'd pay $17835 in tax, or around 23% marginal. There is the matter of 15% GST to consider, but it's not something you often think about and factors in to the cost of living comparisons.
Wow, 30 % is the top rate? That's incredible. Would have expected it to go up closer to 50 % for a country with the general attitudes I'd perceived NZ to have. I guess it might be to entice skilled people not to leave?
If you're curious you can work out your tax here: http://www.ird.govt.nz/calculators/tool-name/tools-t/calcula...
There's also a 1.26% ACC levy on all employees, so remember to add that on.
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So I'm in essentially this situation and I concur that my salary does not completely adjust to an SV/Bay Area salary. But there are also 3 things that do not seem possible at once despite the extra money which keep me from pursuing opportunities in tech hubs: I'm ~5 minutes from biking/hiking/outdoors, ~10 minutes from work, and have a house with a shop/garage. So far as I can tell if I were to move to a tech hub I m…
You can get the ~5 minutes from biking/hiking/outdoors and ~10 minutes to work in Silicon Valley. I used to live in Mountain View and bike into my job at Google; it took 12 minutes. 5 minute walk and I was on the trail; 15 minute bike ride and I could be at the bayshore; 20 minute drive and I'd be in the mountains; hour drive and I'd be at the beach. I work from home now, but those numbers would be the same from my c…
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What was your salary in NZ?
My last salary was about 70,000 NZD, which is less than $49,000 USD. I now make $87,000 USD (about 124,000 NZD), and I've got a written agreement for a raise to $95,000 in about another six months (135,000 NZD). The most I ever made in NZ was one year where I worked two different contractor jobs at about 60 hours per week and I brought in maybe 80k NZD ($56,000 USD). I now make $31,000 USD more than that at just 40 h…
I'd class 70k as great for a junior, mediocre for intermediate and a joke for a senior. Wonder if they low-balled you for being a foreigner.
FWIW as a NZer you hit the nail on the head about the anti-americanism, and simultaneous obsession with american politics.
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Some of us down here are plenty happy to pay for our share and would vote to increase what's taken to improve services. We don't need more immigration, we need infrastructure and need to pay for it. Taxes help pay for university here (and I wish it covered more of the cost) so if you were studying here, your partly covered. Why do you think we're isolationist? No part of NZ foreign policy is intended to be like that.
Why not just then vote against tax hikes and instead donate your money to the government or to charity organizations? When you vote for tax hikes you're essentially reaching into your pocket, taking out money, and giving it to someone. Then you're reaching into your neighbor's pocket, taking some more out, and giving it to yourself and that other third party. Why not let people choose to give their money? Why vote to…
Taxes are not your money. They are, by their very definition, money you owe the government. Meaning they are the government's money. They just happen to temporarily enter your pocket before leaving it again for their rightful owner.
To answer your question though, charity is not a substitute for taxation because charity is not scalable.
Great for the Kiwis. I wish them well. But regrettably, I lack the patience to read past an intro sort of equating the ramifications of Brexit with those of Islamic State. Could journalism please step outside for a minute and perform a reality check?
Ramifications are still unclear, but if we end up in the situation where the Home Office decides that 3m Europeans here on Free Movement don't get to stay there will be a huge mess, potentially with blood on the streets. Not to mention that last week senior Conservatives were talking up war with Spain over Gibraltar. Is this meaningless jingo garbage for the press or a likely outcome? Who knows?
Has anyone here made the move? It would be interesting to hear some real life stories, and post honeymoon-phase pros/cons evaluation of NZ.
I have, from EU. I've been living in Auckland for 2 years. Scala dev. I left recently though. I think I may have good perspective, shoot me questions if you want.
Auckland house prices pushed up a load by Chinese families needing somewhere safe to put their cash outside of China. And the only thing they could put into was housing.
As to quality of housing its different to Europe because of the cliate duh! Solid stone and brick houses are not suited to temperate climates. And yes they are smaller than American houses because NZers dont live inside all year round. If its cold or wet, then just tough up, wear more clothes, and get on with your ife instead of hiding in your concrete bunker with the central heating on (you wont find those either).
First and foremost consider the lifestyle. If that is for you then you can be sure if you are capable then you will find work. NZ has the world's highest proportion of self-employed and entrepreneurs and still an attitude of 'can-do' prevails.
Isolation: yes, you are away from the troubles of the world, but it also means you'll be away from your families, you don't get Amazon Prime, and surprisingly you won't have as many Netflix movies to choose from. Don't expect to miss gridlock traffic, or be living in a Hobbit house lol
Costs: Don't expect NZ to be super cheap. Housing prices are ridiculous and often won't have much in terms of insulation and heating. Food prices will be fairly normal (although you will have a diverse selection, and it's generally good quality), and you're simply not going to get paid as much as you would in major centres elsewhere in the world. Phone and internet plans are going to be expensive. Also, take into account those flights home you'll be making - they won't come cheap.
Entertainment: There will be fun things to do for sure, but don't expect as much as what you might get in other major cities. NZ is however great for sports, and you'll fit right in if you have a sporting hobby or two.
People: NZ has a diverse population, and has a unique culture. Don't expect it to be like wherever else you're from. As a kiwi, I love the NZ culture - I love that people will stop and help you out, that police are friendly and non-threatening, and that we have the ability to laugh at ourselves, and not take things so seriously. Just like anywhere however, you do run into dickheads every now and then.
All in all, NZ is a "pretty choice" (pretty good) place to live. I imagine it'd be quite a bit of a culture shock for some people though, and it's not all cherries and rainbows. Some people might find it a little boring, others might like the chilled atmosphere and laid-backness.