Why is Moving to New Zealand a Better Alternative to Australia?

Moving to New Zealand. That Wanaka tree on Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

New Zealand and Australia are often seen as sister nations because they bear many similarities to one another. Still, there are some factors that go in favor of New Zealand, which you may not be aware of. This is not to say that Australia does not offer a lot – but there are some things that New Zealand has as an ace up its sleeve.

If you’re interested in discovering why moving to New Zealand is a better alternative to Australia, keep reading. For each aspect, the countries will be directly compared and contrasted. 

You’re in for a pleasant surprise!

Why Moving to New Zealand is a Better Alternative to Australia: Top 5 Reasons

1 – Financial Reasons

Money and the higher life standard motivate the vast majority of people who immigrate, and that’s completely understandable. New Zealand is better if you want to make sure that you no longer have to worry about money.

But doesn’t Australia offer some of the highest salaries in the world? Yes, it does.

Does this by definition mean that it enables a better life standard? Not necessarily.

To paint you the whole picture, the average living cost must be considered, too. And in all the spheres you can imagine, the prices are lower in New Zealand than in Australia. For instance, the rent, utilities, and groceries – the three main things that comprise one’s budget – are cheaper in New Zealand. 

What is more, secondary areas of life are also more affordable, such as restaurants, transportation, childcare, etc. As you can tell, the salary numbers might be bigger in Australia, but the living costs are too! That’s why New Zealand offers more opportunities to save up and live without worrying about your money.

2 – Ease of Migration

Australia is known as a multicultural country that embraces diversity. It’s no wonder that so many people want to migrate and settle there. However, precisely due to this uptick in settler arrivals, and the increasing number of people who want to move there, it has become more difficult to relocate to Australia.

On the other hand, the dynamics of migration to New Zealand are not greatly influenced by overpopulation, so it is easier to move to New Zealand than to Australia. In practice, this means that the migration program planning in New Zealand does not fluctuate with the number of newcomers. If you fulfill the requirements for the visa, you have a solid chance of migrating.

Isn’t it good to know that you have a head start, rather than facing some complexities, delays, and possible frustrations when going the harder way? That’s why New Zealand is a better alternative.

3 – Safety

As the Global Peace Index suggests, New Zealand ranks among the most peaceful countries in the world.

The index of violent crimes, political instability, and homicide rate is very low. What this translates to is a high level of safety and security in the society, no international conflicts that could endanger the people, and worry-free environment.

It’s not that it isn’t safe in Australia; for the most part, it is, but bigger cities can be problematic. That’s where New Zealand’s peaceful cities and diplomacy win.

4 – Weather Conditions

Although Australia has some parts of the country with mild and stable climates, there are a lot of regions with scorching hot seasons that don’t seem to cease all year round.

New Zealand, in contrast, is blessed with a largely temperate climate. The only fact that may bother you in New Zealand is the period of drizzly winter weather – but it’s nothing in comparison to bushfires and other heatwave occurrences in Australia. 

Also, if you’re into winter activities, natural ski fields in Queenstown, Canterbury, and Wanaka give you a much better and authentic feel than the artificial ones in Australia. 

5 – Wildlife

You may think to yourself: Nah, there isn’t a single country in the world that can beat Australian wildlife, but that’s not the point. The thing is that, in Australia, it can get a bit scary: huge sharks and crocodiles, wolf-like dingoes, snakes, and some of the most venomous species of spiders in the world.

New Zealand can also pride itself on varied and unique biodiversity, but most of the representatives are not bloodthirsty and dangerous. Kiwis, dolphins, rare kinds of parrots and other colorful birds, Little blue penguins – sounds much more appealing than the Box jellyfish, doesn’t it?

What did you understand?

A friendly worry-free attitude, financial stability, and breathtaking scenery & fauna are the common denominators of Australia and New Zealand. Not to mention the visually identical flags. And yet, there are a couple of reasons why moving to New Zealand is a better alternative to Australia, which can help you decide if you’re in two minds about moving to one of these countries.

The five pros of New Zealand described above are all part of the charming Kiwi culture, the home of lush greenery, and friendly people. Hope you liked them!

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