In my experience New Zealand is more different from Australia than a lot of Australians seem to assume.
Generally speaking New Zealand is far more socially liberal than Australia, however there are greater financial / job opportunities in Australia due to it's size.
In New Zealand you're less likely to own a fancy new car or have has many expensive possessions but to me at least it didn't feel like you "need" them as much as in Australia.
There weren't many tech job opportunities in New Zealand given its small population, however I suspect the global rise in remote work coupled with New Zealand's relatively capable internet infrastructure may be changing this.
Entertainment wise New Zealand hands down has more stunning, enjoyable, accessible nature and outdoors - while Australia pre-covid has a far more international offerings (musicians, comedy etc...).
Property prices are absolutely insane in both countries if you want to live in city / inner suburbs.
It's hard to explain but I've always felt that if Australia was socially and politically the USA, New Zealand would perhaps be somewhere in Scandinavia.
What's stopping me from moving back to New Zealand? - My life (friends, work, cat) is in Melbourne, if I was offered a good job opportunity back in the South Island of NZ and moving costs covered - I'd certainly be considering it.
Of course this is all highly subjective and only based on my experiences / observations.
South Africans moving to NZ often mention the "tall poppy syndrome" in NZ. Do you feel like that is a fair comment?
This comment reminded me of the concept:
> In New Zealand you're less likely to own a fancy new car or have has many expensive possessions but to me at least it didn't feel like you "need" them as much as in Australia.
I'm a Kiwi who's lived in Australia for two thirds of my life.
New Zealand's economy and cost-of-living is markedly weaker and higher than Australia's; the property-is-the-only-investment idea is somehow even worse in NZ, at least lately
The day-to-day life in NZ is lovely though. At least where I'm from in Northland.
Australia and NZ are more similar than they are different, I feel.
- They have good access to nature/beaches
- Property prices are nuts, most people see property as their primary investment vehicle. This is a big cause of wealth inequality
- general populace has a relatively easygoing disposition
Aus has better weather (assuming you like warm and sunny), higher salaries and is somewhat less far from the world if you want to travel
NZ has a better human rights record, much cleaner grid, and doesn't seem to have the authoritarian bent that Aus does. It's like the slightly hippie/socialist/woke little sibling.
The USA is hard to gauge because its much bigger and more diverse. Housing affordability, access to nature etc all vary heaps by region. Culturally Australia has the most in common with the USA, although the general populace in the USA seem less apathetic about politics.
The Netherlands has rubbish weather for 2/3rds of the year and not a single mountain/hill/beach worth mentioning, but is extremely liveable. Income/CoL ratios tend to be higher than the Bay Area for a given quality-of-life, although you might be earning less in absolute terms. Cities and Towns are very well designed, even Amsterdam (outside the center) feels like a cosy village but you still get access to big-city things. Probably more socialist than NZ, with things like this happening https://nltimes.nl/2021/09/02/dutch-cities-want-ban-property...
Americans like to say that they are "free" but there are so many religious crazies.
Ultimately I can't live in a country where people are religious so that leaves only North Europe and the Netherlands is the most antichrist of them all.
