N.Z. cities rate average

Press, 16 December 1988, Page 17

N.Z. cities rate average

By

JULIE FITZGERALD

of NZPA in London

Cost of living in New Zealand cities is about average compared with big cities worldwide, according to a survey.

Wellington and Auckland were included in a survey of living costs in 103 cities, conducted by Geneva-based “Business International” as a guide for executives on transfer.

Out of a ranking of 61 places, Wellington was listed at No. 25, and Auckland at 26.

Using New York as a base of comparison at 100, Wellington’s cost of living rated marginally under the average at 98, on a par with Barcelona. Auckland was lower again at 97 — the same rating as Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Peking, Los Angeles, Moscow, Perth and San Francisco.

The most expensive city in the world, for the fourth consecutive year, was Tokyo, measuring 203 on the index, closely followed by Osaka-Kobe

at 201. London and Paris were both ranked at No. 16, lower than most other European cities. At the other end of the scale, South American cities remain the cheapest places

to live despite high inflation. The over-all cost of living was based on the cost

of an average shopping basket (food and drink), household supplies, items of personal care, utilities (telephone, electricity), clothing, domestic help, recreation and entertainment, transport and housing. Other factors surveyed, but not taken into account, were hotel rates,

restaurant prices, educational costs and health care. Average expenses for a day’s business travel in Wellington, including food

purchases, nightclub visit for four people, taxi fares, hotel accommodation and two restaurant meals, was $U5324.99 ($499.21). This compares with Tokyo, $U5725.00 ($1113.67), London $U5499.15 ($766.74), New York, $U5453.15 ($696.08) and Sydney $U5380.27 ($584.13).

Cost of a three-course dinner for four people at a top restaurant would be SUS 342 ($525) in Wellington, SUS92O ($1413.21) in Tokyo, SUS6OO ($921.65) in Paris, and SUS3BS ($591.39) in London.

New Zealand is still one of the more expensive places in which to buy a car.

Researchers collected data for the survey simultaneously in each of the cities, with all currencies converted to the United States dollar on October 3.