COST OF LIVING

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 June 1935, Page 9

COST OF LIVING

WELLINGTON AND SYDNEY.

Where is the cost of living, the higher, in Australia, or New Zealand? There is a general impression on this .side that Commonwealth costs are above the Dominion’s, but this is hot borne out by official information. A comparison supplied by the Australian Trade Commissioner in response to a request by the “Auckland Star” would show that there is no justification for the impression throughout New Zealand that the cost of living is lower here than in Australia. The Trade Commissioner has compared the costs of Sydney and Wellington for 1934 and 1935, with appropriate weighting of the figures in accordance with the relative consumption in both cities. “Only in the case of food and groceries are the costs greater in Sydney than in Wellington, and . then only to the extent of 9.5 per cent, in February, 1935. while rents are 22.6 per cent, lower,” the Commissioner says. “The combined cost of food, groceries, and rent is 5.2 per cent, lower in Sydney than in Wellington." Bread is considerably cheaper in Sydney than in Wellington, the price being lid lower for a two-pound loaf in February last. Most other items in tho food and groceries list, however, are dearer. Sugar, potatoes, rice, raisins, tinned salmon, and soap, to take commodities in common use, all cost more in Sydney than in Wellington. Milk, butter, and cheese are nearly 50 per cent, dearer in Sydney, but eggs and bacon are cheaper. In the meat group, prices are generally higher in Sydney. As regards house rents, a comparison of houses of four and five rooms show's that tho amount paid has been considerably lower in Sydney than in Wellington for the past Iwo years, but in both cities there has been an upward movement.