People often regard Australia as being not so different from New Zealand. While that is true to an extent, you will notice striking differences that can take a little while getting used to. Both the Aussies and the Kiwis love their wine. The nightlife is very similar too, and the local folks just as friendly. The quality of life is just about the same in both and law enforcement is just as great in Melbourne as it is in Wellington. When you are considering the differences between the two, it all boils down to individual preferences. If you are, however, moving to Melbourne from Wellington, here are some striking differences you will notice easily.
Melbourne is much Bigger!
You’ve probably read about it, but you’ll still be shocked when you experience it. Moving from a city with 400,000 inhabitants to one with nearly 5 million (more than New Zealand’s population) can take some time to get used to. Unlike Wellington, where you can reach most parts of the city on foot, you’ll need transport to get around Melbourne. With a population density almost twice that of Wellington (1560 inhabitants / km² compared to 890 people / km²), you may feel uncomfortable moving around for a while.
Wages in Melbourne are Relatively Higher
This may sound surprising but Melbourne pays far better than Wellington. While full-time work hardly copes with all bills in New Zealand, if you work full time in Melbourne, you can take care of all your bills and have enough time to play. This difference is probably due to the fact that Australia is more developed than New Zealand in terms of the social development index.
The Cost of Living in Wellington is Higher
Well, that’s the first thing you’ll notice after settling in Melbourne. Apart from higher wages in Melbourne, the cost of living in the city is much lower than in Wellington. Transportation prices are much higher and some basic groceries cost more in Wellington than in Melbourne. While the rent in Melbourne may be slightly higher, the city compensates for the earnings. Post-tax pay is much higher in Melbourne, and local purchasing power is also higher.
It’s Easier to find Secure Accommodation in Melbourne
Although this is doubtful, most people who moved to Melbourne from New Zealand said that it was easier for them to find an apartment than those who moved to Wellington from Australia. You may have to pay a higher rent than New Zealand, but finding good accommodation won’t be difficult unless you’re on a very limited budget. In Wellington, good accommodation is considered a luxury because of the high prices, but in a place like South Australia this is easy to find. However, you may be introduced to Strata Management SA when you’re there, as good accommodation needs strata services to take care of it.
It is Much Easier to find a Job in Melbourne
This may sound surprising given that Melbourne is a much larger city than Wellington, but it’s really much easier to find a job in the former than in the capital of New Zealand. Because Melbourne is a large city, there are many qualified job candidates. However, unlike in New Zealand, you can get a job in the city without a university degree. Australia also has a generally higher employment rate than New Zealand – you rarely need recruitment services.
The Weather is much less Unpredictable than in Wellington
Due to stereotypes, people think that Melbourne has very unpredictable weather. Although this is largely true because the city can experience four seasons in one day, it turns out that the weather is more stable than in Wellington. Wellington is the windiest city in the world and has very low temperatures, which makes Melbourne feel like heaven. A bit more warmth in the summer will not hurt, and winter in Melbourne is bearable
Telecom Companies Offer Better Service than in Wellington
If you have gotten used to the phone service offered by Telco companies in New Zealand, you might find better service in Australia a bit surprising. Telecom companies in Australia offer fantastic data plans with unlimited texting, calling and other mouth-watering offers. Sometimes you may even be lucky to get all these at a very much cheaper rate than the poor service offered in New Zealand.
Besides these eight differences, there are other ones you may notice too. The Aussie accent might take a little getting used to. You will definitely miss the mountains in and around Wellington, even though you have amazing beaches to make up for it. If you are yet to ship to Australia from NZ, in order for these differences to not overwhelm you too much, you should consider going through a checklist and hiring a moving company.
Best wishes!