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Comment by standardUser | Hacker News Reader

I don't know the details of life in NZ, but I live in a highly desirable part of Manhattan and make just north of $150k. I eat out all the time, travel often, and ultimately feel very few financial constraints (aside from not saving as much as I'd like). What in NZ is driving up costs so high that $150k can't sustain a single individual in a nice urban apartment?

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I suspect you're in USD and they're in NZD. At the moment, 150NZD = 90USD, 150USD = 250NZD.

Are you single? Do you have room mates? Did you buy several years ago and now have a locked in mortgage at a low rate? I think circumstances change things. I make north of $150k in California, but I'm married and have two kids. It doesn't feel like it goes that far after rent, childcare, groceries, and all your other bills like a car, insurance, utilities, etc.

A single renter who lives alone in a 1-bedroom apartment in lower Manhattan. I previously lived on a slighted smaller salary in a studio apartment in downtown SF (about 5 years ago). I don't have or want children a car or to own a home, which if of course a gargantuan difference in how far $150k will take you.

He's bsing or after extremely desirable places. Even Auckland is affordable for a single on $150k pa.

No BS here. The _average_ house price in Auckland is 1 million dollars. How long does it take to save a 20% deposit on 150k in a HCOL country? And 150k is generally a senior level wage, no one in NZ is starting on 150k

Lol such bs.

Go have a look on real estate sites and tell me you cant find 1/2 bedroom apartments for well under 1 million.

Op is single and clearly not telling the whole story about what he is willing to buy or where he is willing to live.

EDIT: Here did it for you: https://www.barfoot.co.nz/properties/residential/region=auck...

Plenty of places OP could look at if they were serious but they aren't. I'm not saying housing isn't in a bad spot as it definitely needs serious attention as a key (perhaps "THE") political issue. But hyperbole and lies doesn't help anyone or anything.

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