ben_093: Re living costs, food is a major item anywhere.
A recent article on TV in NZ had an Aussie complaining about the cost of food in Oz against NZ.
He filled a trolley in a supermarket on OZ, ( I think it was Sydney) then flew to Auckland and did the same there.
Exactly the same number of items, same brands, same manufacturers, same size, every item in the trolley was the same.
IIRC it was so much cheaper in Auckland the difference paid for the airfare and he still had a few dollars left over.