“I’m Happy Here”: Lifestyle Stats Between NZ and SA Leave South Africa on the Defensive

• A South African woman living in New Zealand compared key lifestyle stats between the two countries, from average income to life expectancy
• The numbers sparked a strong reaction, with many South Africans pushing back and defending their choice to stay home
• Some viewers questioned the accuracy of some of the figures, while others said the cost of living in New Zealand tells a different story

A South African woman living in New Zealand posted a video on 30 March 2026 comparing lifestyle statistics between the two countries. She laid out figures side by side, from monthly income and minimum wage to house prices, life expectancy and unemployment rates. She said some of the numbers surprised even her, and she ended by asking viewers which stat shocked them the most.

The numbers she shared painted quite a picture. The average monthly income in New Zealand sits at around NZ$4,300 (roughly R41,624) compared to approximately NZ$1,200 (around R11,616) in South Africa. The minimum wage per hour in New Zealand is NZ$23.50 (about R227) against NZ$3.23 (around R31) in South Africa. Life expectancy in New Zealand is 82 years compared to 64 years in South Africa, and the unemployment rate is 4% versus South Africa's 32%. The one stat that went in South Africa's favour was sunshine hours, with SA clocking 3,000 hours a year against New Zealand's 2,000.

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Not everyone was convinced, though. Several people pointed out that a higher income in New Zealand does not automatically mean a better life, because the cost of living there is also significantly higher. Others questioned where the house price figure of NZ$120,000 (around R1,161,600) for South Africa came from, with many saying they have never seen a home listed anywhere near that price.

Watch the TikTok clip below:

SA fires back at NZ lifestyle stats

South Africans were not going down without a fight in the comments section on the TikToker @southafricankiwis's page:

@Eddie Titus said:

"South Africa — 4 Rugby World Cups. New Zealand — 3 Rugby World Cups."

@Jasonk182 added:

"Nah, I'm happy here in SA, hey 👍"

@BUTCH kept it simple:

"I'm happy here."

@Quinton Allies pointed out:

"The only purpose these videos serve is to try to convince yourself you made the right choice. Go ahead, live your life, mate. No need to look back all the time."

@Ethan✨️ questioned:

"Correct me if I'm wrong, although your income is more, the cost of living there is also high."

@TheLynx73 shared:

"I live in Germany half the year, earning minimum wage. Nothing beats SA — the friendly people and the beautiful landscapes."

@Jormungandr_scar asked:

"Point me in the direction of those R120,000 houses."

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@no.Ragrets added:

"Where are these stats coming from? Where the fudge can I find a R120k house?"

@AbsoluteShield noted:

"Because our hospital appointments are scheduled for two months after treatment is needed."

@Dazman suggested:

"Now redo it at purchasing price parity."

More on SA and living abroad

• Briefly News recently reported on an Afrikaner woman based in Seoul who gave a very unexpected reason for not coming back to South Africa.
• Japan's Ambassador to South Africa shared a heartfelt video about his time in the country that had Mzansi absolutely beaming.
• A doctor and content creator shared the unspoken rules of South Africa that every local knows but never talks about.

Source: Briefly News