‘I’m done’: Kiwi expat lashes Australia over cost of living

A Kiwi expat’s clip has gone viral after she lashed Australia about living costs compared to her island home.

A New Zealand woman has lashed Australia on the cost of living in a clip that has gone viral.

Gabby Snell, a 24-year-old apprentice plumber living in Sydney, unleashed her struggles in living in the city when she revealed a hefty bill she had copped on road tolls.

The frustrated tradeswoman said she frequently forks out for travelling through tunnels, adding that her other weekly expenses are enough to give her a “heart attack”.

She revealed she gets paid less than she did in New Zealand for her job and isn’t left with much after paying $500 a week “for a room” in Sydney.

“[I am] always getting mail,” she began the clip.

“God, my chest is tight — and it’s always being told I owe money,” she said as she held her chest.

A recent letter stated she $9.25 in toll charges on top of a $20 processing fees.

“$29 because I went through a tunnel. The f**k do you want from me, man,” she raged.

She then went on to reveal other expenses, including green slip certificate that amounted to $742.80.

Kiwi expat Gabby Snell, who is working as an apprentice plumber, lashed about the cost of living in Australia. Picture: TikTok/gabbysnelll

“This has bloody come in the mail, compulsory third party, personal injury insurance (or) green slip certificate,” she fumed as she launched the letter across her bedroom.

“Why do I owe you $800 for f*****g nothing? I actually think I am going to go into cardiac arrest – my chest is tight.

“Someone please book me a flight back to New Zealand. I’m done,” Gabby demanded.

She said while the initial thought of moving to Australia was great, it’s not exactly what she had in mind.

“You think ‘Oh my God, move to Australia you get paid so much money’. No! I get paid less than what I was getting in New Zealand if you calculate the conversion rates.”

She said while she’s happy in Sydney ‘the bills are just stupid’. Picture: TikTok/gabbysnelll

She then explained her rent is $2000 a month for her portion.

“I pay $500 a week to live in a room.”

“It’s crook. It’s dumb,” she said, calling it “daylight robbery”.

Gabby’s clip has attracted almost half a million views, with Aussies sharing their frustration over cost of living in the country.

“Welcome to Australia. It costs to breathe,” one person wrote.

“I currently have $1k in super because my (toll) tag wasn’t working for a few months unknowingly,” said another.

@jessegoesremote Will NZ ever catch up to Australia? #costoflivingcrisis #inflation #australia #newzealand ♬ original sound - Jesse | Digital Money Mentor

When one viewer commented, “the grass isn’t always greener,” Gabby replied, “I’m happy here though, the bills are just stupid”.

Other people, however, weren’t as compassionate, claiming Gabby had received the mail because she failed to pay her bills on time.

“If you pay the bills, you won’t get mail every day. hope this helps,” one person said.

“Welcome to the real world,” said another, while a third added: “It’s not any cheaper than home.”

There’s been an influx of Kiwis moving to Australia with the neighbouring country seeing a record net migration loss of 52,000 citizens in the 12 months to March 2024, according to data released by Stats NZ.

Department of Home Affairs data reveals New Zealanders are the fourth largest migrant community in Australia with about 586,020 Kiwis living in Australia — a population that has risen by just 2.9 per cent more in the last decade.

Many are lured by job opportunities, higher wages and the warm weather.

While Gabby hasn’t had the best experience, other Kiwis such as 26-year-old Jesse Campbell is encouraging fellow Kiwi’s to make the move.

“The quality of life there is 10 times better than it will ever be in New Zealand. Now, that is not a knock on New Zealand, that is just the facts,” he said in a TikTok.

He revealed he had lived in Australia for three years and, while he had been back home for only a few months, he was already itching to go back.

“The cost of living is cheaper, you get paid more, the weather is better, there’s more going on over there, the beaches are better, there’s more opportunities,” he said.

“Honestly, I just reckon the quality of life it produces over there is just so much better than New Zealand at the moment, and that’s why we are losing so many people moving over there.”