Education Levels by Country

[WarBlade]

Why do you think that they made LOTR in New Zealand, besides it being a neat and beautiful place?  The cost was less by quite a bit. (one third, I have haerd)

Cost is only one part of the equation and for Lord of the Rings, hinging an argument on cost alone really doesn't do justice to the equation as a whole, even when the scenery was vauguely taken into account.

Try instead Stephen King's: The Tommyknockers or Cleopatra 2525 for a purely cost focused look at American savings by NZ filming. I think we're making another one of those damn Power Rangers series now too! :blink:

So, multiply your NZ teacher salary by between two and three, and see how it would compare, then re think your "only" question.

You are right though. The cost of living here is considerably less for a comparable standard of life. It's a situation that works well for a country who's primary export is tourism and visitor's dollars can buy a good holiday . . .

An ex-pat Dane visiting from America once looked out the window and said to me, "That's a million dollar view back in the States". I don't know if that was an exaggeration or what, but it does make a noticeable point.