On June 16, a survey gathered insights about the realities of living costs from 86 respondents across Upper Clutha and Central Otago.
Launched through the social media page of Central Otago and Wanaka newspaper The News, the survey asked respondents about salary range, weekly pay (after tax), dependants, industry of work, increase in average weekly food costs, choice of transportation and changes in petrol expenditure.
A total of 32.6% of annual salaries ranged between $40,000 and $60,000, 19.8% earned between $60,000 and $80,000 and 18.6% were in the $20,000-$40,000 bracket.
Two of the 86 responses earned more than $120,000, and seven disclosed earnings of between nothing and $20,000.
Weekly pay after tax ranged from $250 to $2230.
The most-reported weekly earnings were from $600 to $799.
Industry professions ranged from tourism (13), construction (10), hospitality (8) and agriculture (7), to business (5), education (4), retail (4) and communications (4).
About 83.5% of respondents identified a car as their main form of transport, 46.9% paying more than $120 at the pump.
"It costs me $170 to fill. I only go out now when I have to," one respondent said.
Some respondents disclosed they paid upward of $190 to fill up.
Between June 16 and 30, 22.1% of respondents spent $100-$150 a week on food shopping, 20.9% spent $50-$100, 17.4% spent $200-250 and 16.3% $250-$300.
Four people reported spending upward of $350 on weekly shopping.
Of the 86 respondents, 26.7% said their weekly spend had increased more than $60.
