I'm biased towards Auckland as it's where we live! And we can't be that wrong if one quarter of the population also chose to live here
Auckland is hugely spread out, and is four cities in one, with lots of different lifestyle choices from the lovely beach suburbs of the North Shore to the natural green bush areas out west. We live to the south in wine making country, and it only takes me twenty minutes to drive to work in East Tamaki, and that twenty minutes is through country roads, not busy motorways. Bliss!
I can't say whether cost of living here is higher than Hamilton, but even if it is to me it is well compensated by the sheer availability of goods and services. And we get all of the top entertainment, who while they may also play Wellington and Christchurch rarely play Hamilton!!!
