At least that is according to a tongue-in-cheek Enterprise Dunedin campaign aimed at attracting professionals from Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland who are tired of spending their salaries on rent and their lives stuck in traffic.
The campaign uses billboards which say "In Dunedin, people are 500x happier than those living in Queenstown" and "In Dunedin, dogs get 100% more beach walkies than Queenstown".
It admits the statistics "may or may not be from reputable sources (like your mate, who already lives in Dunedin)".
Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods said he appreciated the "clever and lighthearted approach" of the campaign.
"We can see the humour in these statements and the fictitious claims the campaign refers to. Dunedin and Queenstown each have their own unique qualities: Dunedin has a harbour, Queenstown has lakes. Dunedin has wind and rain, Queenstown has sunshine and snow."
Contrary to the campaign’s statements, Mr Woods said Queenstown residents consistently reported having a high quality of life and had immense pride in the district.
"The humorous tone of Dunedin’s campaign doesn’t suggest any truth in the city’s claims — although the source, John, is a happy looking guy who is welcome to visit Queenstown any time."
He recommended people visiting or living in Dunedin make the "short drive" to Queenstown and explore everything it had to offer.
Dunedin City Council economic development committee chairman Andrew Wiley said Dunedin was fast becoming a hub for entrepreneurs, cutting edge companies and innovative start-up.
"Exciting things are happening in the fields of technology, health, game development, manufacturing, engineering and design. We are looking to attract the next generation of talent in these areas and beyond."
He said Dunedin also had stunning natural beauty, an amazing food scene and outdoor activities that offered the perfect work-life balance.
"Ōtepoti is known for its high quality of life and the compact nature of the city means you have everything you need in terms of facilities for a place to live, without any of the hassles that come with living in a metropolitan city."
Adverts will be placed on bus backs in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown, on a digital billboard on the Embassy Theatre in Wellington and will be accompanied by a digital campaign.
