A PhD with no working experience - well, don't expect too much to begin with.

In fact, a PhD could count against you. In the non-academic field, you may be excluded from the job shortlist unless the company is specifically looking for candidates with higher degrees.

Considering where your degree is from, and assuming you qualify to work there, I would get some work experience there first. The money thing comes later.

Not to mention that other countries you are interested in are not necessarily interested in giving you a work permit.

Keeping your expenses to NZ$700 per month is quite an achievement. However, you may think differently when you start working.

The tax is high - top-tier tax rate is 39%, but the salary is not comparatively low, as least not compared to Malaysia. And the 39% only applies to the portion above 60K.

For IT in general, you are still better off even after taxes and expenses. Even more so for the more in-demand areas. Then multiply by 1.9 to get ringgits, if you can save and assuming you intend to move back at some stage.

So compared to Malaysia, it is not low. Not sure how it would apply in your situation though.