Cost of Living

Wellington, New Zealand

Live cost-of-living data for Wellington — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
36/ 10064% cheaper than New York
$3,400/mo
Median Income
66/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
oceanic
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,741/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,252/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$3,216/month
Food & Groceries
42/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.91/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.14/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$113/month
One-Way Ticket$2.96/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.79/km
Utilities
38/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$180/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$52/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$36/month
Healthcare
72/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$65/visit
Dentist Visit$95/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$540/month
International Primary School (yearly)$14,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$480/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$78/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$48/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$108/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$24/cut
Haircut (Women)$48/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6/bottle
Dining Out
48/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$17/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$72/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$24/pack
Fitness & Sports
45/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$55/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$24/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

92 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
78/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: CBD, Courtenay Place, Te Aro

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wellington cheap to live in?

Wellington has a cost of living index of 36/100, where New York = 100. It is 64% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,300–$1,820 per month.

How much does rent cost in Wellington?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Wellington costs approximately $1,741/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,252/month.

Is Wellington good for digital nomads?

Wellington has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 92 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Wellington?

The median net monthly salary in Wellington is approximately $3,400 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Wellington compare to New York for cost of living?

Wellington (cost index 36) is 64% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,600/month by moving from New York to Wellington.

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