Cost of Living in Wellington

New Zealand

Monthly budget (single)

$2,338–$3,703/month

NZ$4,031 – NZ$6,384 (local currency)

Overall 7.3Safety 8.8Housing 4.9Quality of life 8.4

Last updated: 2026-03

Can you afford to live in Wellington?

Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).

Cost breakdown

CategoryUSDLocal currency
Rent (1-bed, city center)$1,754–$2,728NZ$3,024 – NZ$4,703
Rent (1-bed, outside center)$926–$1,462NZ$1,597 – NZ$2,521
Utilities (electricity, heating, water)$73–$141NZ$126 – NZ$243
Internet & Mobile$29–$49NZ$50 – NZ$84
Groceries (monthly)$370–$555NZ$638 – NZ$957
Eating out (per meal, mid-range)$49–$88NZ$84 – NZ$152
Coffee$4–$6NZ$7 – NZ$10
Public transport (monthly pass)$93–$112NZ$160 – NZ$193
Gym membership$34–$63NZ$59 – NZ$109
Cinema ticket$14–$18NZ$24 – NZ$31

Budget scenarios

Single

$2,338–$3,703/mo USD

NZ$4,031 – NZ$6,384

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
  • Groceries: ~$555/mo
  • Transport: ~$112/mo

Couple

$3,703–$5,651/mo USD

NZ$6,384 – NZ$9,743

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
  • Groceries: ~$555/mo
  • Transport: ~$112/mo

Family

$5,359–$8,282/mo USD

NZ$9,240 – NZ$14,279

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,728/mo
  • Groceries: ~$555/mo
  • Transport: ~$112/mo

Neighbourhood guide

Wellington Center

Central

Urban core, transit access

Est. 1-bed rent: $2,193–$3,410/mo (NZ$3,781 – NZ$5,879)

Wellington Midtown

Central

Mixed residential

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,929–$3,001/mo (NZ$3,326 – NZ$5,174)

Wellington Outer

Suburban

Quieter, family-friendly

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,403–$2,182/mo (NZ$2,419 – NZ$3,762)

Quality of life scores

Housing4.9/10
Safety8.8/10
Healthcare8.8/10
Education8.4/10
Environment9.2/10
Economy7.5/10
Culture8.1/10
Internet8.5/10

Pros & cons

✅ Pros

  • • Coffee
  • • Government
  • • Windy creative scene

❌ Cons

  • • Wind
  • • Earthquakes

Similar cities & cheaper alternatives

Cheaper alternatives

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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.