New Zealand
New Zealand's compact, wind-swept capital with a vibrant craft beer and coffee scene, creative energy, and a stunning harbor setting. Home to Weta Workshop.
#78 of 250
32% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 889
Based on NYC = 100 index
Wellington is the 78. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 889 for one adult.
Most of that goes on utilities, which runs 55% above the median city and adds $ 72 a month: basic utilities (85m2 apt) $ 140, mobile plan (10gb+) $ 23.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
44 prices on this page come from live scrapers (12 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 14, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Wellington, New Zealand. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/wellington. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (city-wide) | 1,041.67 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | TradeMe Property |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 1,713.83 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | TradeMe Property |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,738.17 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | TradeMe Property |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 8.74 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Pork (1kg) | 7.83 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Beef (1kg) | 12.30 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 11.18 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 9.57 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.59 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Cheese (1kg) | 10.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Butter (200g) | 2.48 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Eggs (12) | 5.12 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Bread (500g) | 1.68 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 0.84 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.73 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Rice (1kg) | 1.73 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Oats (500g) | 1.09 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.73 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 4.76 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 6.56 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Carrots (1kg) | 1.40 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.89 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Garlic (1kg) | 6.48 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 1.56 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.95 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Oranges (1kg) | 2.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Lentils (1kg) | 2.71 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 1.42 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 2.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Flour (1kg) | 0.73 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Coffee (250g) | 5.70 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.55 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.23 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Woolworths New Zealand |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L) | 6.85 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| One-way Ticket | 1.20 / trip | 1 | 2026-09-28 | City Transit Fares |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 23.17 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Telecom Operator Prices, Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 39.16 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 29.03 / month | 2 | 2026-10-14 | Gym Chains, MENA, Africa & Oceania Entertainment |
| Cinema Ticket | 12.31 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 1.11 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies (API) |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 123.02 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
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Monthly average costs by category
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month