Cost of Living Comparison Between Canterbury and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Canterbury and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,735 per month in Canterbury vs $2,352 in Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,716 per month in Canterbury vs $3,549 in Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,697 per month in Canterbury vs $4,746 in Wellington, rent included.

Canterbury is about 26% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Canterbury and Wellington sit above the global median – Canterbury by 29%, Wellington by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 NZ$20.39

$17.58 NZ$30.02

-32.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 NZ$113

$84.0 NZ$143

-21.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 NZ$15.04

$9.76 NZ$16.66

-9.73%

Cappuccino

$3.25 NZ$5.55

$3.63 NZ$6.19

-10.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 NZ$3.90

$2.52 NZ$4.30

-9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 NZ$3.43

$2.20 NZ$3.75

-8.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 NZ$7.23

$7.07 NZ$12.07

-40.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 NZ$10.25

$7.22 NZ$12.33

-16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 NZ$2.01

$1.90 NZ$3.25

-37.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 NZ$3.23

$2.10 NZ$3.59

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 NZ$3.12

$1.96 NZ$3.34

-6.63%

Eggs

$5.69 NZ$9.71

$6.93 NZ$11.83

-17.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.75 NZ$11.53

$8.17 NZ$13.95

-17.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 NZ$18.52

$11.14 NZ$19.02

-2.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 NZ$15.02

$12.93 NZ$22.08

-32.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 NZ$3.79

$3.02 NZ$5.16

-26.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 NZ$3.98

$2.36 NZ$4.02

-1.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 NZ$5.90

$3.02 NZ$5.16

14.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.64 NZ$7.92

$4.67 NZ$7.97

-0.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 NZ$2.01

$2.03 NZ$3.46

-41.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 NZ$3.41

$1.65 NZ$2.82

21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 NZ$3.16

$2.21 NZ$3.77

-16.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 NZ$1.83

$1.24 NZ$2.12

-13.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.09 NZ$41.13

$27.01 NZ$46.13

-10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 NZ$15.24

$11.62 NZ$19.84

-23.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 NZ$4.39

$3.58 NZ$6.11

-28.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 NZ$6.15

$3.27 NZ$5.58

10.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 NZ$1.48

$2.78 NZ$4.75

-68.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 NZ$109

$108 NZ$184

-40.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 NZ$4.56

$2.63 NZ$4.50

1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 NZ$1.95

$1.85 NZ$3.17

-38.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.43 NZ$52.0

$60.4 NZ$103

-49.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 NZ$2.86

$1.67 NZ$2.85

0.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.0K NZ$34.2K

$33.3K NZ$56.8K

-39.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K NZ$44.2K

$24.6K NZ$42.0K

5.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 NZ$174

$156 NZ$266

-34.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.51 NZ$62.4

$32.71 NZ$55.9

11.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 NZ$95.5

$51.0 NZ$87.0

9.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.16 NZ$63.5

$35.71 NZ$61.0

4.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.14 NZ$20.73

$20.14 NZ$34.39

-39.72%

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 NZ$16.76

$12.11 NZ$20.69

-18.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$591 NZ$1,009

$800 NZ$1,365

-26.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K NZ$20.7K

$12.9K NZ$22.1K

-6.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 NZ$88.8

$73.4 NZ$125

-29.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.36 NZ$50.1

$52.8 NZ$90.1

-44.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 NZ$160

$121 NZ$206

-22.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 NZ$207

$144 NZ$246

-15.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$968 NZ$1,653

$1,307 NZ$2,232

-25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 NZ$1,341

$1,110 NZ$1,896

-29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,605 NZ$2,740

$2,163 NZ$3,693

-25.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 NZ$2,437

$1,925 NZ$3,286

-25.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,075 NZ$12.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,769 NZ$6,436

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,815 NZ$4,807

$3,021 NZ$5,159

-6.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.07

6.94

1.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Canterbury: June 7, 2026

Last update for Wellington: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $968 in Canterbury versus $1,307 in Wellington. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Wellington, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Canterbury versus $84.0 in Wellington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $340 – making Canterbury the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Canterbury vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,735 in Canterbury, $2,352 in Wellington – roughly 36% apart. Wellington costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,602 per month in Canterbury and $3,528 in Wellington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Canterbury, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Wellington, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Canterbury and $84.0 in Wellington. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Canterbury, where all-in costs run around $1,735, than in Wellington at $2,352. In Canterbury it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Wellington has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,735 in Canterbury to $2,352 in Wellington. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Canterbury. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wellington makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.