Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Wellington

For one person, living is cheaper in Duncan BC: $2,112 a month against $2,358 in Wellington, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Duncan BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,112
/mo nomad
Wellington
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,358
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duncan BC and in Wellington

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Duncan BC and in Wellington actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,112 in Duncan BC versus $2,358 in Wellington.

  • Duncan BC $2,112
  • Wellington $2,358

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,371 in Duncan BC versus $3,368 in Wellington.

  • Duncan BC $3,371
  • Wellington $3,368

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,630 in Duncan BC versus $4,378 in Wellington.

  • Duncan BC $4,630
  • Wellington $4,378

Living in Duncan BC costs roughly 10% less than in Wellington, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Duncan BC 56% above, Wellington 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26 CA$24.40
$13.72 NZ$24.27
25.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 CA$97.8
$63.7 NZ$113
8.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 CA$14.95
$8.95 NZ$15.83
18.10%
Cappuccino
$4.06 CA$5.73
$3.42 NZ$6.05
18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 CA$3.01
$2.44 NZ$4.31
-12.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.36
$1.69 NZ$2.98
-1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 CA$7.63
$7.22 NZ$12.76
-25.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 CA$7.80
$6.65 NZ$11.76
-16.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 CA$2.20
$1.91 NZ$3.38
-18.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 CA$3.68
$2.20 NZ$3.89
18.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 CA$6.15
$1.83 NZ$3.24
137.70%
Eggs
$4.04 CA$5.71
$6.77 NZ$11.97
-40.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.99 CA$16.95
$9.05 NZ$16.00
32.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.34 CA$18.85
$9.85 NZ$17.43
35.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.24 CA$20.13
$15.19 NZ$26.86
-6.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.69
$3.12 NZ$5.52
28.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 CA$1.85
$2.21 NZ$3.91
-40.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.77 CA$5.33
$3.07 NZ$5.43
22.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.52
$6.59 NZ$11.65
-40.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 CA$3.83
$2.06 NZ$3.64
31.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 CA$3.97
$1.23 NZ$2.18
128.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CA$3.58
$2.07 NZ$3.66
22.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$1.15 NZ$2.03
36.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.78 CA$19.49
$24.86 NZ$43.96
-44.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.71 CA$16.56
$11.28 NZ$19.95
3.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$3.09 NZ$5.47
-14.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 CA$4.19
$2.87 NZ$5.08
3.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 CA$2.80
$2.83 NZ$5.01
-30.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.7 CA$83.0
$102 NZ$180
-42.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 CA$3.82
$1.87 NZ$3.30
44.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$1.82 NZ$3.22
-13.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.64 CA$43.32
$34.15 NZ$60.4
-10.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.76
$1.82 NZ$3.22
-31.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.9K
$25.0K NZ$44.2K
1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$27.8K
$25.4K NZ$44.9K
-22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.6 CA$117
$197 NZ$348
-58.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.70 CA$51.9
$32.00 NZ$56.6
14.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9 CA$72.0
$52.4 NZ$92.7
-2.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.4 CA$84.0
$37.73 NZ$66.7
57.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.11 NZ$28.50
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.41 CA$17.54
$11.93 NZ$21.10
4.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,032 CA$1,459
$1,056 NZ$1,867
-2.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,936 CA$14.0K
$12.8K NZ$22.6K
-22.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5 CA$79.8
$76.3 NZ$135
-26.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.64 CA$46.14
$28.23 NZ$49.93
15.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 CA$133
$99.6 NZ$176
-5.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 CA$133
$152 NZ$270
-38.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 CA$1,716
$1,226 NZ$2,169
-1.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 CA$1,435
$1,141 NZ$2,018
-11.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,261 CA$3,196
$2,143 NZ$3,790
5.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 CA$2,940
$1,709 NZ$3,022
21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,345 CA$6,142
$6,578 NZ$11.6K
-33.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,513 CA$4,967
$3,559 NZ$6,294
-1.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncan BC
Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,075 CA$4,347
$2,785 NZ$4,925
10.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
5.39
-20.59%

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

Last update for Duncan BC: October 12, 2026

Last update for Wellington: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Duncan BC
$1K
Wellington
$1.1K 12.4% $126
Groceries & Markets
Duncan BC
$368
Wellington
$346 6% $22
Eating Out
Duncan BC
$272
Wellington
$244 10.4% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncan BC
$170
Wellington
$281 65.2% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Duncan BC
$125
Wellington
$160 28.6% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Duncan BC
$84
Wellington
$62 26.9% $23
Getting Around
Duncan BC
$77
Wellington
$124 60.3% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,214 in Duncan BC and $1,226 in Wellington. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Duncan BC pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Duncan BC vs $64.0 in Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $346 per month, with Wellington cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Duncan BC
🇳🇿 Wellington
🕒 Local time
10:49 10:49 AM
06:49 6:49 AM
20 h ahead of Duncan BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,199
215,900 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Duncan BC Wellington 11,690 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Duncan BC
  • Wellington

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Duncan BC vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellington cheaper than Duncan BC?
Duncan BC is cheaper overall, especially in clothing and transport. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Duncan BC or Wellington?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Duncan BC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Duncan BC and Wellington?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,214 in Duncan BC versus $1,226 in Wellington. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Duncan BC and in Wellington?
Shoppers in Wellington pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Duncan BC or in Wellington?
Dining out is cheaper in Duncan BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $64.0 in Wellington. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Duncan BC or in Wellington?
At $2,112 in Duncan BC versus $2,358 in Wellington, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Duncan BC or Wellington more family-friendly?
For families, Duncan BC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wellington, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Duncan BC or Wellington?
Safety-wise, Duncan BC and Wellington are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Duncan BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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