😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,807 in Dunedin versus $1,694 in Wilhelmshaven.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,801 in Dunedin versus $2,832 in Wilhelmshaven.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,796 in Dunedin versus $3,969 in Wilhelmshaven.
😐Living in Dunedin is roughly 7% more expensive than Wilhelmshaven, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dunedin35% above, Wilhelmshaven26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.23NZ$20.65
$13.97€12.02
-12.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0NZ$123
$79.1€68.0
-7.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87NZ$18.35
$12.67€10.90
-14.21%
Cappuccino
$3.45NZ$5.82
$3.93€3.38
-12.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18NZ$3.67
$2.85€2.45
-23.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00NZ$3.38
$2.24€1.93
-10.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20NZ$12.16
$5.11€4.39
40.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97NZ$10.08
$5.12€4.40
16.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07NZ$3.49
$1.17€1.01
76.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92NZ$3.24
$2.24€1.93
-14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87NZ$3.16
$3.39€2.91
-44.84%
Eggs
$5.73NZ$9.67
$3.82€3.29
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.07NZ$13.62
$14.64€12.60
-44.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.84NZ$18.30
$15.26€13.12
-28.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.17NZ$22.23
$19.75€16.99
-33.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93NZ$4.94
$2.48€2.13
18.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25NZ$3.81
$1.74€1.50
29.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.43NZ$5.78
$2.16€1.86
58.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.45NZ$7.51
$5.32€4.58
-16.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98NZ$3.34
$1.56€1.34
26.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02NZ$3.41
$1.55€1.33
30.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56NZ$4.33
$2.06€1.77
24.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08NZ$1.82
$1.03€0.89
4.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.76NZ$40.11
$9.91€8.52
139.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.41NZ$15.88
$5.66€4.87
66.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55NZ$4.31
$1.12€0.96
127.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66NZ$6.19
$1.68€1.45
117.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23NZ$2.08
$2.91€2.50
-57.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.6NZ$124
$57.4€49.36
28.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.14NZ$10.36
$7.49€6.45
-18.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15NZ$1.94
$1.94€1.67
-40.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.78NZ$50.3
$50.8€43.71
-41.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66NZ$2.81
$2.04€1.75
-18.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KNZ$33.7K
$31.4K€27.0K
-36.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KNZ$42.9K
$37.3K€32.1K
-31.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102NZ$173
$303€261
-66.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.87NZ$60.6
$11.37€9.78
215.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3NZ$91.7
$50.3€43.28
7.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2NZ$88.1
$28.73€24.72
81.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13NZ$10.36
$22.96€19.75
-73.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.67NZ$16.32
$15.13€13.02
-36.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575NZ$971
$690€593
-16.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KNZ$20.1K
$10.3K€8,892
15.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2NZ$114
$82.1€70.6
-18.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.51NZ$60.0
$34.87€30.00
1.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.2NZ$159
$58.0€49.92
62.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121NZ$205
$148€127
-18.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$884NZ$1,493
$579€498
52.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757NZ$1,278
$409€352
85.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,481NZ$2,501
$764€657
93.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,332NZ$2,250
$1,245€1,071
7.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,023NZ$5,104
$5,082€4,371
-40.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,045NZ$3,452
$2,293€1,972
-10.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dunedin
Wilhelmshaven
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,611NZ$4,409
$3,680€3,166
-29.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.07
3.96
78.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dunedin: June 1, 2026
Last update for Wilhelmshaven: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $884 in Dunedin and $579 in Wilhelmshaven. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wilhelmshaven pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Dunedin vs $79.0 in Wilhelmshaven for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $349 per month, with Dunedin cheaper across the board.
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
Dunedin vs Wilhelmshaven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven?
Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,807 vs $1,694 including rent). Wilhelmshaven is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Wilhelmshaven earns 41% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven?
Rent for a central apartment: $884 in Dunedin versus $579 in Wilhelmshaven. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven?
A monthly transit pass in Wilhelmshaven runs roughly 28% less than in Dunedin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven?
Childcare runs $575 in Dunedin versus $690 in Wilhelmshaven. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,694 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,807 in Dunedin, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Wilhelmshaven but tight or insufficient in Dunedin. The gap between the two cities makes Wilhelmshaven the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Dunedin or Wilhelmshaven safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dunedin and Wilhelmshaven are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Dunedin or Wilhelmshaven?
Expats usually find Wilhelmshaven gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Dunedin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.