😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,629 in Friedrichshafen versus $2,436 in Wellington.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,218 in Friedrichshafen versus $3,489 in Wellington.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,806 in Friedrichshafen versus $4,542 in Wellington.
🌍Living in Friedrichshafen is roughly 8% more expensive than in Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Friedrichshafen91% above, Wellington77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22€14.84
$14.34NZ$24.66
20.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1€63.9
$67.3NZ$116
10.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.55€9.95
$9.72NZ$16.72
18.83%
Cappuccino
$4.17€3.59
$3.41NZ$5.87
22.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93€3.39
$2.57NZ$4.42
52.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.51
$1.84NZ$3.17
58.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54€4.78
$7.61NZ$13.08
-27.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37€4.63
$7.12NZ$12.24
-24.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.20
$1.92NZ$3.30
-27.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.86
$2.32NZ$3.99
-6.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$1.93NZ$3.32
41.45%
Eggs
$3.64€3.13
$7.29NZ$12.53
-50.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.69€12.66
$9.78NZ$16.82
50.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67€10.06
$10.05NZ$17.27
16.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.18€15.67
$15.73NZ$27.04
15.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07€2.65
$3.21NZ$5.51
-4.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.31NZ$3.98
-15.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.26€1.95
$3.15NZ$5.42
-28.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40€3.79
$6.67NZ$11.47
-34.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.27
$2.14NZ$3.69
-31.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.10
$1.31NZ$2.25
-3.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$2.19NZ$3.76
-31.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$1.20NZ$2.07
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.94€8.57
$26.36NZ$45.33
-62.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35€5.47
$11.86NZ$20.39
-46.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$3.24NZ$5.58
-64.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.45
$2.92NZ$5.01
-42.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75€2.37
$3.00NZ$5.16
-8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.3€62.3
$108NZ$186
-33.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.67€5.75
$1.97NZ$3.38
238.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.16€2.72
$1.92NZ$3.30
64.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$45.84€39.51
$34.88NZ$60.0
31.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.76
$1.98NZ$3.41
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K€29.1K
$26.0KNZ$44.7K
29.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€33.7K
$26.7KNZ$46.0K
46.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224€193
$206NZ$355
8.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.18€17.40
$32.99NZ$56.7
-38.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69€35.94
$56.2NZ$96.7
-25.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94€32.71
$40.29NZ$69.3
-5.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.02NZ$29.26
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.29€14.04
$12.98NZ$22.31
25.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$862€743
$1,107NZ$1,904
-22.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$13.5KNZ$23.3K
28.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2€70.9
$80.1NZ$138
2.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.43€37.43
$29.15NZ$50.1
48.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.1
$108NZ$185
-2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€99.0
$163NZ$280
-29.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,438€1,239
$1,297NZ$2,230
10.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,362€1,174
$1,210NZ$2,080
12.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,975€1,702
$2,278NZ$3,917
-13.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,130€974
$1,759NZ$3,024
-35.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,004NZ$12.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,479€2,999
$3,701NZ$6,364
-6.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Friedrichshafen
Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,163€2,727
$2,914NZ$5,009
8.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
5.39
-27.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Friedrichshafen: September 6, 2026
Last update for Wellington: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,438 in Friedrichshafen and $1,297 in Wellington. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Friedrichshafen pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Friedrichshafen vs $67.0 in Wellington. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $360, with Friedrichshafen cheaper for home cooking.
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
Friedrichshafen vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Friedrichshafen and in Wellington?
Friedrichshafen and Wellington differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,629 vs $2,436 including rent). Wellington is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Friedrichshafen or Wellington?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Friedrichshafen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Friedrichshafen and in Wellington?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,438 in Friedrichshafen versus $1,297 in Wellington. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Friedrichshafen pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Wellington – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $74.0 in Friedrichshafen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,436 in Wellington versus $2,629 in Friedrichshafen, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Wellington but tight or insufficient in Friedrichshafen. The gap between the two cities makes Wellington the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Friedrichshafen and Wellington?
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 Friedrichshafen or Wellington safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Friedrichshafen 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.
Where should expats move: Friedrichshafen or Wellington?
Expats usually find Wellington gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Friedrichshafen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Friedrichshafen vs other spots: cost of living compared