Cost of Living Comparison Between Hastings and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Hastings and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,812 per month in Hastings vs $2,436 in Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,678 per month in Hastings vs $3,489 in Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,544 per month in Hastings vs $4,542 in Wellington, rent included.

Hastings is about 26% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hastings and Wellington sit above the global median – Hastings by 31%, Wellington by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.75 NZ$20.10

$14.34 NZ$24.54

-18.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 NZ$99.4

$67.3 NZ$115

-13.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.65 NZ$16.50

$9.72 NZ$16.63

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$3.36 NZ$5.74

$3.41 NZ$5.84

-1.47%

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

$1.94 NZ$3.32

$2.57 NZ$4.40

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 NZ$2.60

$1.84 NZ$3.15

-17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.69 NZ$8.03

$7.61 NZ$13.01

-38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 NZ$10.34

$7.12 NZ$12.18

-15.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 NZ$3.11

$1.92 NZ$3.29

-5.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 NZ$3.81

$2.32 NZ$3.97

-3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 NZ$3.17

$1.93 NZ$3.30

-3.63%

Eggs

$5.98 NZ$10.23

$7.29 NZ$12.46

-17.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 NZ$13.63

$9.78 NZ$16.73

-18.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.30 NZ$17.62

$10.05 NZ$17.19

2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.44 NZ$21.28

$15.73 NZ$26.91

-20.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 NZ$4.70

$3.21 NZ$5.48

-14.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 NZ$3.59

$2.31 NZ$3.96

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 NZ$5.61

$3.15 NZ$5.39

4.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 NZ$6.17

$6.67 NZ$11.41

-46.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 NZ$3.17

$2.14 NZ$3.67

-13.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 NZ$1.88

$1.31 NZ$2.24

-16.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 NZ$2.57

$2.19 NZ$3.74

-31.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 NZ$1.65

$1.20 NZ$2.06

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.38 NZ$31.45

$26.36 NZ$45.10

-30.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.55 NZ$16.34

$11.86 NZ$20.29

-19.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 NZ$5.80

$3.24 NZ$5.55

4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 NZ$4.93

$2.92 NZ$4.99

-1.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 NZ$5.08

$3.00 NZ$5.13

-1.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.4 NZ$151

$108 NZ$185

-18.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 NZ$3.40

$1.97 NZ$3.36

1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 NZ$3.26

$1.92 NZ$3.29

-0.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.70 NZ$61.1

$34.88 NZ$59.7

2.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 NZ$2.83

$1.98 NZ$3.39

-16.67%

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

$26.1K NZ$44.7K

$26.0K NZ$44.4K

0.66%

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

$23.7K NZ$40.5K

$26.7K NZ$45.7K

-11.53%

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

$202 NZ$346

$206 NZ$353

-2.09%

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

$33.62 NZ$57.5

$32.99 NZ$56.4

1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.0 NZ$94.1

$56.2 NZ$96.2

-2.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.69 NZ$50.8

$40.29 NZ$68.9

-26.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 NZ$29.11

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 NZ$18.27

$12.98 NZ$22.20

-17.72%

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

$1,112 NZ$1,901

$1,107 NZ$1,894

0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K NZ$22.9K

$13.5K NZ$23.1K

-0.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.74 NZ$85.1

$80.1 NZ$137

-37.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.80 NZ$51.0

$29.15 NZ$49.86

2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 NZ$179

$108 NZ$184

-2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.3 NZ$161

$163 NZ$278

-42.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 NZ$1,430

$1,297 NZ$2,218

-35.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 NZ$1,278

$1,210 NZ$2,070

-38.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 NZ$2,840

$2,278 NZ$3,897

-27.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 NZ$2,076

$1,759 NZ$3,008

-30.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,996 NZ$8,547

$7,004 NZ$12.0K

-28.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,474 NZ$5,943

$3,701 NZ$6,331

-6.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,650 NZ$2,822

$2,914 NZ$4,984

-43.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

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

Last update for Hastings: September 7, 2026

Last update for Wellington: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $836 in Hastings versus $1,297 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 77% 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 $58.0 in Hastings versus $67.0 in Wellington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $360 – making Hastings 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

Hastings vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wellington costs about 34% more than Hastings, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,718 per month in Hastings and $3,653 in Wellington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $58.0 in Hastings and $67.0 in Wellington. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hastings, where all-in costs run around $1,812, than in Wellington at $2,436. In Hastings it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hastings costs $1,812 versus $2,436 in Wellington. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Hastings. 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.