Cost of Living Comparison Between Levin and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Levin and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,999 per month in Levin vs $2,436 in Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,978 per month in Levin vs $3,489 in Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,957 per month in Levin vs $4,542 in Wellington, rent included.

Levin is about 18% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Levin and Wellington sit above the global median – Levin by 45%, Wellington by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 NZ$25.29

$14.34 NZ$24.68

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 NZ$118

$67.3 NZ$116

2.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.20 NZ$15.82

$9.72 NZ$16.73

-5.35%

Cappuccino

$3.03 NZ$5.22

$3.41 NZ$5.88

-11.14%

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

$2.63 NZ$4.53

$2.57 NZ$4.43

2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 NZ$3.18

$1.84 NZ$3.17

0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.66 NZ$13.18

$7.61 NZ$13.09

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 NZ$12.34

$7.12 NZ$12.25

0.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 NZ$3.25

$1.92 NZ$3.30

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 NZ$1.65

$2.32 NZ$3.99

-58.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 NZ$2.99

$1.93 NZ$3.32

-9.84%

Eggs

$7.49 NZ$12.89

$7.29 NZ$12.53

2.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.88 NZ$11.84

$9.78 NZ$16.83

-29.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 NZ$13.40

$10.05 NZ$17.29

-22.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 NZ$16.89

$15.73 NZ$27.06

-37.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 NZ$3.13

$3.21 NZ$5.51

-43.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 NZ$3.79

$2.31 NZ$3.98

-4.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 NZ$5.58

$3.15 NZ$5.42

3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 NZ$3.20

$6.67 NZ$11.48

-72.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 NZ$3.60

$2.14 NZ$3.69

-2.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 NZ$2.27

$1.31 NZ$2.25

0.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 NZ$3.39

$2.19 NZ$3.76

-10.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 NZ$1.00

$1.20 NZ$2.07

-51.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.12 NZ$32.90

$26.36 NZ$45.36

-27.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 NZ$20.24

$11.86 NZ$20.40

-0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 NZ$5.63

$3.24 NZ$5.58

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 NZ$5.05

$2.92 NZ$5.02

0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 NZ$3.03

$3.00 NZ$5.16

-41.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 NZ$151

$108 NZ$186

-18.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 NZ$3.29

$1.97 NZ$3.38

-3.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 NZ$3.16

$1.92 NZ$3.30

-4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.05 NZ$62.0

$34.88 NZ$60.0

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 NZ$2.77

$1.98 NZ$3.41

-18.69%

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

$26.2K NZ$45.0K

$26.0K NZ$44.7K

0.71%

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

$26.5K NZ$45.6K

$26.7K NZ$46.0K

-1.00%

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

$203 NZ$349

$206 NZ$355

-1.62%

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

$22.95 NZ$39.48

$32.99 NZ$56.8

-30.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 NZ$95.9

$56.2 NZ$96.8

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.32 NZ$71.1

$40.29 NZ$69.3

2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 NZ$29.28

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 NZ$18.53

$12.98 NZ$22.33

-17.03%

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

$1,111 NZ$1,912

$1,107 NZ$1,905

0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K NZ$23.4K

$13.5K NZ$23.3K

0.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.6 NZ$140

$80.1 NZ$138

1.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.90 NZ$41.12

$29.15 NZ$50.1

-18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.2 NZ$89.9

$108 NZ$185

-51.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 NZ$200

$163 NZ$280

-28.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 NZ$1,865

$1,297 NZ$2,231

-16.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$885 NZ$1,523

$1,210 NZ$2,082

-26.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 NZ$2,132

$2,278 NZ$3,919

-45.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,554 NZ$2,673

$1,759 NZ$3,026

-11.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,934 NZ$8,490

$7,004 NZ$12.1K

-29.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,475 NZ$5,979

$3,701 NZ$6,368

-6.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,914 NZ$5,013

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 Levin: September 8, 2026

Last update for Wellington: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,084 in Levin 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Levin versus $67.0 in Wellington. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Levin vs $360 in Wellington – so Levin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Levin vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,999 in Levin, $2,436 in Wellington – roughly 22% apart. Wellington costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,999 per month in Levin 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 Levin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 23% less in Levin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,111 per month in Levin and $1,107 in Wellington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Levin, where all-in costs run around $1,999, than in Wellington at $2,436. In Levin 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 $1,999 in Levin to $2,436 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 Levin. 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.