Cost of Living Comparison Between Manukau and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Manukau and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,827 per month in Manukau vs $2,354 in Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,853 per month in Manukau vs $3,553 in Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,879 per month in Manukau vs $4,751 in Wellington, rent included.

Manukau is about 22% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manukau and Wellington sit above the global median – Manukau by 36%, Wellington by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.78 NZ$24.95

$17.30 NZ$29.21

-14.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 NZ$133

$84.5 NZ$143

-6.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 NZ$14.84

$9.77 NZ$16.49

-10.03%

Cappuccino

$3.43 NZ$5.79

$3.80 NZ$6.41

-9.74%

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

$1.53 NZ$2.58

$2.60 NZ$4.40

-41.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 NZ$2.10

$2.18 NZ$3.68

-43.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 NZ$8.89

$7.03 NZ$11.88

-25.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 NZ$9.15

$7.45 NZ$12.59

-27.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 NZ$3.09

$1.87 NZ$3.15

-2.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 NZ$3.60

$2.11 NZ$3.56

0.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.31

$1.95 NZ$3.30

0.51%

Eggs

$4.89 NZ$8.26

$6.88 NZ$11.62

-28.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 NZ$9.72

$8.13 NZ$13.73

-29.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 NZ$15.20

$11.06 NZ$18.67

-18.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.23 NZ$22.34

$13.14 NZ$22.19

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 NZ$4.86

$3.12 NZ$5.27

-7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 NZ$3.76

$2.24 NZ$3.78

-0.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 NZ$5.53

$2.99 NZ$5.05

9.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 NZ$6.95

$4.72 NZ$7.97

-12.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 NZ$1.86

$2.07 NZ$3.49

-46.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 NZ$2.76

$1.66 NZ$2.80

-1.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 NZ$3.23

$2.21 NZ$3.73

-13.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 NZ$2.10

$1.28 NZ$2.17

-2.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.38 NZ$42.85

$26.87 NZ$45.36

-5.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.32 NZ$8.99

$11.74 NZ$19.82

-54.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 NZ$5.00

$3.52 NZ$5.95

-15.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 NZ$6.44

$3.18 NZ$5.37

19.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 NZ$3.96

$2.75 NZ$4.64

-14.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 NZ$108

$107 NZ$181

-40.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 NZ$3.62

$2.66 NZ$4.50

-19.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 NZ$3.28

$1.85 NZ$3.13

4.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.11 NZ$59.3

$60.4 NZ$102

-41.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 NZ$2.77

$1.71 NZ$2.89

-4.09%

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

$27.9K NZ$47.0K

$33.6K NZ$56.7K

-17.12%

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

$21.8K NZ$36.8K

$24.6K NZ$41.5K

-11.43%

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

$142 NZ$239

$160 NZ$270

-11.63%

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

$30.14 NZ$50.9

$32.55 NZ$55.0

-7.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.43 NZ$83.5

$51.5 NZ$87.0

-4.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.47 NZ$71.7

$36.79 NZ$62.1

15.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 NZ$20.42

$20.60 NZ$34.78

-41.26%

Cinema Ticket

$14.32 NZ$24.18

$12.17 NZ$20.55

17.67%

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

$897 NZ$1,515

$800 NZ$1,351

12.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K NZ$23.1K

$12.6K NZ$21.4K

8.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.17 NZ$81.3

$73.5 NZ$124

-34.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.39 NZ$81.7

$53.1 NZ$89.7

-8.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 NZ$170

$119 NZ$201

-15.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 NZ$207

$142 NZ$239

-13.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 NZ$1,652

$1,339 NZ$2,261

-26.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 NZ$1,326

$1,105 NZ$1,865

-28.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 NZ$2,700

$2,103 NZ$3,551

-23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 NZ$2,446

$1,888 NZ$3,188

-23.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,223 NZ$7,130

$6,602 NZ$11.1K

-36.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,012 NZ$5,086

$3,897 NZ$6,579

-22.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,183 NZ$5,374

$3,057 NZ$5,161

4.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

6.94

-8.21%

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

Last update for Manukau: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Manukau versus $1,339 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 4% higher in Manukau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Manukau versus $85.0 in Wellington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $340 – making Manukau 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

Manukau vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,827 in Manukau, $2,354 in Wellington – roughly 29% apart. Wellington costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,741 per month in Manukau and $3,531 in Wellington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manukau, 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 $79.0 in Manukau and $85.0 in Wellington. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Manukau, where all-in costs run around $1,827, than in Wellington at $2,354. In Manukau 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 $1,827 in Manukau to $2,354 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 Manukau. 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.