🙂A single person spends $1,996 per month in Modena vs $2,277 in Wellington, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,148 per month in Modena vs $3,544 in Wellington, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,300 per month in Modena vs $4,812 in Wellington, rent included.
🙂Modena is about 12% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Modena and Wellington sit above the global median – Modena by 49%, Wellington by 70%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.09€20.17
$17.28NZ$29.56
33.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0€71.6
$85.1NZ$146
-3.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67€10.20
$9.91NZ$16.95
17.76%
Cappuccino
$2.02€1.77
$3.75NZ$6.42
-46.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.68
$2.61NZ$4.46
17.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.22
$2.18NZ$3.74
-35.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.11
$7.17NZ$12.27
-18.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83€5.10
$7.37NZ$12.61
-20.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.21
$1.80NZ$3.09
-23.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77€2.42
$2.02NZ$3.46
37.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61€2.28
$1.91NZ$3.27
36.65%
Eggs
$4.79€4.18
$6.98NZ$11.95
-31.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.23€17.67
$7.95NZ$13.60
154.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.07€13.17
$11.26NZ$19.27
33.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.68€19.82
$12.87NZ$22.02
76.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.38
$3.05NZ$5.21
-10.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68€2.34
$2.36NZ$4.03
13.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62€3.16
$3.10NZ$5.31
16.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.88€3.39
$4.81NZ$8.23
-19.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70€2.36
$2.06NZ$3.53
31.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.57NZ$2.68
12.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.36
$2.25NZ$3.85
-31.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.52
$1.31NZ$2.23
-54.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97€6.09
$26.06NZ$44.59
-73.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.02€7.88
$10.75NZ$18.38
-16.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.49
$3.65NZ$6.25
-53.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.30
$3.28NZ$5.62
-19.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Modena
Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24€1.96
$2.69NZ$4.61
-16.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.58€31.96
$106NZ$181
-65.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.76€5.91
$2.76NZ$4.72
144.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€1.01
$1.84NZ$3.15
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.77€28.63
$60.8NZ$104
-46.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.76
$1.65NZ$2.82
21.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K€24.6K
$33.3KNZ$57.0K
-15.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K€32.5K
$25.5KNZ$43.7K
45.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$269€235
$160NZ$274
68.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.05€11.40
$33.45NZ$57.2
-60.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.62€26.75
$51.5NZ$88.1
-40.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.7€58.3
$35.81NZ$61.3
86.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.11€20.19
$20.66NZ$35.35
11.86%
Cinema Ticket
$11.06€9.66
$11.85NZ$20.27
-6.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€611
$792NZ$1,356
-11.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,851
$13.0KNZ$22.2K
-12.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100€87.5
$73.0NZ$125
37.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61€37.23
$53.8NZ$92.0
-20.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.7
$119NZ$203
-13.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€111
$142NZ$243
-10.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Modena
Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857€748
$1,303NZ$2,229
-34.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694€606
$1,094NZ$1,872
-36.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,639€1,432
$2,101NZ$3,594
-21.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,287€1,124
$1,902NZ$3,255
-32.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,630€3,172
$6,864NZ$11.7K
-47.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,194€1,917
$3,720NZ$6,364
-41.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Modena
Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,073€1,812
$2,800NZ$4,790
-25.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
6.94
-38.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Modena: July 11, 2026
Last update for Wellington: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $857 in Modena versus $1,303 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 35% 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 $82.0 in Modena versus $85.0 in Wellington. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Modena vs $339 in Wellington – so Wellington 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
Modena vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Modena or Wellington?
Wellington costs about 14% more than Modena, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Modena and in Wellington?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,993 per month in Modena and $3,416 in Wellington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Modena or Wellington?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Modena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Modena and in Wellington?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Modena and $85.0 in Wellington. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Modena compared to Wellington?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,996 in Modena and $2,277 in Wellington. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Modena or in Wellington?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Modena, where all-in costs run around $1,996, than in Wellington at $2,277. In Modena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Modena or Wellington?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Modena costs $1,996 versus $2,277 in Wellington. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Modena compared to Wellington?
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.
Should I move to Modena or to Wellington?
If budget matters most, go with Modena. 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.