🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,065 in Recklinghausen versus $2,460 in Wellington.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,027 in Recklinghausen versus $3,478 in Wellington.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,989 in Recklinghausen versus $4,495 in Wellington.
🌍Living in Recklinghausen costs roughly 16% less than in Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Recklinghausen51% above, Wellington80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.96€18.16
$14.42NZ$25.07
45.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6€75.0
$66.7NZ$116
29.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.49€10.82
$9.20NZ$15.99
35.76%
Cappuccino
$3.61€3.13
$3.37NZ$5.86
7.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.45
$2.47NZ$4.29
14.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.98
$1.78NZ$3.10
28.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€4.91
$7.58NZ$13.19
-25.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.05
$6.76NZ$11.75
-47.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.18
$1.90NZ$3.31
-28.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24€1.94
$2.21NZ$3.85
1.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45€2.99
$1.89NZ$3.29
82.54%
Eggs
$3.79€3.29
$7.04NZ$12.24
-46.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.13€14.84
$9.58NZ$16.66
78.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.93€10.34
$9.68NZ$16.84
23.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.58€22.16
$15.39NZ$26.76
66.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33€2.89
$3.20NZ$5.57
4.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00€1.73
$2.20NZ$3.83
-9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22€1.92
$3.13NZ$5.44
-29.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.36€4.65
$6.58NZ$11.44
-18.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42€1.23
$2.20NZ$3.82
-35.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33€1.15
$1.26NZ$2.19
5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78€1.54
$2.08NZ$3.61
-14.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.04
$1.22NZ$2.13
-1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98€8.65
$26.41NZ$45.91
-62.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.81€5.90
$11.68NZ$20.31
-41.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.88
$3.20NZ$5.56
-68.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$2.82NZ$4.90
-39.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.72€3.22
$2.84NZ$4.93
30.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.7€57.8
$102NZ$178
-34.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.35€2.90
$1.95NZ$3.39
71.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.92
$1.84NZ$3.19
-42.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.44€29.85
$35.32NZ$61.4
-2.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.87
$1.94NZ$3.37
11.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K€27.2K
$26.1KNZ$45.3K
20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$26.2KNZ$45.6K
49.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$395€343
$201NZ$349
97.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.31€32.33
$33.20NZ$57.7
12.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9€47.54
$54.6NZ$94.9
0.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.32€20.21
$39.64NZ$68.9
-41.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.90€13.78
$16.86NZ$29.32
-5.69%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18€9.69
$12.18NZ$21.18
-8.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$482€417
$1,109NZ$1,928
-56.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,555€8,281
$13.4KNZ$23.2K
-28.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.9€86.6
$80.1NZ$139
24.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.27€30.56
$29.42NZ$51.2
19.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€99.3
$104NZ$181
10.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€133
$159NZ$277
-3.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$667€578
$1,235NZ$2,147
-45.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$567€491
$1,176NZ$2,045
-51.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981€851
$2,211NZ$3,844
-55.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885€767
$1,750NZ$3,043
-49.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,730NZ$11.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,659NZ$6,361
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Recklinghausen
Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,895€2,509
$2,864NZ$4,980
1.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
5.39
-26.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Recklinghausen: September 15, 2026
Last update for Wellington: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Recklinghausen and $1,235 in Wellington. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Recklinghausen pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Recklinghausen vs $67.0 in Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $352 per month, with Wellington cheaper across the board.
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
Recklinghausen vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellington cheaper than Recklinghausen?
Recklinghausen is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Recklinghausen or Wellington?
Average pay runs 1% higher in Recklinghausen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Recklinghausen and Wellington?
Rent for a central apartment: $667 in Recklinghausen versus $1,235 in Wellington. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Recklinghausen or in Wellington?
Dining out is cheaper in Recklinghausen – a meal for two runs $87.0 versus $67.0 in Wellington. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Recklinghausen and in Wellington?
All in, you'll spend $2,065 per month in Recklinghausen versus $2,460 in Wellington – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Recklinghausen or in Wellington?
At $2,065 in Recklinghausen versus $2,460 in Wellington, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Recklinghausen but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Recklinghausen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Recklinghausen or Wellington more family-friendly?
For families, Recklinghausen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wellington, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Recklinghausen or Wellington?
Safety-wise, Recklinghausen 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Recklinghausen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Recklinghausen vs other spots: cost of living compared