Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,866 per month in Thames vs $2,354 in Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,899 per month in Thames vs $3,553 in Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,931 per month in Thames vs $4,751 in Wellington, rent included.

Thames is about 21% cheaper than Wellington, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Thames and Wellington sit above the global median – Thames by 39%, Wellington by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 NZ$25.23

$17.30 NZ$29.21

-13.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 NZ$130

$84.5 NZ$143

-8.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 NZ$15.88

$9.77 NZ$16.49

-3.79%

Cappuccino

$3.38 NZ$5.70

$3.80 NZ$6.41

-11.05%

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

$2.28 NZ$3.86

$2.60 NZ$4.40

-12.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 NZ$3.73

$2.18 NZ$3.68

1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.30 NZ$12.33

$7.03 NZ$11.88

3.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 NZ$12.11

$7.45 NZ$12.59

-3.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 NZ$2.94

$1.87 NZ$3.15

-6.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 NZ$3.54

$2.11 NZ$3.56

-0.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 NZ$3.42

$1.95 NZ$3.30

4.10%

Eggs

$6.82 NZ$11.51

$6.88 NZ$11.62

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.89 NZ$15.00

$8.13 NZ$13.73

9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 NZ$16.35

$11.06 NZ$18.67

-12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.18 NZ$22.25

$13.14 NZ$22.19

0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 NZ$4.95

$3.12 NZ$5.27

-6.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 NZ$3.81

$2.24 NZ$3.78

0.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 NZ$5.63

$2.99 NZ$5.05

11.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 NZ$6.72

$4.72 NZ$7.97

-15.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 NZ$3.50

$2.07 NZ$3.49

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 NZ$2.78

$1.66 NZ$2.80

-0.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 NZ$3.20

$2.21 NZ$3.73

-14.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NZ$2.15

$1.28 NZ$2.17

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.49 NZ$43.03

$26.87 NZ$45.36

-5.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.01 NZ$16.91

$11.74 NZ$19.82

-14.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 NZ$4.99

$3.52 NZ$5.95

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 NZ$6.52

$3.18 NZ$5.37

21.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 NZ$3.59

$2.75 NZ$4.64

-22.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 NZ$108

$107 NZ$181

-40.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 NZ$3.62

$2.66 NZ$4.50

-19.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 NZ$3.25

$1.85 NZ$3.13

3.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.69 NZ$58.6

$60.4 NZ$102

-42.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 NZ$2.78

$1.71 NZ$2.89

-3.51%

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

$28.4K NZ$48.0K

$33.6K NZ$56.7K

-15.50%

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

$22.3K NZ$37.6K

$24.6K NZ$41.5K

-9.42%

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

$141 NZ$239

$160 NZ$270

-11.82%

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)

$48.45 NZ$81.8

$51.5 NZ$87.0

-5.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.47 NZ$61.6

$36.79 NZ$62.1

-0.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.89 NZ$20.08

$20.60 NZ$34.78

-42.28%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 NZ$25.63

$12.17 NZ$20.55

24.73%

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

$900 NZ$1,519

$800 NZ$1,351

12.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K NZ$22.8K

$12.6K NZ$21.4K

6.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 NZ$117

$73.5 NZ$124

-5.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.36 NZ$83.3

$53.1 NZ$89.7

-7.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 NZ$163

$119 NZ$201

-18.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 NZ$212

$142 NZ$239

-11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 NZ$1,653

$1,339 NZ$2,261

-26.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 NZ$1,305

$1,105 NZ$1,865

-30.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,545 NZ$2,608

$2,103 NZ$3,551

-26.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 NZ$2,434

$1,888 NZ$3,188

-23.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,612 NZ$7,786

$6,602 NZ$11.1K

-30.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,448 NZ$5,821

$3,897 NZ$6,579

-11.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,057 NZ$5,161

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 Thames: May 30, 2026

Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Thames 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Thames versus $85.0 in Wellington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $340 – making Thames 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

Thames vs Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Wellington is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,799 per month in Thames 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 Thames, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $900 per month in Thames and $800 in Wellington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Thames, where all-in costs run around $1,866, than in Wellington at $2,354. In Thames it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Thames – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Thames. 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.