Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Ames, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Ames, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Wellington is 4.7% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Wellington is 5.3% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 11.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.67 NZ$30.85

$18.31 $18.31

-3.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 NZ$149

$45.58 $45.58

87.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 NZ$17.16

$9.23 $9.23

6.50%

Cappuccino

$3.59 NZ$6.27

$5.18 $5.18

-30.69%

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

$2.51 NZ$4.38

$1.95 $1.95

28.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 NZ$3.73

$1.79 $1.79

18.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.2 NZ$12.57

$3.07 $3.07

134.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 NZ$12.27

$6.99 $6.99

0.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 NZ$3.15

$0.94 $0.94

92.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 NZ$3.68

$3.7 $3.7

-42.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.42

$3.07 $3.07

-36.16%

Eggs

$7.07 NZ$12.34

$3.27 $3.27

116.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.1 NZ$14.14

$9.1 $9.1

-10.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.87 NZ$18.99

$11.91 $11.91

-8.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.85 NZ$22.43

$14.22 $14.22

-9.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 NZ$5.57

$5.15 $5.15

-38.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.3 NZ$4.02

$1.15 $1.15

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 NZ$5.37

$5.74 $5.74

-46.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 NZ$8.15

$5.17 $5.17

-9.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2 NZ$3.5

$3.76 $3.76

-46.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 NZ$2.77

$3.63 $3.63

-56.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 NZ$3.81

$1.97 $1.97

10.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 NZ$2.2

$1.95 $1.95

-35.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$27.05 NZ$47.24

$8.83 $8.83

206.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 NZ$17.62

$15.96 $15.96

-36.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 NZ$6.44

$1.71 $1.71

115.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NZ$5.56

$4.6 $4.6

-30.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.73 NZ$4.76

$1.53 $1.53

78.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$108 NZ$188

$46.77 $46.77

130.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 NZ$4.76

$4.89 $4.89

-44.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 NZ$3.22

$1.36 $1.36

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.8 NZ$106

$50.5 $50.5

20.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 NZ$2.89

$0.87 $0.87

89.66%

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

$32.8K NZ$57.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

30.06%

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

$25K NZ$43.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

-2.31%

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

$157 NZ$275

$187 $187

-16.07%

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

$33.33 NZ$58.2

$49.46 $49.46

-32.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 NZ$89.3

$74.2 $74.2

-31.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.98 NZ$62.8

$69.5 $69.5

-48.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.24 NZ$35.34

$19.82 $19.82

2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 NZ$20.94

$14.13 $14.13

-15.15%

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

$810 NZ$1,414

$1,469 $1,469

-44.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K NZ$22.6K

$29.7K $29.7K

-56.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72 NZ$126

$39.55 $39.55

82.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 NZ$94

$42.34 $42.34

27.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 NZ$204

$85.8 $85.8

36.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 NZ$247

$116 $116

22.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 NZ$2,292

$974 $974

34.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 NZ$1,905

$830 $830

31.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 NZ$3,700

$1,951 $1,951

8.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 NZ$3,312

$1,633 $1,633

16.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,363 NZ$12.9K

$2,371 $2,371

210.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,695 NZ$8,198

$2,257 $2,257

108.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,108 NZ$5,427

$3,668 $3,668

-15.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

6.02

15.28%

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

Last update for Wellington: November 24, 2025

Last update for Ames, IA: November 22, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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