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

😐 Solo nomad: Wellington is 12.1% more expensive than Ames, IA without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Wellington is 3.8% cheaper than Ames, IA without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 NZ$29.40

$18.25 $18.25

-5.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.1 NZ$141

$44.31 $44.31

87.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 NZ$15.94

$8.79 $8.79

6.60%

Cappuccino

$3.78 NZ$6.43

$5.26 $5.26

-28.14%

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

$2.47 NZ$4.19

$1.97 $1.97

25.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 NZ$3.56

$1.77 $1.77

18.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.38 NZ$12.54

$3.08 $3.08

139.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.37 NZ$12.52

$7.19 $7.19

2.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 NZ$3.17

$0.95 $0.95

95.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 NZ$3.60

$3.69 $3.69

-42.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.33

$3.02 $3.02

-35.10%

Eggs

$7.13 NZ$12.12

$3.21 $3.21

122.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 NZ$14.10

$9.63 $9.63

-13.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.92 NZ$18.57

$11.85 $11.85

-7.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 NZ$22.59

$14.08 $14.08

-5.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 NZ$5.35

$5.16 $5.16

-38.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 NZ$3.80

$1.16 $1.16

92.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.20

$5.91 $5.91

-48.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 NZ$8.13

$5.28 $5.28

-9.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 NZ$3.54

$3.94 $3.94

-47.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 NZ$2.80

$3.81 $3.81

-56.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 NZ$3.73

$2.03 $2.03

8.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 NZ$2.10

$1.98 $1.98

-37.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.91 NZ$45.74

$8.93 $8.93

201.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 NZ$18.19

$15.86 $15.86

-32.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.56 NZ$6.05

$1.69 $1.69

110.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NZ$5.43

$4.49 $4.49

-28.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.77 NZ$4.72

$1.52 $1.52

82.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$108 NZ$184

$47.05 $47.05

129.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 NZ$4.49

$4.89 $4.89

-46.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 NZ$3.12

$1.41 $1.41

30.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.4 NZ$103

$50.4 $50.4

19.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 NZ$2.90

$0.87 $0.87

96.55%

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

$33.6K NZ$57.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

32.81%

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

$25.1K NZ$42.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-3.28%

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

$160 NZ$271

$194 $194

-17.62%

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

$32.86 NZ$55.9

$48.05 $48.05

-31.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 NZ$88.7

$74.1 $74.1

-29.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.65 NZ$60.6

$69.4 $69.4

-48.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.40 NZ$34.67

$20.15 $20.15

1.24%

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 NZ$20.55

$14.09 $14.09

-14.19%

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

$803 NZ$1,366

$1,475 $1,475

-45.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K NZ$22.0K

$29.7K $29.7K

-56.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 NZ$124

$38.98 $38.98

86.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 NZ$90.2

$41.38 $41.38

28.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 NZ$203

$84.5 $84.5

41.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 NZ$239

$114 $114

23.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 NZ$2,225

$967 $967

35.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,099 NZ$1,869

$822 $822

33.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,168 NZ$3,686

$1,951 $1,951

11.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 NZ$3,294

$1,641 $1,641

18.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,803 NZ$11.6K

$2,388 $2,388

184.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,961 NZ$6,734

$2,239 $2,239

76.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,081 NZ$5,238

$3,693 $3,693

-16.56%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Ames, IA: April 12, 2026

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

Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared

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