Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Belleville, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Belleville, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,460 per month in Wellington vs $2,284 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,478 per month in Wellington vs $3,411 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,495 per month in Wellington vs $4,539 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

Wellington costs about 8% more than Belleville, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Wellington and Belleville, IL sit above the global median – Wellington by 80%, Belleville, IL by 67%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.42 NZ$25.21
$17.69 $17.69
-18.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.7 NZ$117
$64.7 $64.7
3.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.20 NZ$16.08
$9.03 $9.03
1.88%
Cappuccino
$3.37 NZ$5.89
$4.82 $4.82
-30.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 NZ$4.31
$2.19 $2.19
12.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 NZ$3.12
$1.70 $1.70
4.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.58 NZ$13.26
$4.41 $4.41
71.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76 NZ$11.81
$4.96 $4.96
36.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 NZ$3.33
$1.13 $1.13
68.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 NZ$3.87
$2.47 $2.47
-10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 NZ$3.31
$3.20 $3.20
-40.94%
Eggs
$7.04 NZ$12.31
$3.84 $3.84
83.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 NZ$16.75
$12.31 $12.31
-22.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 NZ$16.93
$10.68 $10.68
-9.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.39 NZ$26.90
$14.89 $14.89
3.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 NZ$5.60
$7.07 $7.07
-54.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 NZ$3.85
$2.32 $2.32
-5.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 NZ$5.47
$4.47 $4.47
-29.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.58 NZ$11.51
$4.37 $4.37
50.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 NZ$3.84
$2.22 $2.22
-0.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 NZ$2.20
$2.49 $2.49
-49.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 NZ$3.63
$1.74 $1.74
19.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 NZ$2.14
$2.60 $2.60
-53.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.41 NZ$46.17
$8.23 $8.23
220.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 NZ$20.42
$15.18 $15.18
-23.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 NZ$5.59
$2.15 $2.15
48.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 NZ$4.93
$3.04 $3.04
-7.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 NZ$4.96
$1.02 $1.02
178.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 NZ$179
$79.2 $79.2
29.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 NZ$3.41
$4.37 $4.37
-55.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 NZ$3.21
$2.56 $2.56
-28.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.32 NZ$61.7
$17.65 $17.65
100.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 NZ$3.39
$0.94 $0.94
106.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K NZ$45.6K
$36.1K $36.1K
-27.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K NZ$45.9K
$24.5K $24.5K
7.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 NZ$351
$239 $239
-16.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.20 NZ$58.0
$70.3 $70.3
-52.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 NZ$95.4
$74.8 $74.8
-26.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.64 NZ$69.3
$34.31 $34.31
15.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 NZ$29.48
$30.33 $30.33
-44.41%
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 NZ$21.30
$13.93 $13.93
-12.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,109 NZ$1,938
$1,029 $1,029
7.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K NZ$23.4K
$12.4K $12.4K
7.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1 NZ$140
$59.5 $59.5
34.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.42 NZ$51.4
$33.00 $33.00
-10.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 NZ$182
$88.8 $88.8
17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 NZ$278
$98.6 $98.6
61.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 NZ$2,159
$1,301 $1,301
-5.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 NZ$2,057
$943 $943
24.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 NZ$3,865
$2,136 $2,136
3.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,750 NZ$3,060
$1,669 $1,669
4.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,730 NZ$11.8K
$2,383 $2,383
182.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,659 NZ$6,396
$1,856 $1,856
97.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Belleville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,864 NZ$5,007
$6,366 $6,366
-55.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
6.36
-15.25%

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

Last update for Wellington: September 13, 2026

Last update for Belleville, IL: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,235 in Wellington versus $1,301 in Belleville, IL. 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 122% higher in Belleville, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Wellington versus $65.0 in Belleville, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Wellington vs $385 in Belleville, IL – 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
Wellington vs Belleville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wellington or Belleville, IL?
Wellington costs about 8% more than Belleville, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Wellington and in Belleville, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,690 per month in Wellington and $3,425 in Belleville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Wellington or Belleville, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Belleville, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Wellington and in Belleville, IL?
Kindergarten costs $1,109 per month in Wellington and $1,029 in Belleville, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Wellington or in Belleville, IL?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Wellington – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Wellington or in Belleville, IL?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Belleville, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,284, than in Wellington at $2,460. In Belleville, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wellington or Belleville, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Belleville, IL costs $2,284 versus $2,460 in Wellington. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Wellington compared to Belleville, IL?
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 Wellington or to Belleville, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Belleville, IL. 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.

Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities