Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Carlow Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Carlow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,447 per month in Wellington vs $2,626 in Carlow, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,492 per month in Wellington vs $3,997 in Carlow, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,537 per month in Wellington vs $5,368 in Carlow, rent included.

Wellington is about 7% cheaper than Carlow, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Wellington and Carlow sit above the global median – Wellington by 78%, Carlow by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.31 NZ$24.32

$21.70 €18.65

-34.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 NZ$115

$115 €99.3

-41.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 NZ$16.43

$13.85 €11.91

-30.25%

Cappuccino

$3.43 NZ$5.84

$4.65 €4.00

-26.24%

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

$2.51 NZ$4.27

$2.78 €2.39

-9.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 NZ$3.11

$2.27 €1.95

-19.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.75 NZ$13.18

$7.66 €6.59

1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 NZ$11.96

$6.82 €5.87

3.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 NZ$3.32

$1.68 €1.45

16.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 NZ$3.99

$2.00 €1.72

17.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.34

$2.29 €1.97

-14.41%

Eggs

$7.23 NZ$12.29

$4.56 €3.92

58.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 NZ$16.14

$13.79 €11.86

-31.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 NZ$17.13

$11.28 €9.70

-10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 NZ$26.61

$14.27 €12.27

9.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 NZ$5.61

$3.14 €2.70

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 NZ$3.87

$2.35 €2.02

-2.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 NZ$5.28

$3.12 €2.68

-0.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.90 NZ$11.73

$3.42 €2.94

101.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 NZ$3.87

$2.12 €1.82

7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 NZ$2.28

$1.59 €1.37

-15.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 NZ$3.56

$1.37 €1.18

53.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 NZ$2.13

$1.35 €1.16

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.38 NZ$44.84

$19.03 €16.36

38.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.04 NZ$20.47

$14.35 €12.34

-16.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 NZ$5.60

$4.14 €3.56

-20.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 NZ$4.94

$4.77 €4.10

-38.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 NZ$5.08

$1.32 €1.13

126.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 NZ$183

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 NZ$3.34

$5.57 €4.79

-64.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 NZ$3.31

$1.53 €1.31

26.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.91 NZ$59.3

$57.0 €49.01

-38.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 NZ$3.32

$2.11 €1.81

-7.58%

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

$27.1K NZ$46.1K

$39.8K €34.2K

-31.73%

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

$26.2K NZ$44.6K

$38.3K €33.0K

-31.59%

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

$210 NZ$357

$250 €215

-15.91%

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

$32.92 NZ$56.0

$23.79 €20.46

38.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.1 NZ$97.0

$52.1 €44.82

9.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 NZ$68.6

$79.0 €68.0

-48.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.41 NZ$29.59

$58.0 €49.89

-70.00%

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 NZ$22.34

$13.99 €12.03

-6.08%

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

$1,097 NZ$1,865

$1,047 €900

4.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K NZ$23.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.6 NZ$140

$87.9 €75.6

-6.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.26 NZ$49.74

$49.06 €42.19

-40.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 NZ$180

$98.4 €84.6

7.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 NZ$269

$86.6 €74.4

82.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,305 NZ$2,218

$1,474 €1,268

-11.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 NZ$2,047

$1,298 €1,116

-7.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 NZ$3,897

$2,706 €2,326

-15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 NZ$3,043

$2,226 €1,914

-19.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,973 NZ$11.9K

$2,606 €2,241

167.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,721 NZ$6,324

$2,109 €1,813

76.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,956 NZ$5,024

$2,367 €2,035

24.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

3.68

46.47%

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

Last update for Wellington: August 31, 2026

Last update for Carlow: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,305 in Wellington versus $1,474 in Carlow. 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 25% higher in Wellington, 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 $115 in Carlow. Groceries tell a different story – $362 in Wellington vs $354 in Carlow – so Carlow 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 Carlow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Carlow is pricier by about 7%, 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 $3,670 per month in Wellington and $3,939 in Carlow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wellington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,447 in Wellington and $2,626 in Carlow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,097 per month in Wellington and $1,047 in Carlow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Wellington, where all-in costs run around $2,447, than in Carlow at $2,626. In Wellington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Carlow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wellington – 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 Wellington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Carlow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.