Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Christchurch

😐 Solo nomad: Wellington is 9.2% more expensive than Christchurch without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Wellington is 10% more expensive than Christchurch without rent, and 17.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.57 NZ$28.98

$16.56 NZ$27.32

6.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.9 NZ$137

$71.4 NZ$118

16.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.53 NZ$15.72

$9.41 NZ$15.53

1.28%

Cappuccino

$3.59 NZ$5.92

$3.34 NZ$5.52

7.49%

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

$2.47 NZ$4.08

$2.3 NZ$3.8

7.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.2 NZ$3.62

$2.03 NZ$3.34

8.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 NZ$11.6

$7.31 NZ$12.06

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 NZ$12.18

$7.2 NZ$11.87

2.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 NZ$3.1

$1.91 NZ$3.16

-1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 NZ$3.44

$1.94 NZ$3.2

7.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 NZ$3.23

$1.73 NZ$2.85

13.29%

Eggs

$6.89 NZ$11.37

$6.26 NZ$10.33

10.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 NZ$13.6

$8.18 NZ$13.48

0.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.92 NZ$18.01

$9.65 NZ$15.91

13.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.99 NZ$21.42

$12.83 NZ$21.17

1.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 NZ$5.15

$3.06 NZ$5.04

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 NZ$3.82

$2.71 NZ$4.46

-14.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.1 NZ$5.12

$2.95 NZ$4.87

5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 NZ$7.72

$5.52 NZ$9.11

-15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 NZ$3.41

$2.15 NZ$3.54

-3.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 NZ$2.59

$2.21 NZ$3.64

-28.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.3 NZ$3.79

$2.98 NZ$4.91

-22.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NZ$2.11

$1.45 NZ$2.4

-11.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$27.02 NZ$44.57

$23.66 NZ$39.02

14.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.48 NZ$17.28

$8.93 NZ$14.72

17.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.68 NZ$6.08

$3.82 NZ$6.29

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 NZ$5.35

$4.85 NZ$8

-33.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 NZ$4.59

$1.24 NZ$2.05

124.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 NZ$175

$41.94 NZ$69.2

153.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 NZ$4.41

$2.63 NZ$4.34

1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 NZ$2.93

$1.64 NZ$2.7

8.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.2 NZ$97.6

$30.26 NZ$49.91

95.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 NZ$2.73

$1.71 NZ$2.81

-2.92%

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

$33K NZ$54.5K

$27K NZ$44.5K

22.53%

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

$25K NZ$41.3K

$20K NZ$33K

25.13%

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

$161 NZ$265

$116 NZ$191

38.99%

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

$33.1 NZ$54.6

$32.15 NZ$53

2.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 NZ$86.7

$52.6 NZ$86.8

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.7 NZ$60.5

$34.61 NZ$57.1

6.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.16 NZ$33.25

$15.47 NZ$25.51

30.32%

Cinema Ticket

$11.86 NZ$19.56

$10.81 NZ$17.83

9.71%

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

$789 NZ$1,301

$653 NZ$1,077

20.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K NZ$20.9K

$9,249 NZ$15.3K

37.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.5 NZ$120

$64 NZ$105

13.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 NZ$88.6

$43.12 NZ$71.1

24.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 NZ$195

$90.8 NZ$150

30.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 NZ$240

$150 NZ$247

-3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 NZ$2,211

$1,536 NZ$2,534

-12.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 NZ$1,800

$1,158 NZ$1,911

-5.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,146 NZ$3,539

$2,059 NZ$3,395

4.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,893 NZ$3,122

$1,488 NZ$2,453

27.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,617 NZ$10.9K

$4,194 NZ$6,918

57.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,828 NZ$7,962

$3,361 NZ$5,543

43.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,228 NZ$5,324

$2,736 NZ$4,512

17.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

6.74

2.97%

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

Last update for Wellington: October 28, 2025

Last update for Christchurch: October 27, 2025

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