😐A single person spends $2,354 per month in Wellington vs $2,061 in Erfurt, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,553 per month in Wellington vs $3,159 in Erfurt, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,751 per month in Wellington vs $4,257 in Erfurt, rent included.
😐Wellington costs about 14% more than Erfurt, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Wellington and Erfurt sit above the global median – Wellington by 76%, Erfurt by 54%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30NZ$29.21
$17.38€14.95
-0.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5NZ$143
$70.3€60.5
20.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77NZ$16.49
$11.63€10.01
-15.99%
Cappuccino
$3.80NZ$6.41
$3.45€2.96
10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60NZ$4.40
$3.60€3.10
-27.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18NZ$3.68
$8.03€6.91
-72.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03NZ$11.88
$4.65€4.00
51.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45NZ$12.59
$3.37€2.90
121.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87NZ$3.15
$1.25€1.08
49.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11NZ$3.56
$2.27€1.95
-7.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95NZ$3.30
$3.15€2.71
-38.10%
Eggs
$6.88NZ$11.62
$3.62€3.11
90.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.13NZ$13.73
$14.75€12.69
-44.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.06NZ$18.67
$13.32€11.46
-16.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.14NZ$22.19
$18.50€15.91
-28.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12NZ$5.27
$3.33€2.87
-6.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24NZ$3.78
$1.78€1.53
25.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99NZ$5.05
$2.62€2.25
14.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72NZ$7.97
$4.94€4.25
-4.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07NZ$3.49
$1.63€1.41
26.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66NZ$2.80
$1.52€1.31
9.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21NZ$3.73
$1.80€1.55
22.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28NZ$2.17
$0.96€0.82
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.87NZ$45.36
$10.06€8.65
167.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.74NZ$19.82
$6.93€5.96
69.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52NZ$5.95
$1.00€0.86
252.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NZ$5.37
$1.58€1.36
101.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75NZ$4.64
$3.11€2.67
-11.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107NZ$181
$63.1€54.3
69.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66NZ$4.50
$5.31€4.57
-49.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NZ$3.13
$2.43€2.09
-23.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.4NZ$102
$40.61€34.93
48.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71NZ$2.89
$2.01€1.73
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KNZ$56.7K
$30.9K€26.6K
8.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KNZ$41.5K
$34.7K€29.8K
-29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160NZ$270
$450€387
-64.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.55NZ$55.0
$30.33€26.09
7.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5NZ$87.0
$52.4€45.07
-1.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.79NZ$62.1
$41.40€35.61
-11.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.60NZ$34.78
$34.38€29.57
-40.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.17NZ$20.55
$13.67€11.76
-10.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$800NZ$1,351
$455€392
75.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6KNZ$21.4K
$11.7K€10.1K
7.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5NZ$124
$95.6€82.3
-23.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1NZ$89.7
$32.38€27.85
64.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119NZ$201
$126€108
-5.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NZ$239
$148€127
-4.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339NZ$2,261
$815€701
64.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,105NZ$1,865
$554€476
99.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,103NZ$3,551
$1,598€1,375
31.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,888NZ$3,188
$1,222€1,051
54.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,602NZ$11.1K
$4,897€4,213
34.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,897NZ$6,579
$2,540€2,185
53.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Erfurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,057NZ$5,161
$3,138€2,699
-2.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
3.87
79.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026
Last update for Erfurt: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,339 in Wellington versus $815 in Erfurt. 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 3% higher in Erfurt, 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 $85.0 in Wellington versus $70.0 in Erfurt. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Wellington vs $340 in Erfurt – 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 Erfurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wellington or Erfurt?
Wellington costs about 14% more than Erfurt, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 vs Erfurt?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,531 per month in Wellington and $3,091 in Erfurt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Wellington or Erfurt?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Erfurt, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Wellington vs Erfurt?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Erfurt. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Wellington and Erfurt?
Kindergarten costs $800 per month in Wellington and $455 in Erfurt. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Wellington or Erfurt?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Erfurt, where all-in costs run around $2,061, than in Wellington at $2,354. In Erfurt 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 Erfurt?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Erfurt costs $2,061 versus $2,354 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 Erfurt?
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 Erfurt?
If budget matters most, go with Erfurt. 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