Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Feilding

For one person, living is cheaper in Feilding: $2,036 a month against $2,313 in Wellington, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wellington, New Zealand
Feilding, New Zealand
Wellington
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,313
/mo nomad
Feilding
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,036
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wellington and in Feilding

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wellington and in Feilding actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,313 per month in Wellington vs $2,036 in Feilding, rent included.

  • Wellington $2,313
  • Feilding $2,036

A couple spends around $3,422 per month in Wellington vs $3,117 in Feilding, rent included.

  • Wellington $3,422
  • Feilding $3,117

A family of three spends $4,530 per month in Wellington vs $4,197 in Feilding, rent included.

  • Wellington $4,530
  • Feilding $4,197

Wellington costs about 14% more than Feilding, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Wellington and Feilding sit above the global median – Wellington by 70%, Feilding by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.02 NZ$24.99
$15.96 NZ$28.44
-12.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5 NZ$118
$75.1 NZ$134
-11.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 NZ$16.44
$10.45 NZ$18.63
-11.67%
Cappuccino
$3.41 NZ$6.08
$3.53 NZ$6.29
-3.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 NZ$4.33
$2.08 NZ$3.71
16.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 NZ$3.02
$1.78 NZ$3.18
-5.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.48 NZ$13.34
$5.62 NZ$10.02
33.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.74 NZ$12.02
$6.20 NZ$11.04
8.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 NZ$3.48
$1.99 NZ$3.55
-2.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 NZ$4.02
$1.87 NZ$3.33
20.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 NZ$3.31
$1.90 NZ$3.39
-2.63%
Eggs
$7.10 NZ$12.66
$5.96 NZ$10.62
19.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 NZ$17.00
$7.79 NZ$13.89
22.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.62 NZ$17.14
$10.42 NZ$18.56
-7.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.26 NZ$27.20
$15.58 NZ$27.77
-2.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 NZ$5.51
$2.70 NZ$4.82
14.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 NZ$3.84
$1.97 NZ$3.51
9.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 NZ$5.49
$3.20 NZ$5.70
-3.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.42 NZ$11.45
$6.03 NZ$10.74
6.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 NZ$3.74
$1.82 NZ$3.24
15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 NZ$2.20
$1.38 NZ$2.46
-10.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 NZ$3.59
$2.15 NZ$3.83
-6.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 NZ$2.07
$1.07 NZ$1.90
8.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.37 NZ$45.21
$23.83 NZ$42.46
6.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.48 NZ$20.46
$10.29 NZ$18.34
11.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12 NZ$5.56
$2.87 NZ$5.11
8.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 NZ$5.14
$3.46 NZ$6.16
-16.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.86 NZ$5.10
$1.97 NZ$3.51
45.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 NZ$187
$96.4 NZ$172
8.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 NZ$3.35
$2.01 NZ$3.59
-6.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 NZ$3.26
$2.02 NZ$3.59
-9.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.31 NZ$61.1
$27.24 NZ$48.55
25.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 NZ$3.28
$1.66 NZ$2.95
10.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K NZ$50.6K
$24.2K NZ$43.2K
17.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K NZ$42.4K
$21.7K NZ$38.7K
9.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 NZ$358
$126 NZ$224
59.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.35 NZ$59.4
$32.99 NZ$58.8
1.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 NZ$95.6
$43.84 NZ$78.1
22.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.87 NZ$63.9
$33.68 NZ$60.0
6.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18 NZ$28.84
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.78 NZ$21.00
$9.66 NZ$17.22
21.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,065 NZ$1,897
$698 NZ$1,245
52.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K NZ$23.7K
$18.2K NZ$32.5K
-27.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.4 NZ$143
$70.4 NZ$125
14.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.04 NZ$49.97
$35.29 NZ$62.9
-20.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 NZ$181
$82.8 NZ$148
22.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 NZ$275
$123 NZ$220
25.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,143 NZ$2,036
$937 NZ$1,670
21.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 NZ$1,922
$934 NZ$1,665
15.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 NZ$3,665
$1,780 NZ$3,173
15.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,814 NZ$3,232
$1,641 NZ$2,925
10.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,594 NZ$11.8K
$4,666 NZ$8,316
41.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,655 NZ$6,514
$3,628 NZ$6,466
0.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Feilding
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,785 NZ$4,964
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
5.83
-7.55%

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

Last update for Wellington: October 27, 2026

Last update for Feilding: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wellington
$1.1K
Feilding
$934 13.3% $144
Groceries & Markets
Wellington
$348
Feilding
$332 4.7% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
$288
Feilding
$202 29.6% $85
Eating Out
Wellington
$248
Feilding
$257 3.7% $9.2
Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
$164
Feilding
$140 14.4% $24
Getting Around
Wellington
$127
Feilding
$116 8.7% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
$59
Feilding
$53 10.8% $6.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,143 in Wellington versus $937 in Feilding. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Wellington versus $75 in Feilding. Groceries tell a different story – $348 in Wellington vs $332 in Feilding – so Feilding wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Wellington
🇳🇿 Feilding
🕒 Local time
07:38 7:38 AM
07:38 7:38 AM
Same time as Wellington
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
215,900 Capital
17,350
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.561 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wellington Feilding 140 km
From you
  • Wellington
  • Feilding

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Feilding: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wellington or Feilding?
Wellington costs about 14% more than Feilding, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 Feilding?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,470 per month in Wellington and $3,054 in Feilding. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Wellington or Feilding?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Feilding, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $937 there versus $1,143 in Wellington.
Are groceries more expensive in Wellington or in Feilding?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Wellington, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Wellington and in Feilding?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Wellington and $75 in Feilding. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Wellington or in Feilding?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,313 in Wellington and $2,036 in Feilding. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Feilding – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Wellington compared to Feilding?
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.

Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared

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