Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Ferney-Voltaire

For one person, living is cheaper in Wellington: $2,376 a month against $2,510 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wellington, New Zealand
Ferney-Voltaire, France
Wellington
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,376
/mo nomad
Ferney-Voltaire
🇫🇷 France
$2,510
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wellington and in Ferney-Voltaire

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 Ferney-Voltaire actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,376 per month in Wellington vs $2,510 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

  • Wellington $2,376
  • Ferney-Voltaire $2,510

A couple spends around $3,407 per month in Wellington vs $4,028 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

  • Wellington $3,407
  • Ferney-Voltaire $4,028

A family of three spends $4,439 per month in Wellington vs $5,547 in Ferney-Voltaire, rent included.

  • Wellington $4,439
  • Ferney-Voltaire $5,547

Wellington is about 5% cheaper than Ferney-Voltaire, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Wellington and Ferney-Voltaire sit above the global median – Wellington by 75%, Ferney-Voltaire by 85%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.01 NZ$24.58
$20.16 €17.97
-30.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 NZ$115
$78.8 €70.2
-16.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.37 NZ$16.43
$18.59 €16.57
-49.60%
Cappuccino
$3.40 NZ$5.97
$4.72 €4.21
-27.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 NZ$4.32
$3.32 €2.96
-25.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 NZ$3.06
$1.89 €1.68
-7.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.27 NZ$12.75
$7.26 €6.47
0.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 NZ$11.77
$5.64 €5.03
18.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 NZ$3.40
$1.95 €1.74
-0.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 NZ$3.78
$1.95 €1.74
10.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 NZ$3.22
$1.89 €1.68
-3.17%
Eggs
$6.88 NZ$12.06
$3.30 €2.94
108.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.19 NZ$16.13
$19.30 €17.20
-52.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.99 NZ$17.52
$12.42 €11.07
-19.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 NZ$26.26
$11.26 €10.04
32.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 NZ$5.32
$2.85 €2.54
6.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 NZ$3.93
$2.18 €1.94
2.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.09 NZ$5.42
$3.39 €3.02
-8.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 NZ$11.50
$2.20 €1.96
197.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 NZ$3.80
$1.93 €1.72
11.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 NZ$2.25
$2.20 €1.96
-41.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 NZ$3.68
$1.14 €1.01
84.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 NZ$2.10
$0.76 €0.68
57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.79 NZ$45.23
$14.79 €13.18
74.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.27 NZ$19.77
$5.72 €5.10
97.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12 NZ$5.47
$1.75 €1.56
78.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 NZ$4.94
$2.19 €1.95
28.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 NZ$4.85
$3.31 €2.95
-16.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$104 NZ$183
$49.51 €44.13
110.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 NZ$3.30
$8.73 €7.78
-78.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 NZ$3.12
$2.49 €2.22
-28.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.72 NZ$59.1
$34.18 €30.46
-1.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 NZ$3.24
$2.22 €1.98
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K NZ$50.4K
$35.0K €31.2K
-17.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K NZ$41.7K
$36.7K €32.7K
-35.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 NZ$341
$161 €143
20.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.42 NZ$58.6
$9.85 €8.78
239.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 NZ$93.9
$54.0 €48.09
-0.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.12 NZ$66.9
$99.7 €88.9
-61.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.15 NZ$28.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.97 NZ$21.00
$11.40 €10.16
5.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,056 NZ$1,853
$2,464 €2,196
-57.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NZ$22.7K
$45.2K €40.3K
-71.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2 NZ$139
$44.15 €39.35
79.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.87 NZ$50.6
$42.68 €38.04
-32.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 NZ$180
$97.0 €86.4
6.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 NZ$273
$110 €98.0
41.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 NZ$2,134
$1,587 €1,414
-23.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 NZ$2,012
$1,291 €1,150
-11.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,154 NZ$3,778
$2,760 €2,460
-21.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 NZ$3,036
$2,783 €2,481
-37.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,780 NZ$11.9K
$4,150 €3,699
63.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,655 NZ$6,411
$5,555 €4,951
-34.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Ferney-Voltaire
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,812 NZ$4,932
$3,961 €3,530
-29.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
3.65
47.67%

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

Last update for Wellington: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ferney-Voltaire: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wellington
$1.1K
Ferney-Voltaire
$1.3K 12.5% $144
Groceries & Markets
Wellington
$348
Ferney-Voltaire
$314 9.7% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
$281
Ferney-Voltaire
$224 20.2% $57
Eating Out
Wellington
$248
Ferney-Voltaire
$342 38.2% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
$165
Ferney-Voltaire
$132 19.9% $33
Getting Around
Wellington
$126
Ferney-Voltaire
$84 33.4% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
$62
Ferney-Voltaire
$122 97.4% $60

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,217 in Wellington versus $1,587 in Ferney-Voltaire. 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 41% higher in Ferney-Voltaire. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66 in Wellington versus $79 in Ferney-Voltaire. Groceries tell a different story – $348 in Wellington vs $314 in Ferney-Voltaire – so Ferney-Voltaire wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Wellington
🇫🇷 Ferney-Voltaire
🕒 Local time
21:36 9:36 PM
09:36 9:36 AM
12 h behind Wellington
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
215,900 Capital
10,920
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 NZD (1 NZD = 0.57 USD). 1 EUR = 1.97 NZD (1 NZD = 0.508 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wellington Ferney-Voltaire 18,950 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wellington
  • Ferney-Voltaire

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 Ferney-Voltaire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellington cheaper than Ferney-Voltaire?
Yes – Ferney-Voltaire is pricier by about 6%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,564 per month in Wellington and $3,764 in Ferney-Voltaire. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Wellington, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,217 there versus $1,587 in Ferney-Voltaire.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,056 per month in Wellington and $2,464 in Ferney-Voltaire. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Wellington and in Ferney-Voltaire?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Ferney-Voltaire – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is Wellington or Ferney-Voltaire more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Wellington or Ferney-Voltaire?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Wellington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ferney-Voltaire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared

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