Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Fiji

For one person, living is cheaper in Fiji: $709 a month against $2,342 in Wellington, rent and utilities included – about $19,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wellington
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,342
/mo nomad
Fiji
🇫🇯 Fiji
$709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wellington and in Fiji

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 Fiji actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,342 in Wellington versus $709 in Fiji.

  • Wellington $2,342
  • Fiji $709

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,316 in Wellington versus $1,144 in Fiji.

  • Wellington $3,316
  • Fiji $1,144

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,291 in Wellington versus $1,578 in Fiji.

  • Wellington $4,291
  • Fiji $1,578

Living in Wellington is roughly 230% more expensive than in Fiji, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Wellington is 75% above, Fiji is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.89 NZ$24.74
$4.32 FJD 9.68
221.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 NZ$114
$31.65 FJD 70.9
102.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 NZ$15.95
$6.54 FJD 14.65
36.85%
Cappuccino
$3.29 NZ$5.86
$2.50 FJD 5.59
31.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 NZ$4.19
$1.35 FJD 3.01
74.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 NZ$2.97
$1.05 FJD 2.34
59.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.24 NZ$12.90
$4.08 FJD 9.14
77.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 NZ$12.03
$4.04 FJD 9.06
67.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 NZ$3.38
$1.25 FJD 2.80
52.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 NZ$3.83
$0.26 FJD 0.59
726.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 NZ$3.24
$0.85 FJD 1.90
114.12%
Eggs
$6.73 NZ$11.99
$3.08 FJD 6.91
118.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 NZ$16.13
$10.64 FJD 23.83
-14.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 NZ$17.01
$5.30 FJD 11.87
80.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.30 NZ$27.27
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 NZ$5.64
$1.30 FJD 2.92
143.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 NZ$3.98
$0.86 FJD 1.94
159.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 NZ$5.28
$1.83 FJD 4.10
62.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.33 NZ$11.27
$1.31 FJD 2.93
383.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 NZ$3.67
$0.70 FJD 1.56
194.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 NZ$2.20
$0.74 FJD 1.65
67.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 NZ$3.55
$0.88 FJD 1.96
126.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 NZ$2.13
$0.52 FJD 1.16
128.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.37 NZ$45.20
$10.95 FJD 24.52
131.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.37 NZ$20.26
$6.19 FJD 13.87
83.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17 NZ$5.65
$3.97 FJD 8.90
-20.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 NZ$4.92
$4.12 FJD 9.22
-33.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 NZ$4.88
$0.93 FJD 2.08
194.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 NZ$182
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 NZ$3.24
$1.12 FJD 2.52
62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 NZ$3.16
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.17 NZ$59.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 NZ$3.26
$1.25 FJD 2.81
46.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K NZ$45.7K
$46.1K FJD 103.2K
-44.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K NZ$45.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 NZ$354
$53.5 FJD 120
271.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.79 NZ$58.4
$13.37 FJD 29.96
145.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 NZ$95.3
$17.80 FJD 39.88
200.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.58 NZ$68.8
$21.89 FJD 49.04
76.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.40 NZ$29.22
$4.42 FJD 9.89
271.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.14 NZ$21.64
$4.10 FJD 9.18
196.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,036 NZ$1,847
$44.79 FJD 100
2213.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NZ$22.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 NZ$140
$19.42 FJD 43.50
303.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.23 NZ$50.3
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 NZ$184
$30.25 FJD 67.8
241.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 NZ$276
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 NZ$2,187
$680 FJD 1,524
80.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 NZ$2,030
$270 FJD 605
322.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 NZ$3,869
$1,095 FJD 2,453
98.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,670 NZ$2,975
$610 FJD 1,367
173.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,719 NZ$12.0K
$1,289 FJD 2,887
421.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,505 NZ$6,246
$1,293 FJD 2,897
171.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Fiji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,818 NZ$5,022
$538 FJD 1,205
423.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
6
-10.17%

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

Last update for Wellington: October 5, 2026

Last update for Fiji: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wellington
$1.1K
Fiji
$270 76.3% $870
Groceries & Markets
Wellington
$343
Fiji
$169 * 50.9% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
$285
Fiji
$85 70.3% $200
Eating Out
Wellington
$243
Fiji
$122 49.7% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
$164
Fiji
$22 * 86.4% $142
Getting Around
Wellington
$124
Fiji
$4.8 * 96.1% $119
Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
$63
Fiji
$30 52.1% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,228 in Wellington and $680 in Fiji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wellington pays 424% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Wellington vs $32.00 in Fiji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $169 per month, with Fiji cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Wellington
🇫🇯 Fiji
🕒 Local time
22:58 10:58 PM
21:58 9:58 PM
1 h behind Wellington
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
215,900 Capital
92,043
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

FJD, USD, EUR to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.561 USD). 1 EUR = 2 NZD (1 NZD = 0.501 EUR).

Fijian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.24 FJD (1 FJD = 0.446 USD). 1 EUR = 2.51 FJD (1 FJD = 0.398 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wellington Fiji 2,600 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Wellington
  • Fiji

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 Fiji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiji cheaper than Wellington?
Fiji is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 230% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Wellington or Fiji?
Average pay runs 424% higher in Wellington, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Wellington and Fiji?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,228 in Wellington versus $680 in Fiji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Wellington and in Fiji?
Supermarket bills run roughly 104% higher in Wellington. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Wellington and in Fiji?
All in, you'll spend $2,342 per month in Wellington versus $709 in Fiji – a 230% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Wellington or in Fiji?
At $709 in Fiji versus $2,342 in Wellington, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fiji but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Fiji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Wellington or Fiji more family-friendly?
For families, Fiji is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wellington, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Wellington or Fiji?
Safety-wise, Wellington and Fiji are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fiji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared

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