😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,352 in Wellington versus $2,192 in Friedrichshafen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,549 in Wellington versus $3,070 in Friedrichshafen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,746 in Wellington versus $3,949 in Friedrichshafen.
😐Living in Wellington is roughly 7% more expensive than Friedrichshafen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wellington75% above, Friedrichshafen63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58NZ$30.14
$16.73€14.45
5.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.0NZ$144
$79.6€68.7
5.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.76NZ$16.73
$12.19€10.53
-19.93%
Cappuccino
$3.63NZ$6.22
$3.84€3.31
-5.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NZ$4.32
$3.26€2.81
-22.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20NZ$3.76
$2.33€2.02
-5.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.07NZ$12.11
$3.72€3.21
90.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22NZ$12.38
$4.70€4.06
53.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90NZ$3.26
$1.23€1.06
54.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10NZ$3.61
$2.19€1.89
-4.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96NZ$3.36
$3.59€3.10
-45.40%
Eggs
$6.93NZ$11.87
$3.85€3.33
80.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.17NZ$14.01
$14.73€12.72
-44.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.14NZ$19.10
$13.80€11.92
-19.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93NZ$22.16
$17.83€15.40
-27.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02NZ$5.18
$3.13€2.70
-3.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36NZ$4.04
$1.78€1.53
32.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02NZ$5.18
$2.29€1.98
31.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.67NZ$8.00
$4.90€4.24
-4.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03NZ$3.48
$1.47€1.27
38.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65NZ$2.83
$1.50€1.30
10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21NZ$3.78
$1.78€1.54
24.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24NZ$2.13
$0.95€0.82
30.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$27.01NZ$46.31
$9.94€8.59
171.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.62NZ$19.91
$6.41€5.54
81.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58NZ$6.13
$1.01€0.88
254.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27NZ$5.60
$1.61€1.39
103.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.78NZ$4.76
$2.80€2.41
-0.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108NZ$185
$74.8€64.6
44.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.63NZ$4.51
$11.50€9.93
-77.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NZ$3.18
$2.24€1.94
-17.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.4NZ$103
$37.63€32.50
60.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67NZ$2.86
$1.93€1.67
-13.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KNZ$57.1K
$30.9K€26.7K
7.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KNZ$42.1K
$38.7K€33.4K
-36.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156NZ$267
$225€195
-30.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.71NZ$56.1
$36.46€31.49
-10.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0NZ$87.3
$54.5€47.05
-6.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.71NZ$61.2
$37.39€32.29
-4.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.14NZ$34.53
$23.42€20.22
-14.01%
Cinema Ticket
$12.11NZ$20.77
$14.85€12.82
-18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$800NZ$1,371
$401€346
99.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNZ$22.1K
$19.1K€16.5K
-32.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4NZ$126
$114€98.4
-35.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8NZ$90.5
$46.12€39.83
14.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121NZ$207
$102€88.1
18.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144NZ$247
$173€150
-16.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307NZ$2,241
$1,147€990
13.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,110NZ$1,903
$884€763
25.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,163NZ$3,708
$1,991€1,719
8.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,925NZ$3,299
$1,099€949
75.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,075NZ$12.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,769NZ$6,461
$3,411€2,946
10.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Friedrichshafen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,021NZ$5,180
$3,076€2,657
-1.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
3.98
74.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wellington: June 8, 2026
Last update for Friedrichshafen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,307 in Wellington and $1,147 in Friedrichshafen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Friedrichshafen pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $84.0 in Wellington vs $80.0 in Friedrichshafen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $338 per month, with Friedrichshafen cheaper across the board.
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 Friedrichshafen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wellington and Friedrichshafen?
Wellington and Friedrichshafen differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,352 vs $2,192 including rent). Friedrichshafen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Friedrichshafen earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Wellington and Friedrichshafen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,307 in Wellington versus $1,147 in Friedrichshafen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Wellington. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Friedrichshafen – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $84.0 in Wellington. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,192 in Friedrichshafen versus $2,352 in Wellington, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Friedrichshafen but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Friedrichshafen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wellington and Friedrichshafen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Wellington or Friedrichshafen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Wellington and Friedrichshafen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Wellington or Friedrichshafen?
Expats usually find Friedrichshafen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% 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