Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Graz Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Graz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,303 per month in Wellington vs $2,134 in Graz, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,534 per month in Wellington vs $3,176 in Graz, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,764 per month in Wellington vs $4,219 in Graz, rent included.

Wellington costs about 8% more than Graz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Wellington and Graz sit above the global median – Wellington by 73%, Graz by 60%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.73 NZ$30.55
$16.10 €14.04
10.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.8 NZ$144
$82.1 €71.6
2.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 NZ$16.17
$11.79 €10.28
-20.36%
Cappuccino
$3.78 NZ$6.51
$4.46 €3.89
-15.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 NZ$4.25
$4.00 €3.48
-38.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 NZ$3.79
$2.80 €2.44
-21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.17 NZ$12.36
$5.70 €4.97
25.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 NZ$12.15
$5.22 €4.55
35.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 NZ$3.24
$1.60 €1.39
17.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 NZ$3.65
$2.01 €1.75
5.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 NZ$3.22
$3.14 €2.74
-40.45%
Eggs
$7.17 NZ$12.36
$4.99 €4.35
43.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.25 NZ$14.22
$17.71 €15.44
-53.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.12 NZ$19.15
$14.15 €12.33
-21.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.27 NZ$22.86
$21.33 €18.59
-37.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 NZ$5.41
$2.73 €2.38
15.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 NZ$4.02
$2.45 €2.14
-4.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 NZ$5.34
$2.92 €2.54
6.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 NZ$8.06
$3.85 €3.36
21.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 NZ$3.45
$2.04 €1.78
-1.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 NZ$2.79
$2.03 €1.77
-20.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 NZ$3.89
$1.82 €1.59
24.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 NZ$2.23
$1.03 €0.90
26.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.08 NZ$44.94
$7.37 €6.42
253.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 NZ$18.75
$9.08 €7.92
19.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 NZ$6.08
$1.58 €1.38
123.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 NZ$5.68
$1.98 €1.73
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Graz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 NZ$4.70
$3.54 €3.09
-22.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 NZ$181
$71.8 €62.6
46.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 NZ$4.80
$5.76 €5.02
-51.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NZ$3.11
$1.95 €1.70
-7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.0 NZ$103
$34.45 €30.04
74.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 NZ$2.99
$1.80 €1.57
-3.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K NZ$58.1K
$28.5K €24.8K
18.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K NZ$42.3K
$33.2K €29.0K
-26.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 NZ$267
$367 €320
-57.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.22 NZ$57.3
$19.31 €16.84
72.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8 NZ$89.3
$35.81 €31.22
44.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.56 NZ$61.3
$52.9 €46.14
-32.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.11 NZ$34.64
$26.70 €23.28
-24.68%
Cinema Ticket
$12.16 NZ$20.95
$14.11 €12.30
-13.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$806 NZ$1,389
$398 €347
102.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K NZ$22.2K
$7,207 €6,283
79.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0 NZ$126
$95.5 €83.2
-23.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 NZ$89.9
$38.99 €33.99
33.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 NZ$203
$98.6 €86.0
19.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 NZ$248
$151 €132
-4.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Graz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,315 NZ$2,265
$809 €705
62.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,102 NZ$1,899
$705 €614
56.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,132 NZ$3,673
$1,310 €1,142
62.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 NZ$3,267
$1,116 €973
69.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,989 NZ$12.0K
$6,007 €5,237
16.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,785 NZ$6,521
$3,402 €2,966
11.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Graz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,670 NZ$4,601
$3,050 €2,659
-12.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.94
3.91
77.49%

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

Last update for Wellington: July 27, 2026

Last update for Graz: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,315 in Wellington versus $809 in Graz. 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 14% higher in Graz, 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 $84.0 in Wellington versus $82.0 in Graz. Groceries tell a different story – $342 in Wellington vs $376 in Graz – 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 Graz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Graz cheaper than Wellington?
Yes – Wellington is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,454 per month in Wellington and $3,200 in Graz. 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 Graz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Wellington and in Graz?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Wellington – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Wellington or in Graz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Wellington and $82.0 in Graz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Wellington or in Graz?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Graz, where all-in costs run around $2,134, than in Wellington at $2,303. In Graz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wellington or Graz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Graz – 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 Graz?
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 Graz. 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.

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