Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Mackay Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Mackay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,306 per month in Wellington vs $2,060 in Mackay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,563 per month in Wellington vs $3,193 in Mackay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,819 per month in Wellington vs $4,326 in Mackay, rent included.

Wellington costs about 12% more than Mackay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Wellington and Mackay sit above the global median – Wellington by 72%, Mackay by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.55 NZ$29.65

$16.09 A$22.53

9.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.0 NZ$140

$70.7 A$98.9

17.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 NZ$16.40

$11.93 A$16.70

-18.69%

Cappuccino

$3.67 NZ$6.20

$3.92 A$5.49

-6.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 NZ$4.32

$3.04 A$4.26

-15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 NZ$3.60

$2.54 A$3.56

-16.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.10 NZ$11.99

$6.65 A$9.30

6.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 NZ$11.96

$6.57 A$9.19

7.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 NZ$3.11

$1.32 A$1.85

39.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 NZ$3.58

$2.13 A$2.98

-0.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 NZ$3.20

$2.54 A$3.56

-25.59%

Eggs

$7.25 NZ$12.25

$5.10 A$7.14

42.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 NZ$13.95

$8.82 A$12.35

-6.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 NZ$18.56

$8.22 A$11.51

33.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 NZ$22.34

$14.79 A$20.70

-10.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 NZ$5.28

$3.37 A$4.71

-7.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 NZ$3.96

$2.76 A$3.86

-14.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 NZ$5.23

$2.95 A$4.12

4.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 NZ$8.27

$4.80 A$6.71

1.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 NZ$3.54

$1.74 A$2.44

20.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 NZ$2.69

$1.63 A$2.28

-2.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 NZ$3.80

$1.86 A$2.60

20.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 NZ$2.21

$2.18 A$3.05

-39.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.84 NZ$45.35

$38.75 A$54.2

-30.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.51 NZ$17.77

$8.67 A$12.14

21.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 NZ$5.99

$4.77 A$6.67

-25.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NZ$5.53

$5.66 A$7.92

-42.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 NZ$4.48

$2.22 A$3.11

19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 NZ$184

$66.0 A$92.4

65.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 NZ$4.49

$5.49 A$7.69

-51.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 NZ$3.10

$1.83 A$2.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$61.4 NZ$104

$31.98 A$44.78

92.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 NZ$2.78

$1.20 A$1.68

36.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.3K NZ$56.3K

$37.4K A$52.4K

-10.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K NZ$43.1K

$29.0K A$40.6K

-12.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$158 NZ$267

$186 A$261

-15.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.92 NZ$55.6

$26.73 A$37.43

23.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 NZ$86.4

$72.3 A$101

-29.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.78 NZ$60.5

$74.9 A$105

-52.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.29 NZ$34.29

$19.60 A$27.44

3.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.29 NZ$20.78

$15.37 A$21.52

-20.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$792 NZ$1,338

$1,755 A$2,457

-54.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K NZ$21.1K

$12.1K A$16.9K

3.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 NZ$121

$67.4 A$94.3

6.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 NZ$88.5

$46.86 A$65.6

11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 NZ$200

$113 A$158

4.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 NZ$243

$97.9 A$137

46.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 NZ$2,227

$915 A$1,280

44.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,095 NZ$1,850

$797 A$1,116

37.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,159 NZ$3,649

$1,724 A$2,414

25.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 NZ$3,207

$1,645 A$2,303

15.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,861 NZ$11.6K

$6,180 A$8,652

11.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,929 NZ$6,640

$5,005 A$7,007

-21.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,103 NZ$5,244

$5,704 A$7,986

-45.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

5.7

21.75%

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

Last update for Wellington: April 22, 2026

Last update for Mackay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,318 in Wellington versus $915 in Mackay. 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 84% higher in Mackay, 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 $83 in Wellington versus $71 in Mackay. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Wellington vs $341 in Mackay – 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 Mackay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Wellington is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,459 per month in Wellington and $3,089 in Mackay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mackay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Wellington, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Wellington and $71.0 in Mackay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mackay, where all-in costs run around $2,060, than in Wellington at $2,306. In Mackay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mackay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mackay. 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.