😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,354 in Wellington versus $2,067 in Monza.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,553 in Wellington versus $3,233 in Monza.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,751 in Wellington versus $4,400 in Monza.
😐Living in Wellington is roughly 14% more expensive than Monza, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wellington76% above, Monza54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30NZ$29.47
$23.28€20.04
-25.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5NZ$144
$91.0€78.4
-7.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77NZ$16.63
$11.74€10.11
-16.78%
Cappuccino
$3.80NZ$6.47
$1.99€1.71
90.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60NZ$4.44
$3.24€2.79
-19.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18NZ$3.72
$1.50€1.29
45.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03NZ$11.98
$5.73€4.94
22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45NZ$12.70
$5.94€5.11
25.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87NZ$3.18
$1.86€1.60
0.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11NZ$3.59
$2.78€2.39
-24.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95NZ$3.33
$3.17€2.73
-38.49%
Eggs
$6.88NZ$11.73
$3.74€3.22
83.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.13NZ$13.85
$16.00€13.77
-49.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.06NZ$18.84
$12.82€11.04
-13.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.14NZ$22.39
$24.16€20.80
-45.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12NZ$5.32
$2.87€2.47
8.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24NZ$3.81
$2.19€1.89
2.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99NZ$5.10
$3.22€2.78
-7.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72NZ$8.05
$4.07€3.50
15.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07NZ$3.52
$2.13€1.83
-2.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66NZ$2.82
$1.75€1.51
-5.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21NZ$3.76
$1.70€1.47
30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28NZ$2.19
$0.60€0.51
113.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.87NZ$45.77
$7.14€6.15
276.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.74NZ$19.99
$9.33€8.03
25.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52NZ$6.00
$2.15€1.85
63.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NZ$5.42
$2.69€2.31
18.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Monza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75NZ$4.68
$2.21€1.90
24.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107NZ$182
$59.2€50.9
80.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66NZ$4.54
$7.87€6.78
-66.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NZ$3.16
$1.01€0.87
83.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.4NZ$103
$38.59€33.22
56.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71NZ$2.92
$2.07€1.79
-17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KNZ$57.3K
$28.1K€24.2K
19.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KNZ$41.9K
$32.0K€27.5K
-23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160NZ$273
$219€188
-26.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.55NZ$55.5
$13.48€11.61
141.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5NZ$87.7
$30.11€25.92
71.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.79NZ$62.7
$72.5€62.5
-49.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.60NZ$35.09
$44.32€38.16
-53.52%
Cinema Ticket
$12.17NZ$20.74
$11.59€9.98
5.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$800NZ$1,363
$628€540
27.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6KNZ$21.5K
$10.3K€8,864
22.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5NZ$125
$90.4€77.8
-18.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1NZ$90.5
$37.96€32.68
39.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119NZ$203
$108€93.0
10.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NZ$241
$140€121
1.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Monza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339NZ$2,281
$1,028€885
30.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,105NZ$1,882
$823€709
34.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,103NZ$3,583
$2,048€1,763
2.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,888NZ$3,216
$1,337€1,151
41.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,602NZ$11.2K
$4,552€3,919
45.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,897NZ$6,638
$2,981€2,567
30.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Monza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,057NZ$5,207
$2,106€1,813
45.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
4.21
64.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026
Last update for Monza: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,339 in Wellington and $1,028 in Monza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wellington pays 45% 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: $85.0 in Wellington vs $91.0 in Monza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $378 per month, with Wellington 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 Monza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wellington or Monza?
Monza wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Wellington. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monza the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Wellington or Monza?
Wellington pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Wellington vs Monza?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,339 in Wellington versus $1,028 in Monza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Wellington and Monza?
Childcare runs $800 in Wellington versus $628 in Monza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Wellington or Monza?
Shoppers in Wellington pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Wellington or Monza?
At $2,067 in Monza versus $2,354 in Wellington, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Monza but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Monza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wellington or Monza?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monza delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,067 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monza hard to pass up.
How safe is Wellington compared to Monza?
Safety-wise, Wellington and Monza 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% 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