😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,347 in Wellington versus $1,788 in Oamaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,521 in Wellington versus $2,775 in Oamaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Wellington versus $3,763 in Oamaru.
😐Living in Wellington is roughly 31% more expensive than Oamaru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wellington75% above, Oamaru34% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.25NZ$29.50
$17.01NZ$29.09
1.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.1NZ$142
$71.6NZ$122
16.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68NZ$16.55
$9.78NZ$16.73
-1.02%
Cappuccino
$3.72NZ$6.36
$3.36NZ$5.75
10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52NZ$4.30
$2.26NZ$3.87
11.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11NZ$3.61
$1.96NZ$3.35
7.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.26NZ$12.41
$7.35NZ$12.58
-1.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45NZ$12.73
$7.20NZ$12.32
3.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90NZ$3.25
$1.83NZ$3.13
3.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07NZ$3.54
$1.10NZ$1.89
88.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86NZ$3.19
$1.25NZ$2.13
48.80%
Eggs
$7.20NZ$12.30
$3.91NZ$6.68
84.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26NZ$14.13
$8.53NZ$14.58
-3.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.03NZ$18.86
$9.28NZ$15.87
18.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10NZ$22.40
$12.69NZ$21.69
3.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15NZ$5.38
$2.43NZ$4.16
29.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34NZ$4.01
$1.83NZ$3.13
27.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02NZ$5.16
$2.97NZ$5.08
1.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81NZ$8.23
$5.81NZ$9.93
-17.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99NZ$3.40
$1.54NZ$2.63
29.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63NZ$2.78
$1.23NZ$2.10
32.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20NZ$3.76
$1.83NZ$3.12
20.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24NZ$2.12
$1.47NZ$2.51
-15.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.81NZ$45.84
$23.66NZ$40.46
13.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.81NZ$18.49
$5.95NZ$10.17
81.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50NZ$5.99
$3.62NZ$6.19
-3.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14NZ$5.38
$5.00NZ$8.55
-37.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75NZ$4.70
$2.12NZ$3.63
29.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$106NZ$182
$63.8NZ$109
66.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76NZ$4.71
$2.67NZ$4.56
3.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81NZ$3.09
$1.66NZ$2.84
9.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.4NZ$105
$29.66NZ$50.7
107.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73NZ$2.96
$1.65NZ$2.82
4.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KNZ$57.2K
$27.3KNZ$46.7K
22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KNZ$43.6K
$19.5KNZ$33.3K
30.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158NZ$271
$116NZ$198
36.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.45NZ$57.2
$18.29NZ$31.28
82.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1NZ$89.1
$48.55NZ$83.0
7.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.59NZ$62.6
$36.38NZ$62.2
0.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.68NZ$35.37
$12.04NZ$20.59
71.76%
Cinema Ticket
$12.04NZ$20.59
$11.03NZ$18.86
9.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$816NZ$1,396
$648NZ$1,108
26.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNZ$21.9K
$9,524NZ$16.3K
34.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1NZ$122
$60.5NZ$103
17.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1NZ$89.0
$18.39NZ$31.45
183.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120NZ$204
$47.67NZ$81.5
150.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140NZ$240
$54.4NZ$92.9
157.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,327NZ$2,270
$987NZ$1,688
34.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,102NZ$1,885
$772NZ$1,320
42.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,156NZ$3,687
$1,564NZ$2,674
37.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,959NZ$3,349
$1,438NZ$2,459
36.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,752NZ$11.5K
$4,805NZ$8,216
40.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,990NZ$6,823
$2,965NZ$5,070
34.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Oamaru
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,088NZ$5,280
$2,079NZ$3,555
48.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
6
15.67%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Wellington: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Oamaru: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,327 in Wellington and $987 in Oamaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wellington pays 49% 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: $83.0 in Wellington vs $72.0 in Oamaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $296 per month, with Oamaru cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Wellington vs Oamaru: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Oamaru cheaper than Wellington?
Oamaru is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Wellington or Oamaru?
Wellington pays 49% more on average, 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 Oamaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,327 in Wellington versus $987 in Oamaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Wellington and Oamaru?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Wellington. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Wellington or Oamaru?
Dining out is cheaper in Oamaru – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $83.0 in Wellington. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Wellington or Oamaru?
At $1,788 in Oamaru versus $2,347 in Wellington, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Oamaru but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Oamaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Wellington or Oamaru more family-friendly?
For families, Oamaru 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 Oamaru?
Safety-wise, Wellington and Oamaru 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 Oamaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Wellington vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado