Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Olympia, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Olympia, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,354 per month in Wellington vs $2,716 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,553 per month in Wellington vs $3,844 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,751 per month in Wellington vs $4,972 in Olympia, WA, rent included.

Wellington is about 13% cheaper than Olympia, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Wellington and Olympia, WA sit above the global median – Wellington by 76%, Olympia, WA by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 NZ$29.46

$19.97 $19.97

-13.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.5 NZ$144

$71.3 $71.3

18.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 NZ$16.63

$11.96 $11.96

-18.31%

Cappuccino

$3.80 NZ$6.46

$4.93 $4.93

-22.92%

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

$2.60 NZ$4.44

$2.56 $2.56

1.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 NZ$3.72

$1.88 $1.88

15.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 NZ$11.98

$7.03 $7.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 NZ$12.70

$5.94 $5.94

25.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 NZ$3.18

$1.05 $1.05

78.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 NZ$3.59

$3.67 $3.67

-42.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 NZ$3.33

$4.30 $4.30

-54.65%

Eggs

$6.88 NZ$11.72

$4.37 $4.37

57.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 NZ$13.85

$15.36 $15.36

-47.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.06 NZ$18.83

$10.43 $10.43

6.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 NZ$22.38

$15.16 $15.16

-13.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 NZ$5.32

$5.05 $5.05

-38.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 NZ$3.81

$1.59 $1.59

40.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 NZ$5.09

$4.14 $4.14

-27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 NZ$8.04

$5.14 $5.14

-8.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 NZ$3.52

$2.90 $2.90

-28.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 NZ$2.82

$2.10 $2.10

-20.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 NZ$3.76

$2.24 $2.24

-1.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NZ$2.19

$2.24 $2.24

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.87 NZ$45.75

$10.85 $10.85

147.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.74 NZ$19.99

$14.78 $14.78

-20.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 NZ$6.00

$1.90 $1.90

85.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 NZ$5.41

$4.59 $4.59

-30.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.75 NZ$4.68

$0.36 $0.36

663.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 NZ$182

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 NZ$4.54

$3.76 $3.76

-29.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 NZ$3.16

$2.04 $2.04

-9.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.4 NZ$103

$35.97 $35.97

67.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 NZ$2.92

$1.02 $1.02

67.65%

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

$33.6K NZ$57.2K

$33.8K $33.8K

-0.66%

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

$24.6K NZ$41.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-5.67%

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

$160 NZ$273

$122 $122

31.37%

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

$32.55 NZ$55.4

$60.6 $60.6

-46.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 NZ$87.7

$62.3 $62.3

-17.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.79 NZ$62.7

$58.5 $58.5

-37.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.60 NZ$35.08

$9.87 $9.87

108.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.17 NZ$20.73

$10.87 $10.87

11.96%

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

$800 NZ$1,363

$1,469 $1,469

-45.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K NZ$21.5K

$18.9K $18.9K

-33.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 NZ$125

$51.9 $51.9

41.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 NZ$90.5

$47.10 $47.10

12.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 NZ$203

$89.0 $89.0

33.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 NZ$241

$99.2 $99.2

42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 NZ$2,281

$1,698 $1,698

-21.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,105 NZ$1,881

$1,599 $1,599

-30.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,103 NZ$3,582

$2,766 $2,766

-23.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 NZ$3,216

$2,305 $2,305

-18.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,602 NZ$11.2K

$3,169 $3,169

108.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,897 NZ$6,636

$3,030 $3,030

28.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,057 NZ$5,206

$5,059 $5,059

-39.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

6.41

8.27%

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

Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026

Last update for Olympia, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,339 in Wellington versus $1,698 in Olympia, WA. 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 65% higher in Olympia, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Wellington versus $71.0 in Olympia, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Wellington vs $400 in Olympia, WA – 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 Olympia, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Olympia, WA costs about 15% more than Wellington, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,531 per month in Wellington and $4,073 in Olympia, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,354 in Wellington and $2,716 in Olympia, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $800 per month in Wellington and $1,469 in Olympia, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Wellington, where all-in costs run around $2,354, than in Olympia, WA at $2,716. In Wellington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olympia, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Wellington costs $2,354 versus $2,716 in Olympia, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Wellington. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Olympia, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.