😐A single person spends $2,354 per month in Wellington vs $2,078 in Regina, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,553 per month in Wellington vs $3,237 in Regina, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,751 per month in Wellington vs $4,395 in Regina, rent included.
😐Wellington costs about 13% more than Regina, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Wellington and Regina sit above the global median – Wellington by 76%, Regina by 55%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30NZ$29.46
$22.43CA$31.16
-22.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5NZ$144
$73.9CA$103
14.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77NZ$16.63
$9.51CA$13.22
2.73%
Cappuccino
$3.80NZ$6.46
$4.21CA$5.85
-9.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60NZ$4.44
$2.25CA$3.12
15.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18NZ$3.72
$1.83CA$2.54
19.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03NZ$11.98
$6.06CA$8.42
16.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45NZ$12.70
$5.95CA$8.27
25.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87NZ$3.18
$1.83CA$2.54
2.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11NZ$3.59
$1.95CA$2.71
8.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95NZ$3.33
$3.16CA$4.39
-38.29%
Eggs
$6.88NZ$11.72
$3.25CA$4.51
111.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.13NZ$13.85
$11.57CA$16.07
-29.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.06NZ$18.83
$11.93CA$16.58
-7.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.14NZ$22.38
$17.46CA$24.26
-24.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12NZ$5.32
$3.74CA$5.19
-16.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24NZ$3.81
$1.59CA$2.21
40.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99NZ$5.09
$4.26CA$5.92
-29.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72NZ$8.04
$3.55CA$4.94
32.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07NZ$3.52
$3.27CA$4.54
-36.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66NZ$2.82
$2.75CA$3.82
-39.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21NZ$3.76
$2.60CA$3.62
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28NZ$2.19
$2.36CA$3.27
-45.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.87NZ$45.75
$14.85CA$20.63
80.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.74NZ$19.99
$13.69CA$19.02
-14.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52NZ$6.00
$3.79CA$5.27
-7.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NZ$5.41
$2.91CA$4.04
9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Regina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75NZ$4.68
$2.41CA$3.35
14.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107NZ$182
$64.1CA$89.1
66.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66NZ$4.54
$3.23CA$4.49
-17.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NZ$3.16
$0.67CA$0.93
176.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.4NZ$103
$30.02CA$41.70
101.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71NZ$2.92
$1.07CA$1.49
59.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KNZ$57.2K
$25.2KCA$35.1K
33.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6KNZ$41.9K
$20.2KCA$28.1K
21.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160NZ$273
$163CA$226
-1.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.55NZ$55.4
$51.0CA$70.8
-36.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5NZ$87.7
$51.7CA$71.8
-0.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.79NZ$62.7
$38.05CA$52.9
-3.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.60NZ$35.08
$16.93CA$23.53
21.68%
Cinema Ticket
$12.17NZ$20.73
$9.35CA$12.99
30.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$800NZ$1,363
$491CA$682
63.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6KNZ$21.5K
$11.0KCA$15.3K
14.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5NZ$125
$61.0CA$84.8
20.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1NZ$90.5
$33.29CA$46.26
59.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119NZ$203
$84.9CA$118
40.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NZ$241
$113CA$156
25.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Regina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339NZ$2,281
$923CA$1,283
45.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,105NZ$1,881
$850CA$1,181
30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,103NZ$3,582
$1,363CA$1,893
54.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,888NZ$3,216
$1,548CA$2,151
21.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,602NZ$11.2K
$2,195CA$3,050
200.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,897NZ$6,636
$2,096CA$2,912
85.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,057NZ$5,206
$2,716CA$3,774
12.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.94
6.47
7.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wellington: May 31, 2026
Last update for Regina: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,339 in Wellington versus $923 in Regina. 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 13% higher in Wellington, 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 $74.0 in Regina. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Wellington vs $379 in Regina – 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 Regina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Regina cheaper than Wellington?
Yes – Wellington is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,531 per month in Wellington and $3,118 in Regina. 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 Regina, 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 Regina?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% 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 Regina?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Wellington and $74.0 in Regina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Wellington or Regina?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Regina, where all-in costs run around $2,078, than in Wellington at $2,354. In Regina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wellington or Regina more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Regina – 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 Regina?
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 Regina. 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.
Wellington vs other spots: cost of living compared