😐A single person spends $2,277 per month in Wellington vs $2,037 in Regina, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,544 per month in Wellington vs $3,142 in Regina, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,812 per month in Wellington vs $4,247 in Regina, rent included.
😐Wellington costs about 12% more than Regina, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Wellington and Regina sit above the global median – Wellington by 70%, Regina by 52%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28NZ$29.56
$21.66CA$30.37
-20.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.1NZ$146
$74.8CA$105
13.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91NZ$16.95
$9.42CA$13.20
5.20%
Cappuccino
$3.75NZ$6.42
$4.25CA$5.96
-11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61NZ$4.46
$2.35CA$3.29
11.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18NZ$3.74
$1.92CA$2.69
13.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.17NZ$12.27
$5.74CA$8.04
24.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37NZ$12.61
$5.98CA$8.39
23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80NZ$3.09
$1.87CA$2.62
-3.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.02NZ$3.46
$2.02CA$2.84
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91NZ$3.27
$3.08CA$4.31
-37.99%
Eggs
$6.98NZ$11.95
$3.09CA$4.33
125.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.95NZ$13.60
$11.36CA$15.93
-30.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.26NZ$19.27
$11.80CA$16.55
-4.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.87NZ$22.02
$17.77CA$24.91
-27.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05NZ$5.21
$3.65CA$5.12
-16.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36NZ$4.03
$1.67CA$2.34
41.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NZ$5.31
$4.39CA$6.16
-29.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81NZ$8.23
$3.54CA$4.97
35.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06NZ$3.53
$3.19CA$4.48
-35.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57NZ$2.68
$2.70CA$3.78
-41.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25NZ$3.85
$2.63CA$3.68
-14.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31NZ$2.23
$2.26CA$3.17
-42.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.06NZ$44.59
$14.69CA$20.60
77.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.75NZ$18.38
$13.25CA$18.57
-18.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.65NZ$6.25
$3.71CA$5.20
-1.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28NZ$5.62
$2.94CA$4.12
11.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Regina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.69NZ$4.61
$2.36CA$3.31
13.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$106NZ$181
$63.9CA$89.5
65.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76NZ$4.72
$3.39CA$4.75
-18.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84NZ$3.15
$0.66CA$0.93
178.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.8NZ$104
$29.26CA$41.02
107.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65NZ$2.82
$1.07CA$1.50
54.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KNZ$57.0K
$24.8KCA$34.8K
34.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KNZ$43.7K
$20.0KCA$28.0K
27.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160NZ$274
$164CA$230
-2.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.45NZ$57.2
$50.9CA$71.3
-34.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5NZ$88.1
$51.4CA$72.1
0.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.81NZ$61.3
$38.19CA$53.5
-6.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66NZ$35.35
$16.97CA$23.79
21.74%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85NZ$20.27
$9.15CA$12.83
29.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792NZ$1,356
$497CA$697
59.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KNZ$22.2K
$11.1KCA$15.6K
16.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0NZ$125
$61.9CA$86.8
17.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8NZ$92.0
$32.86CA$46.07
63.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119NZ$203
$84.8CA$119
40.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NZ$243
$110CA$154
29.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Regina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303NZ$2,229
$916CA$1,285
42.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,094NZ$1,872
$854CA$1,197
28.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,101NZ$3,594
$1,383CA$1,939
51.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,902NZ$3,255
$1,551CA$2,175
22.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,864NZ$11.7K
$2,161CA$3,030
217.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,720NZ$6,364
$2,056CA$2,883
80.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,800NZ$4,790
$2,656CA$3,723
5.43%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Regina: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,303 in Wellington versus $916 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 5% 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 $75.0 in Regina. Groceries tell a different story – $339 in Wellington vs $377 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 12%, 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 $3,416 per month in Wellington and $3,055 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 in Regina?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% 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 in Regina?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Wellington and $75.0 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 living in Wellington or in Regina?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Regina, where all-in costs run around $2,037, than in Wellington at $2,277. 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