Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Regina Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Regina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,447 per month in Wellington vs $2,115 in Regina, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,492 per month in Wellington vs $3,242 in Regina, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,537 per month in Wellington vs $4,368 in Regina, rent included.

Wellington costs about 16% more than Regina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Wellington and Regina sit above the global median – Wellington by 78%, Regina by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.31 NZ$24.27
$21.24 CA$29.52
-32.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 NZ$114
$69.3 CA$96.3
-2.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 NZ$16.39
$10.99 CA$15.28
-12.10%
Cappuccino
$3.43 NZ$5.83
$4.51 CA$6.27
-23.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 NZ$4.26
$2.43 CA$3.37
3.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 NZ$3.10
$1.75 CA$2.44
4.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.75 NZ$13.15
$6.78 CA$9.43
14.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 NZ$11.93
$6.22 CA$8.64
13.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 NZ$3.31
$1.58 CA$2.20
23.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 NZ$3.98
$2.28 CA$3.17
3.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 NZ$3.33
$3.02 CA$4.19
-35.10%
Eggs
$7.23 NZ$12.27
$3.34 CA$4.65
116.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 NZ$16.11
$13.67 CA$19.00
-30.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.08 NZ$17.09
$11.77 CA$16.35
-14.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 NZ$26.55
$16.79 CA$23.32
-6.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 NZ$5.59
$4.34 CA$6.04
-23.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 NZ$3.87
$1.49 CA$2.06
53.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 NZ$5.27
$3.97 CA$5.51
-21.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.90 NZ$11.70
$3.83 CA$5.32
80.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 NZ$3.86
$2.30 CA$3.20
-0.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 NZ$2.28
$2.32 CA$3.23
-42.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 NZ$3.56
$2.62 CA$3.64
-19.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 NZ$2.12
$1.95 CA$2.71
-35.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.38 NZ$44.75
$14.94 CA$20.76
76.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.04 NZ$20.43
$13.48 CA$18.73
-10.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29 NZ$5.59
$3.56 CA$4.94
-7.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 NZ$4.93
$3.43 CA$4.77
-15.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Wellington
Regina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.99 NZ$5.07
$2.39 CA$3.32
25.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$107 NZ$182
$63.5 CA$88.3
69.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 NZ$3.33
$3.75 CA$5.21
-47.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 NZ$3.30
$0.77 CA$1.07
151.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.91 NZ$59.2
$21.88 CA$30.40
59.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 NZ$3.31
$1.14 CA$1.59
71.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K NZ$46.0K
$28.1K CA$39.1K
-3.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K NZ$44.5K
$20.7K CA$28.7K
26.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 NZ$357
$181 CA$251
16.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.92 NZ$55.8
$53.7 CA$74.6
-38.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 NZ$96.8
$57.3 CA$79.6
-0.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 NZ$68.5
$37.59 CA$52.2
7.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.41 NZ$29.53
$16.54 CA$22.98
5.26%
Cinema Ticket
$13.14 NZ$22.29
$9.92 CA$13.79
32.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,097 NZ$1,861
$474 CA$659
131.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K NZ$23.4K
$10.9K CA$15.2K
26.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6 NZ$140
$53.2 CA$74.0
55.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.26 NZ$49.63
$39.17 CA$54.4
-25.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 NZ$180
$94.7 CA$132
11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NZ$268
$111 CA$154
42.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wellington
Regina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,305 NZ$2,213
$1,078 CA$1,498
21.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,205 NZ$2,043
$849 CA$1,180
41.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,293 NZ$3,889
$1,788 CA$2,485
28.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,790 NZ$3,037
$1,585 CA$2,202
12.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,973 NZ$11.8K
$2,135 CA$2,967
226.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,721 NZ$6,311
$2,104 CA$2,924
76.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wellington
Regina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,956 NZ$5,014
$2,662 CA$3,700
11.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
4.58
17.69%

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

Last update for Wellington: August 31, 2026

Last update for Regina: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,305 in Wellington versus $1,078 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 11% 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 $67.0 in Wellington versus $69.0 in Regina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $377 – making Wellington the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,670 per month in Wellington and $3,173 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 4% 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 $67.0 in Wellington and $69.0 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 $2,115, than in Wellington at $2,447. 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

Similar cities