Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Salem, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Salem, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,281 per month in Wellington vs $2,698 in Salem, OR, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,530 per month in Wellington vs $3,898 in Salem, OR, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Wellington vs $5,098 in Salem, OR, rent included.

Wellington is about 15% cheaper than Salem, OR, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Wellington and Salem, OR sit above the global median – Wellington by 71%, Salem, OR by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 NZ$29.63

$17.58 $17.58

-1.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 NZ$147

$88.9 $88.9

-3.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 NZ$16.15

$9.83 $9.83

-4.48%

Cappuccino

$3.65 NZ$6.28

$4.46 $4.46

-18.16%

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

$2.49 NZ$4.28

$2.63 $2.63

-5.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 NZ$3.63

$2.01 $2.01

4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.35 NZ$12.65

$4.76 $4.76

54.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 NZ$12.24

$7.10 $7.10

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 NZ$3.23

$1.05 $1.05

79.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 NZ$3.50

$3.96 $3.96

-48.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 NZ$3.28

$3.85 $3.85

-50.39%

Eggs

$6.91 NZ$11.89

$4.73 $4.73

46.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 NZ$14.20

$16.97 $16.97

-51.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.90 NZ$18.75

$12.92 $12.92

-15.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.85 NZ$22.10

$16.67 $16.67

-22.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 NZ$5.28

$4.18 $4.18

-26.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 NZ$3.84

$1.47 $1.47

51.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 NZ$5.29

$3.67 $3.67

-16.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 NZ$8.27

$3.75 $3.75

28.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 NZ$3.56

$2.06 $2.06

0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 NZ$2.85

$2.07 $2.07

-19.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 NZ$3.86

$1.97 $1.97

13.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 NZ$2.16

$1.71 $1.71

-26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.73 NZ$45.96

$10.61 $10.61

151.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.17 NZ$19.21

$14.73 $14.73

-24.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.66 NZ$6.29

$1.67 $1.67

119.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 NZ$5.54

$2.96 $2.96

8.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 NZ$4.71

$1.69 $1.69

62.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 NZ$182

$40.52 $40.52

160.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 NZ$4.80

$3.55 $3.55

-21.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 NZ$3.05

$1.26 $1.26

40.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.1 NZ$103

$40.39 $40.39

48.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 NZ$2.86

$1.01 $1.01

64.36%

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

$32.8K NZ$56.4K

$27.6K $27.6K

18.82%

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

$25.4K NZ$43.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.17%

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

$156 NZ$269

$273 $273

-42.74%

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

$33.30 NZ$57.3

$55.6 $55.6

-40.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 NZ$88.0

$77.2 $77.2

-33.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.21 NZ$62.3

$54.2 $54.2

-33.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.87 NZ$35.88

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 NZ$20.91

$13.09 $13.09

-7.10%

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

$791 NZ$1,360

$1,322 $1,322

-40.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K NZ$21.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

-46.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 NZ$124

$45.23 $45.23

59.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 NZ$90.4

$51.7 $51.7

1.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 NZ$206

$85.2 $85.2

40.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 NZ$243

$80.7 $80.7

75.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 NZ$2,226

$1,518 $1,518

-14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 NZ$1,877

$1,372 $1,372

-20.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 NZ$3,676

$2,850 $2,850

-25.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,919 NZ$3,301

$2,140 $2,140

-10.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,057 NZ$12.1K

$3,016 $3,016

133.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,779 NZ$6,498

$3,083 $3,083

22.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,742 NZ$4,715

$3,810 $3,810

-28.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.94

6.55

5.95%

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

Last update for Wellington: July 20, 2026

Last update for Salem, OR: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,295 in Wellington versus $1,518 in Salem, OR. 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 39% higher in Salem, OR, 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 $89.0 in Salem, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $396 – 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 Salem, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salem, OR is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,421 per month in Wellington and $4,047 in Salem, OR. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Wellington and $89.0 in Salem, OR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,281 in Wellington and $2,698 in Salem, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Wellington, where all-in costs run around $2,281, than in Salem, OR at $2,698. In Wellington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salem, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wellington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Salem, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.