🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,701 in Whanganui versus $2,347 in Wellington.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,719 in Whanganui versus $3,521 in Wellington.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Whanganui versus $4,694 in Wellington.
🙂Living in Whanganui costs roughly 28% less than in Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Whanganui27% above, Wellington75% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.09NZ$25.80
$17.25NZ$29.50
-12.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.7NZ$123
$83.1NZ$142
-13.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94NZ$15.28
$9.68NZ$16.55
-7.64%
Cappuccino
$3.25NZ$5.55
$3.72NZ$6.36
-12.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38NZ$4.07
$2.52NZ$4.30
-5.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66NZ$2.84
$2.11NZ$3.61
-21.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.85NZ$8.29
$7.26NZ$12.41
-33.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27NZ$9.01
$7.45NZ$12.73
-29.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73NZ$2.96
$1.90NZ$3.25
-8.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65NZ$2.82
$2.07NZ$3.54
-20.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99NZ$3.40
$1.86NZ$3.19
6.99%
Eggs
$5.88NZ$10.06
$7.20NZ$12.30
-18.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.49NZ$12.81
$8.26NZ$14.13
-9.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.31NZ$15.92
$11.03NZ$18.86
-15.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.52NZ$21.42
$13.10NZ$22.40
-4.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38NZ$4.07
$3.15NZ$5.38
-24.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90NZ$3.25
$2.34NZ$4.01
-18.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53NZ$4.33
$3.02NZ$5.16
-16.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41NZ$5.84
$4.81NZ$8.23
-29.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17NZ$3.71
$1.99NZ$3.40
9.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16NZ$3.70
$1.63NZ$2.78
32.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.05NZ$3.51
$2.20NZ$3.76
-6.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56NZ$0.96
$1.24NZ$2.12
-54.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.65NZ$35.32
$26.81NZ$45.84
-22.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.53NZ$18.01
$10.81NZ$18.49
-2.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53NZ$4.33
$3.50NZ$5.99
-27.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62NZ$4.49
$3.14NZ$5.38
-16.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.14NZ$3.66
$2.75NZ$4.70
-22.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.2NZ$110
$106NZ$182
-39.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78NZ$4.75
$2.76NZ$4.71
0.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86NZ$3.18
$1.81NZ$3.09
2.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.68NZ$61.0
$61.4NZ$105
-41.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73NZ$2.95
$1.73NZ$2.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KNZ$47.3K
$33.5KNZ$57.2K
-17.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KNZ$39.7K
$25.5KNZ$43.6K
-8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117NZ$200
$158NZ$271
-26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.89NZ$63.1
$33.45NZ$57.2
10.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.38NZ$82.7
$52.1NZ$89.1
-7.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.83NZ$63.0
$36.59NZ$62.6
0.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.17NZ$20.81
$20.68NZ$35.37
-41.15%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45NZ$12.73
$12.04NZ$20.59
-38.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$362NZ$620
$816NZ$1,396
-55.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KNZ$21.0K
$12.8KNZ$21.9K
-4.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5NZ$117
$71.1NZ$122
-3.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.87NZ$63.1
$52.1NZ$89.0
-29.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0NZ$166
$120NZ$204
-18.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126NZ$216
$140NZ$240
-9.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,226NZ$2,097
$1,327NZ$2,270
-7.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716NZ$1,224
$1,102NZ$1,885
-35.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596NZ$2,729
$2,156NZ$3,687
-26.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,362NZ$2,329
$1,959NZ$3,349
-30.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,752NZ$11.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,990NZ$6,823
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Whanganui
Wellington
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,407NZ$2,406
$3,088NZ$5,280
-54.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
6.94
-3.60%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Whanganui: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Wellington: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,226 in Whanganui and $1,327 in Wellington. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wellington pays 119% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Whanganui vs $83.0 in Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $340 per month, with Whanganui cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Whanganui vs Wellington: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Wellington cheaper than Whanganui?
Whanganui is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Whanganui or Wellington?
On paper, Wellington earns 119% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Whanganui and Wellington?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,226 in Whanganui versus $1,327 in Wellington. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $362 in Whanganui versus $816 in Wellington. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Whanganui and Wellington?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Wellington. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Whanganui or Wellington?
At $1,701 in Whanganui versus $2,347 in Wellington, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Whanganui but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Whanganui the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Whanganui or Wellington more family-friendly?
For families, Whanganui is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wellington, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Whanganui or Wellington?
Safety-wise, Whanganui and Wellington are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Whanganui gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Whanganui vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado