🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,658 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,929 in Wollongong.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,847 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,776 in Wollongong.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,036 in Wilhelmshaven versus $3,623 in Wollongong.
🌍Living in Wilhelmshaven costs roughly 14% less than in Wollongong, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wilhelmshaven24% above, Wollongong44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67€11.97
$14.81A$21.15
-7.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1€69.3
$86.2A$123
-8.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.34€10.81
$9.97A$14.23
23.77%
Cappuccino
$3.87€3.39
$3.31A$4.73
16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.51
$2.56A$3.66
12.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.08
$2.25A$3.21
5.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32€4.66
$5.87A$8.38
-9.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11€4.47
$7.53A$10.75
-32.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$1.13A$1.62
4.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12€1.86
$2.19A$3.12
-3.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.46€3.03
$1.61A$2.30
114.91%
Eggs
$3.97€3.47
$3.51A$5.02
13.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.85€13.00
$10.09A$14.41
47.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.72€12.89
$8.45A$12.06
74.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.21€16.82
$14.50A$20.70
32.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.20
$2.84A$4.06
-11.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$2.54A$3.63
-29.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$2.29A$3.28
-4.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.42€4.75
$4.08A$5.83
32.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55€1.36
$2.07A$2.96
-25.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48€1.29
$1.79A$2.55
-17.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09€1.83
$2.49A$3.56
-16.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.90
$1.02A$1.45
0.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.00€8.76
$31.03A$44.31
-67.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.65€4.94
$13.56A$19.36
-58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.94
$2.87A$4.10
-62.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.53
$3.52A$5.03
-50.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02€2.64
$2.50A$3.58
20.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.3€49.29
$47.67A$68.1
18.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.26€6.35
$4.03A$5.75
80.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.00€1.76
$1.78A$2.54
12.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.2€44.81
$40.78A$58.2
25.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.76
$1.17A$1.67
71.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.7K
$28.4KA$40.6K
11.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.8K
$22.6KA$32.2K
60.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$307€269
$184A$263
66.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52€10.09
$28.49A$40.68
-59.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7€45.31
$48.46A$69.2
6.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.27€25.64
$75.4A$108
-61.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.42€20.51
$15.42A$22.02
51.88%
Cinema Ticket
$15.30€13.40
$11.81A$16.86
29.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$686€601
$1,557A$2,223
-55.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K€8,974
$13.5KA$19.3K
-24.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7€74.2
$59.3A$84.6
42.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.10€29.86
$55.8A$79.7
-38.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.5€51.2
$96.6A$138
-39.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€129
$112A$159
32.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573€502
$965A$1,378
-40.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$401€351
$802A$1,145
-49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$777€681
$1,962A$2,802
-60.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,229€1,076
$1,046A$1,494
17.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,273€4,618
$4,562A$6,515
15.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,263€1,982
$3,605A$5,148
-37.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,587€3,142
$4,286A$6,121
-16.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
6.29
-37.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wilhelmshaven: July 14, 2026
Last update for Wollongong: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $573 in Wilhelmshaven and $965 in Wollongong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wollongong pays 19% 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: $79.0 in Wilhelmshaven vs $86.0 in Wollongong. Groceries flip the comparison at $346 vs $309, with Wollongong cheaper for home cooking.
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
Wilhelmshaven vs Wollongong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wilhelmshaven and in Wollongong?
Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,658 vs $1,929 including rent). Wilhelmshaven is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Wollongong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Wilhelmshaven and in Wollongong?
Rent for a central apartment: $573 in Wilhelmshaven versus $965 in Wollongong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong?
Childcare runs $686 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,557 in Wollongong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Wollongong pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,658 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,929 in Wollongong, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Wilhelmshaven but tight or insufficient in Wollongong. The gap between the two cities makes Wilhelmshaven the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Wilhelmshaven or Wollongong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Wilhelmshaven or Wollongong?
Expats usually find Wilhelmshaven gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Wollongong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Wilhelmshaven vs other spots: cost of living compared