Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilhelmshaven and Wollongong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,974 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,125 in Wollongong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,987 in Wilhelmshaven versus $3,347 in Wollongong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,000 in Wilhelmshaven versus $4,569 in Wollongong.

Living in Wilhelmshaven costs roughly 7% less than in Wollongong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wilhelmshaven 43% above, Wollongong 54% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.04 €12.11
$18.01 A$25.17
-22.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 €69.1
$86.0 A$120
-6.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.51 €11.65
$10.88 A$15.21
24.17%
Cappuccino
$3.95 €3.41
$3.68 A$5.15
7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 €3.30
$3.20 A$4.47
19.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 €2.04
$2.36 A$3.30
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.36 €4.62
$7.38 A$10.32
-27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 €4.12
$7.03 A$9.82
-32.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €0.96
$1.23 A$1.72
-8.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.82
$3.03 A$4.24
-30.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 €3.21
$2.25 A$3.15
65.33%
Eggs
$3.69 €3.18
$4.20 A$5.87
-12.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.86 €12.81
$10.92 A$15.26
36.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 €10.24
$9.71 A$13.57
22.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.29 €16.63
$16.14 A$22.56
19.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.50 €2.16
$3.03 A$4.23
-17.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 €1.61
$2.55 A$3.57
-26.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 €1.86
$3.48 A$4.86
-37.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.26 €4.53
$4.78 A$6.68
10.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.36 A$3.30
-41.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.69 A$3.77
-56.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 €1.62
$2.71 A$3.79
-31.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.94
$1.46 A$2.05
-25.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86 €8.50
$46.82 A$65.5
-78.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.73 €4.94
$14.40 A$20.13
-60.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.94
$4.54 A$6.35
-75.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.34
$4.90 A$6.85
-68.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.51 €3.03
$2.11 A$2.96
66.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.6 €60.9
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.16 €4.45
$4.14 A$5.79
24.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.85 €2.46
$1.62 A$2.26
75.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.10 €32.85
$44.47 A$62.2
-14.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 €1.71
$1.29 A$1.81
53.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K €27.8K
$28.1K A$39.3K
14.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €34.2K
$25.2K A$35.2K
57.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$309 €267
$188 A$262
64.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 €9.83
$27.70 A$38.71
-58.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 €43.43
$51.9 A$72.5
-2.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.34 €25.30
$84.2 A$118
-65.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.56 €22.91
$14.16 A$19.79
87.57%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 €12.96
$13.56 A$18.95
10.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 €417
$2,289 A$3,200
-78.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K €14.3K
$21.3K A$29.7K
-22.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3 €78.7
$72.8 A$102
25.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.90 €24.92
$58.3 A$81.5
-50.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.8 €50.7
$126 A$176
-53.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 €120
$111 A$156
25.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 €496
$1,024 A$1,431
-43.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 €576
$887 A$1,240
-24.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 €1,354
$2,054 A$2,871
-23.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 €1,002
$1,700 A$2,376
-31.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,161 €4,450
$4,632 A$6,474
11.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 €1,977
$3,771 A$5,270
-39.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilhelmshaven
Wollongong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,786 €3,264
$4,584 A$6,407
-17.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
5.23
-24.47%

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

Last update for Wilhelmshaven: September 6, 2026

Last update for Wollongong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $575 in Wilhelmshaven and $1,024 in Wollongong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wollongong pays 21% 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: $80.0 in Wilhelmshaven vs $86.0 in Wollongong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $369 per month, with Wilhelmshaven cheaper across the board.

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 8% in total monthly costs ($1,974 vs $2,125 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 21% 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: $575 in Wilhelmshaven versus $1,024 in Wollongong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Wollongong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Wilhelmshaven or Wollongong?
All in, you'll spend $1,974 per month in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,125 in Wollongong – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,974 in Wilhelmshaven versus $2,125 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 8% less than in Wollongong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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