Wellington · NZD · high cost city
Cost of living in Wellington — is your salary enough?
Wellington median rent is NZ$1,900/month, lower than Auckland but high relative to the public-sector-heavy income profile. Wellington earners face moderate savings pressure; the public-sector income base makes benchmark achievement challenging.
Rent in Wellington
BudgetNZ$1,400 – NZ$1,700/mo
TypicalNZ$1,900 – NZ$2,200/mo
PremiumNZ$2,500+/mo
Other monthly costs
Food, transport, bills, going out~NZ$1,900/mo
Total typical monthly spend~NZ$3,800/mo
How different incomes stack up
At typical Wellington costs (NZ$1,900 rent)
NZ$40,000 – NZ$58,000→ saving -17.8%
CriticalNZ$58,000 – NZ$80,000→ saving 16.4%
AheadNZ$80,000 – NZ$110,000→ saving 36%
AheadSee your personal verdict for Wellington
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from Stats NZ Household Economic Survey 2023. Figures in NZD.
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