Can you live in Wellington with $ 1,000 a month?

Not comfortably. Estimated monthly costs are around $2,451, which exceeds this budget.

Can you live in Wellington with $ 2,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,451, you would have roughly $0 left each month (Tight Budget).

Can you live in Wellington with $ 3,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,451, you would have roughly $549 left each month (Affordable).

Can you live in Wellington with $ 5,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,451, you would have roughly $2,549 left each month (Very Comfortable).

Can you live in Wellington with $ 8,000 a month?

Yes. With estimated monthly costs of about $2,451, you would have roughly $5,549 left each month (Premium Lifestyle).

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Wellington, New Zealand

How much does it really cost to live in Wellington? Housing, food, transport, internet and more — plus what salary you need to live comfortably.

Oceania 👥 210,000 people 🌤️ Temperate climate Medium city 🌊 Near the sea 💱 NZD

💰 Can I afford Wellington? ⚖️ Compare this city New Zealand →

$ $1,200 1-bedroom rent / mo

88 Quality of life / 100

86 Safety / 100

88 Internet / 100

28 Affordability / 100

Wellington vs Christchurch ⚖️ Wellington vs Queenstown ⚖️

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Estimated Monthly Cost

Single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Rent (1-bedroom)	$1,200
Food (moderate)	$460
Transport	$70
Utilities	$120
Internet	$40
Healthcare	$105
Entertainment	$210
Total (moderate)	$2,451

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Housing Costs

Typical monthly rent in Wellington.

Shared accommodation	$500
Studio	$900
1-bedroom	$1,200
2-bedroom	$1,650
3-bedroom	$2,200

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City Scores

How Wellington rates, out of 100.

Cost of living

Safety

Quality of life

Internet

Healthcare

Transport

Nightlife

Climate

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At a Glance

Climate🌤️ Temperate
City sizeMedium
Near the seaYes 🌊
Geography🏙️ Urban
Capital cityWellington
LanguageEnglish, Māori
CurrencyNZD
Time zonePacific/Auckland

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Pros and Cons of Wellington

✅ Pros

Relatively safe city
Fast and reliable internet
Good public transport network
Great overall quality of life
Good healthcare options
Located near the coast

⚠️ Cons

Higher cost of living

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Monthly Budget by Lifestyle

Based on a single person living in a 1-bedroom apartment.

Budget $1,710 per month Basic $1,965 per month Moderate $2,451 per month Comfortable $3,190 per month Premium $4,783 per month

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Can You Live in Wellington on These Salaries?

Estimated for a single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Monthly income	Status	Remaining
$ 1,000	Very Difficult	$-1,451 / month
$ 2,000	Tight Budget	$-451 / month
$ 3,000	Affordable	$549 / month
$ 5,000	Very Comfortable	$2,549 / month
$ 8,000	Premium Lifestyle	$5,549 / month