Cost of living
Auckland vs Wellington: cost of living compared
Compare monthly rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities in Auckland and Wellington using cited SetTern cost bands — planning only.
Using cited SetTern catalog midpoints, Wellington is about 15% cheaper per month overall. The breakdown below compares rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities. These are planning bands, not live listings — confirm with the linked official cost sources.
Wellington is ~15% cheaper overall
| Monthly | Auckland | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1br, catalog) | $1,500 | $1,300 |
| Groceries (band mid) | $315 | $338 |
| Transport (band mid) | $150 | $117 |
| Dining out (band mid) | $275 | $286 |
| Utilities (band mid) | $160 | $169 |
| Living cost avg (catalog) | $3,000 | $2,600 |
Side-by-side uses cited SetTern catalog midpoints for each city — not live listings. Individual costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle; confirm with the linked sources.