Travel budget and cost of living in Wellington (New Zealand) how much does a trip cost?

Wellington travel budget

Wellington: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Wellington

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Wellington for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Wellington compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Wellington in 2024 is essentially identical to the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Wellington in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Wellington by expense type

Restaurant budget in Wellington

Lunch

$ 15/person
($ 12 to $ 27)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 42/person
($ 30 to $ 47)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37

McDonald's meal

$ 8.8/person
($ 7.6 to $ 9.3)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 7 for 500ml
($ 4.6 to $ 8.8)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Imported beer

$ 3.8 for 330ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5.5)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 3.3/cup
($ 3 to $ 4.1)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2.5/can
($ 2 to $ 3)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2.1/bottle
($ 1.8 to $ 2.6)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Wellington

1-star hotel

$ 89/night
($ 89 to $ 422)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

2-star hotel

$ 117/night
($ 50 to $ 311)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152

3-star hotel

$ 119/night
($ 65 to $ 272)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 224

4-star hotel

$ 137/night
($ 74 to $ 320)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 148/night
($ 57 to $ 340)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 437

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 99/month
($ 50 to $ 248)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163

Room with kitchen

$ 130/month
($ 53 to $ 342)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 237

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 134/month
($ 70 to $ 310)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 204

Cottage or guest house

$ 110/month
($ 67 to $ 253)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 221

Family room

$ 190/month
($ 86 to $ 453)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202

Supermarket food budget in Wellington

Milk

$ 1.8/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2.7)

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74% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 1.9/500g
($ 1.4 to $ 2.5)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Rice

$ 2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 6.6/12 eggs
($ 4.6 to $ 7.7)

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83% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Chicken

$ 11/kg
($ 5.8 to $ 17)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Apples

$ 3/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 3.5)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 5.6/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 7.3)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Potatoes

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.2)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 1.2
($ 0.6 to $ 2.3)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Wellington

Bus ticket

$ 2.3/ticket
($ 1.5 to $ 4.1)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.9/km
($ 1.8 to $ 3)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 1.8)

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76% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.6
($ 2.2 to $ 3)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Car hire

$ 43/24hrs
($ 19 to $ 99)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

Leisure activity budget in Wellington

Cinema

$ 12/ticket
($ 11 to $ 15)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 17/hr
($ 15 to $ 18)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Wellington

Cigarettes

$ 25/pack
($ 23 to $ 30)

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142% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 74
($ 47 to $ 93)

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43% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52

Summer dress

$ 54
($ 30 to $ 70)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Auckland

$ 314
(fair price: $ 265)

Melbourne → Auckland

$ 335
(fair price: $ 285)

Los Angeles → Auckland

$ 1296
(fair price: $ 1063)

London → Auckland

$ 1294
(fair price: $ 1132)

New York City → Auckland

$ 1882
(fair price: $ 1571)

Dublin → Auckland

$ 1713
(fair price: $ 1391)