Cost of living comparison
Christchurch is 12.6% cheaper than Wellington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.8% more in Christchurch
- Transportation
-
pay 24.4% less in Christchurch
- Housing
-
pay 14.6% less in Christchurch
- Childcare
-
pay 23.4% less in Christchurch
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.3% less in Christchurch
- Clothing
-
pay 10.9% less in Christchurch
Expenses including transportation, childcare, housing, clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Christchurch.
If you lived in Christchurch instead of Wellington, you would:
pay 3.8% more for restaurants
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$14.93
NZ$26.85
|
$17.32
NZ$31.14
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.96
NZ$16.11
|
$10.75
NZ$19.33
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.57
NZ$4.63
|
$2.41
NZ$4.34
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.15
NZ$3.87
|
$1.84
NZ$3.30
|
|
pay (unknown) more for groceries
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.96
NZ$3.53
|
$2.00
NZ$3.59
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.15
NZ$7.46
|
$4.24
NZ$7.63
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
NZ$12.55
|
$7.24
NZ$13.03
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.84
NZ$12.30
|
$6.43
NZ$11.55
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.06
NZ$9.10
|
$4.09
NZ$7.36
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.40
NZ$2.51
|
$1.34
NZ$2.41
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.09
NZ$1.96
|
$1.13
NZ$2.03
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.48
NZ$2.65
|
$1.42
NZ$2.56
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.61
NZ$4.69
|
$2.52
NZ$4.53
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.01
NZ$1.82
|
$0.97
NZ$1.74
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.84
NZ$1.51
|
$1.09
NZ$1.96
|
pay 24.4% less for transportation
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.42
NZ$11.54
|
$6.28
NZ$11.30
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$127.57
NZ$229.39
|
$41.68
NZ$74.94
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,339.84
NZ$61,751.20
|
$26,874.66
NZ$48,327.03
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.22
NZ$32.75
|
$17.02
NZ$30.61
|
|
pay 14.6% less for housing
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$54.27
NZ$97.59
|
$48.71
NZ$87.59
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,487.35
NZ$2,674.60
|
$1,329.40
NZ$2,390.58
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,335.17
NZ$2,400.96
|
$1,214.34
NZ$2,183.67
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$134.11
NZ$241.16
|
$95.92
NZ$172.49
|
|
pay 23.4% less for childcare
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$871.44
NZ$1,567.05
|
$634.54
NZ$1,141.05
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,649.75
NZ$22,747.26
|
$10,158.62
NZ$18,267.62
|
|
pay 6.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.17
NZ$12.89
|
$6.57
NZ$11.81
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.41
NZ$6.14
|
$3.34
NZ$6.01
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$24.46
NZ$43.98
|
$23.59
NZ$42.42
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.85
NZ$71.66
|
$37.62
NZ$67.66
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.24
NZ$22.02
|
$10.75
NZ$19.33
|
|
pay 10.9% less for clothing
|
Wellington
|
Christchurch
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$75.78
NZ$136.27
|
$79.03
NZ$142.12
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$55.09
NZ$99.07
|
$38.35
NZ$68.97
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$119.44
NZ$214.79
|
$85.40
NZ$153.57
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$129.60
NZ$233.04
|
$144.00
NZ$258.94
|
|
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