Cost of Living Comparison Between Wellington and Hamilton 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Hamilton is 9.3% lower than in Wellington (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Hamilton is 16.5% lower than in Wellington | |
| Rent Prices in Hamilton are 35.2% lower than in Wellington | |
| Restaurant Prices in Hamilton are 10.0% lower than in Wellington | |
| Groceries Prices in Hamilton are 7.7% lower than in Wellington | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Hamilton is 3.7% higher than in Wellington | |
Restaurants | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 29.00 NZ$ | 21.50 NZ$ | -25.9 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 130.00 NZ$ | 130.00 NZ$ | 0.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 17.00 NZ$ | 15.00 NZ$ | -11.8 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 11.25 NZ$ | 11.00 NZ$ | -2.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 12.00 NZ$ | 10.00 NZ$ | -16.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 6.17 NZ$ | 6.00 NZ$ | -2.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 4.42 NZ$ | 3.98 NZ$ | -9.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 3.48 NZ$ | 4.31 NZ$ | +23.5 % |
Markets | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 3.17 NZ$ | 2.61 NZ$ | -17.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.26 NZ$ | 1.99 NZ$ | -38.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.48 NZ$ | 1.53 NZ$ | +3.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 11.89 NZ$ | 9.68 NZ$ | -18.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.08 NZ$ | 4.34 NZ$ | -28.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 7.85 NZ$ | 5.72 NZ$ | -27.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.96 NZ$ | 8.27 NZ$ | -24.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.41 NZ$ | 2.11 NZ$ | -12.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.74 NZ$ | 1.81 NZ$ | +4.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.41 NZ$ | 2.55 NZ$ | +6.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.82 NZ$ | 4.99 NZ$ | +30.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.53 NZ$ | 1.62 NZ$ | +6.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.08 NZ$ | 1.12 NZ$ | +3.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.59 NZ$ | 4.18 NZ$ | +16.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.01 NZ$ | 1.74 NZ$ | -13.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.00 NZ$ | 19.00 NZ$ | +5.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 5.55 NZ$ | 5.00 NZ$ | -9.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.04 NZ$ | 7.25 NZ$ | +43.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 44.75 NZ$ | 45.45 NZ$ | +1.6 % |
Transportation | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.97 NZ$ | 2.75 NZ$ | -44.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 181.40 NZ$ | 71.96 NZ$ | -60.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.80 NZ$ | 10.00 NZ$ | +163.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 5.15 NZ$ | 8.05 NZ$ | +56.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 60.00 NZ$ | 60.00 NZ$ | 0.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 2.80 NZ$ | 2.79 NZ$ | -0.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 44,990.00 NZ$ | 44,990.00 NZ$ | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 38,554.00 NZ$ | 36,666.67 NZ$ | -4.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 269.35 NZ$ | 123.58 NZ$ | -54.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 53.64 NZ$ | 65.00 NZ$ | +21.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 88.38 NZ$ | 101.67 NZ$ | +15.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 68.57 NZ$ | 57.57 NZ$ | -16.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 24.50 NZ$ | 50.00 NZ$ | +104.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 21.00 NZ$ | 24.50 NZ$ | +16.7 % |
Childcare | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,360.00 NZ$ | ? | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 22,353.33 NZ$ | 40,000.00 NZ$ | +78.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 123.47 NZ$ | 102.50 NZ$ | -17.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 71.67 NZ$ | 67.50 NZ$ | -5.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 196.18 NZ$ | 148.00 NZ$ | -24.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 266.25 NZ$ | 190.00 NZ$ | -28.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,107.00 NZ$ | 1,400.00 NZ$ | -33.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,982.89 NZ$ | 1,175.00 NZ$ | -40.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,635.00 NZ$ | 2,050.00 NZ$ | -43.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,181.10 NZ$ | 2,442.50 NZ$ | -23.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,210.98 NZ$ | 882.57 NZ$ | -27.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 696.58 NZ$ | 774.19 NZ$ | +11.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Wellington Edit |
Hamilton Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,393.90 NZ$ | 4,666.53 NZ$ | -13.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.40 | 6.83 | +6.7 % |
| Last update: | 6 December 2025 | 1 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 106 | 17 |
Moving to Hamilton? Explore:
Cities near Wellington: | Cost of Living in Lower Hutt | 10.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Porirua | 13.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Paraparaumu, Wellington | 32.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Levin | 58.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Masterton | 61.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Palmerston North | 88.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whanganui | 120.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hastings | 188.18 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taupo | 231.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Plymouth | 240.16 miles |
Cities near Hamilton: | Cost of Living in Cambridge | 14.21 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tauranga | 65.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Manukau | 65.66 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rotorua | 66.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Auckland | 78.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in North Shore | 83.34 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taupo | 94.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Plymouth | 149.24 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whangarei | 175.73 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hastings | 191.17 miles |