How much do you need to earn to live in Wellington? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for New Zealand's tax system.
You need at least $4,060/month gross to live in Wellington on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $4,931/month gross ($3,870 net after ~19% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,900 Cheapest neighborhood (Petone) | $2,350 Median neighborhood | $2,600 Premium neighborhood (Kelburn) |
| Groceries | $550 | $660 | $825 |
| Transport | $225 | $225 | $225 |
| Utilities | $275 | $275 | $275 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $300 | $360 | $450 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $3,250 | $3,870 | $4,375 |
$4,060/month gross
$4,931/month gross
$5,705/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 7 neighborhoods in Wellington
Petone
20 min by metro
$1,900 - $2,200
Newtown
12 min by bus
$2,000 - $2,300
Te Aro
5 min by walk
$2,100 - $2,400
Kelburn
8 min by walk
$2,400 - $2,800
Wellington CBD
5 min by walk
$2,300 - $2,600
Mount Victoria
10 min by walk
$2,200 - $2,600
See all 7 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore WellingtonEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after New Zealand's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $4,060/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Wellington. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $4,931/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for New Zealand.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 7 neighborhoods in Wellington is approximately $2,321/month. Rents range from $1,900 in Petone to $2,800 in Kelburn.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Wellington cost approximately $550. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in New Zealand are progressive. At the budget salary level of $4,060/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 17%. At the comfortable level of $4,931/month, it rises to approximately 19%. This includes income tax and social contributions.