Auckland vs Wellington — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Auckland
New Zealand
COL Index
70
premium
Wellington
New Zealand
COL Index
67
premium
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Wellington edges out Auckland on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 67 vs 70 (premium vs premium). Wellington scores higher on safety (null/100), and Wellington wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Auckland takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Auckland
Wellington
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$1,700
$1,550
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$1,250
$1,150
NoodlePants COL Index
70
67
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Auckland is better for…
See the New Zealand country profileWellington is better for…
See the New Zealand country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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