Cost of living comparison

compared to

Carson City vs. Wellington Cost of Living Summary

Carson City is 34.1% more expensive than Wellington.

Restaurants
pay 12.7% more in Carson City
Groceries
pay 42.0% more in Carson City
Transportation
pay 5.7% less in Carson City
Housing
pay 22.9% more in Carson City
Childcare
pay 2.4 times more in Carson City
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.5% less in Carson City
Clothing
pay 27.4% more in Carson City

The cost of childcare, groceries, clothing, housing, and restaurants in Carson City are more expensive than in Wellington. Expenses including transportation and entertainment and sports are lower in Carson City. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Carson City.

Carson City vs. Wellington Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Carson City instead of Wellington, you would:

pay 12.7% more for restaurants

 
Wellington
Carson City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $14.42
NZ$25.06
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$9.23
NZ$16.04
$11.79
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.46
NZ$4.27
$2.67
 

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pay 42.0% more for groceries

 
Wellington
Carson City
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
NZ$3.43
$3.31
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.02
NZ$6.99
$4.96
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.79
NZ$11.79
$4.75
 

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pay 5.7% less for transportation

 
Wellington
Carson City
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.14
NZ$10.67
$4.17
 
Monthly public transit pass $109.62
NZ$190.44
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $31,154.21
NZ$54,124.77
$37,649.85
 

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pay 22.9% more for housing

 
Wellington
Carson City
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$48.75
NZ$84.70
$62.47
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,240.57
NZ$2,155.27
$1,683.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,099.37
NZ$1,909.96
$1,050.00
 

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pay 2.4 times more for childcare

 
Wellington
Carson City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $768.47
NZ$1,335.08
$1,850.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $12,211.68
NZ$21,215.57
??

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pay 1.5% less for entertainment and sports

 
Wellington
Carson City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.63
NZ$11.53
$7.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.54
NZ$6.15
$5.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$25.67
NZ$44.60
$10.00
 

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pay 27.4% more for clothing

 
Wellington
Carson City
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$69.31
NZ$120.41
$60.00
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$46.64
NZ$81.02
$100.00
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$113.30
NZ$196.84
$120.00
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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