Wellington
New Zealand · Oceania · 215K people
Windy hillside capital known for its compact, walkable centre.
Ranked #101 of 303 overall · -41.29, 174.78
Overview
Wellington sits in New Zealand, on the Oceanian continent, home to roughly 215,000 people. Wellington stands out for how safe it feels compared to cities of a similar size. It has a reputation as a solid, practical choice for raising a family. People who choose to settle in Wellington tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Against its 13 tracked peers in Oceania, Wellington's 6.9/10 overall score sits 0.0 points below the regional average of 6.9, though a lower average score doesn't rule it out — it depends entirely on which criteria matter most to you. On CityMatch, Wellington scores 6.9/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #101 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is environment & air quality at 9/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 4/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Worth budgeting carefully, especially rent.
Consistently rated among the safer picks.
One of the cleaner cities in our data.
Workable without being exceptional.
Not everyone's ideal climate.
A strong pick if healthcare matters most to you.
Fast, reliable connectivity.
Is Wellington right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
Air quality and environment score 9/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Internet and connectivity score 9/10, making remote work a non-issue rather than a workaround.
A 8/10 safety score puts Wellington among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is the toughest line item, at 4/10 — budget accordingly, especially on rent.
Climate is the hardest trade-off here at 4/10 — expect genuinely difficult weather for part of the year.
Is Wellington safe?
Wellington scores 8/10 on safety — one of the more reassuring cities in our database. Most residents and visitors report feeling comfortable with ordinary city awareness rather than specific precautions.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 8/10 and environment score of 9/10, Wellington looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (8/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Transport is reasonably safe day-to-day; late-night service quality and crowd levels are worth checking if you'll rely on it after dark.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Wellington?
Climate (4/10) is a moderate trade-off here, not severe, but not something to move for either.
Seasonal character
Seasons here are more pronounced — at least one part of the year leans notably hot, cold, or wet compared with the rest.
Comfort level
Comfort varies meaningfully by season — some months are genuinely pleasant, others require real adjustment.
Best time to live here
Timing matters more here — researching the specific hottest, coldest or wettest months before committing is worth the effort.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Wellington
Put together, quality of life in Wellington is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: wellington tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Wellington tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (9/10) and climate (4/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Transport (6/10) covers most needs reasonably well, with occasional gaps a bike or rideshare fills in easily.
Culture & leisure
Wellington isn't specifically marketed on culture or nightlife in our data, which usually means a more everyday, less tourist-oriented pace of life — good for routine, less exciting for a short visit.
Based on its actual score profile, Wellington tends to suit people who prioritize environment & air quality and internet & connectivity over cost of living — see "Who Wellington suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Wellington?
Cleanliness-adjacent signals are strong here: an environment score of 9/10 suggests air quality and general upkeep most visitors would notice positively.
Public spaces
We don't track a separate public-space or waste-management metric, but cities that score this well on air quality tend to also invest visibly in upkeep — a reasonable, if indirect, signal.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Wellington suits
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 7.4/10 here).
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 7.3/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 7.0/10 here).
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs — founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs (fit score 6.8/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Wellington isn't cheap — its 4/10 cost-of-living score puts it above average on price, so it's worth costing out rent and groceries before committing.
Safety
At 8/10 on our safety score, Wellington ranks among the more secure cities we track, which tends to matter most for families and first-time movers.
Climate
Wellington scores 4/10 on climate, so pack for genuine seasons rather than assuming mild weather year-round.
Quality of life
Quality of life in Wellington is uneven rather than uniformly good or bad — a 6.9/10 average built on a clear high point in environment & air quality and a clear weak point in cost of living. The average across all seven criteria is 6.9/10.
Transport
At 6/10 for transport, Wellington covers the basics reasonably well without being a transit showcase.
Internet & remote work
At 9/10 for internet, Wellington is squarely in "video-call without worrying about it" territory.
Why choose Wellington?
The short version: choose Wellington for its environment & air quality, and go in with clear eyes about cost of living. Its 6.9/10 overall score reflects that balance rather than an unqualified recommendation.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Wellington safe?
Yes — Wellington scores 8/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Wellington?
Wellington scores 4/10 on affordability, on the pricier side of our database. Plan a proper budget, particularly for rent.
Is Wellington good for families?
Wellington works well for families: safety (8/10), healthcare (8/10) and environment (9/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Wellington a good city for students?
Wellington isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (4/10) and transport (6/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Wellington suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Wellington, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (9/10) and cost of living (4/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Wellington?
Wellington scores 4/10 on climate, meaning a proper seasonal swing including a stretch of weather most people wouldn't call ideal.
Is Wellington pleasant to live in year-round?
Reasonably — Wellington scores 4/10 on climate and 9/10 on environment, a fair rather than exceptional combination across the year.
Is Wellington a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 7.8/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Wellington?
Yes — Wellington scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is Wellington a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 6.7/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Wellington?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Christchurch and Hobart are the closest matches to Wellington in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Wellington worth living in?
Reasonably — Wellington scores 6.9/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Wellington?
Based on its score profile, Wellington suits people who value environment & air quality and internet & connectivity more than the average mover — see the "Who Wellington suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Wellington walkable, and is public transport good?
Reasonably — Wellington scores 6/10 on transport, covering most day-to-day needs without being a standout transit city.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Wellington?
Environment & air quality is Wellington's standout strength, scoring 9/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Wellington?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 4/10 — the lowest of Wellington's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.