Essentials
- City
- Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand
- Population
- Approximately 216,000 (430,000 in the greater metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Excellent fiber-to-the-premises; average 200 Mbps - 900 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 NZD ≈ 0.61 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.64 NZD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Hutt River and aquifers)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-flat-pin)
- SIM Card
- Spark, Vodafone (One NZ), and 2degrees; 40GB data plan approx. $60 NZD
- Banking for Expats
- ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and Westpac; Wise (formerly TransferWise) is highly popular
- Accommodation
- Rentals via TradeMe Property or Realestate.co.nz; Airbnb for temporary stays
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely; 'EFTPOS' is used everywhere including small food stalls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local Facebook groups like 'Wellington Flatmates Wanted'
- Budget Accommodation
- The Cambridge Hotel (approx. $45 NZD/night for dorms), Nomads Capital
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Te Aro (central, close to nightlife) and waterfront near Oriental Bay
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Mount Cook (central yet quieter) or Newtown (bohemian, great cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- BizDojo Wellington (115 Tory St); Hot desk approx. $45 NZD/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Customs (35 Ghuznee St) and Prefab (14 Jessie St) - very laptop friendly
- Networking Events
- Wellington Digital Nomad Meetup, CreativeMornings WLG
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Wellington and 'Expats in Wellington' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Ola, and local Blue Star Taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Flamingo and Beam electric scooters available via app
- Best Beach Nearby
- Oriental Bay (city center) or Lyall Bay (surf beach, 15 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air New Zealand, Sounds Air (for small regional hops)
- Top International Airline
- Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar
- Highway Access
- State Highway 1 (SH1) connects Wellington to the entire North Island
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Wellington Railway Station (Bunny Street)
- Public Transport Passes
- Snapper Card; Adult fares approx. $2.00 - $5.00 depending on zones
- Regional Travel
- Metlink Trains to Hutt Valley/Kapiti Coast; Interislander Ferry to South Island
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Wellington Regional Hospital (Newtown)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Hot Yoga Wellington (Wakefield St); casual class $25 NZD
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Les Mills Taranaki Street; Weekly membership approx. $30 NZD
- Laundry Services
- Liquid Self Service Laundromat (Adelaide Road); approx. $6 per wash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Delivereasy (local favorite)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Manuka honey-based dishes or a 'Paua Fritter' from Mt Vic Chippery
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Aunty Mena's (Manners St) or Sweet Release (Manners St)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kaffee Eis (Gelato) and Wellington Chocolate Factory (Eva St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Harbourside Market (Sundays next to Te Papa)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- TradeMe.co.nz (local eBay/Amazon equivalent) and Mighty Ape
- Grocery Delivery
- Countdown (Woolworths NZ) and New World Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Courtenay Place and Cuba Street
- Local Brewery
- Garage Project (Aro Valley) and Fortune Favours (Leeds St)
- Wine Bars
- Noble Rot Wine Bar (Swan Lane)
- Street Food Stalls
- Wellington Night Market (Cuba St) on Fridays/Saturdays
- Popular International Cuisine
- Monsoon Poon (South East Asian) and Apache (French-Vietnamese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, Wellington Cable Car
- Museums & Art Venues
- City Gallery Wellington (Civic Square), Weta Workshop (Miramar)
- Historical Sites
- Old St Paul's (Mulgrave St), Government House
- Religious Sites
- St Mary of the Angels (Boulcott St), Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
- Annual Events
- Wellington On a Plate (August), Beervana (August), WOW (World of WearableArt)
- Cultural Districts
- Cuba Street (Bohemian heart of the city)
- Theater Venues
- St James Theatre, BATS Theatre (alternative/indie)
- Local Markets
- Victoria Street Market, Hill Street Farmers Market
- Music Scene
- San Fran (indie rock), Meow (jazz/eclectic)
- Street Art
- Shark mural (Luke's Lane), David Bowie mural (Ghuznee St)
- Cooking Classes
- Social Cooking (Customhouse Quay)
- Art Galleries
- Page Galleries, Robert Heald Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Beehive (Parliament Buildings), Antrim House
- Local Heritage
- Māori heritage sites at Te Papa and Pipitea Marae
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne (Karori eco-sanctuary)
- National Parks Nearby
- Tararua Forest Park (1 hour drive away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Mount Victoria Lookout trails, Skyline Walkway
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mount Victoria Lookout, Wrights Hill Lookout
- Birdwatching Locations
- Otari-Wilton's Bush, Zealandia
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Princess Bay (requires permit and adherence to local fire bans)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NZ Post, CourierPost
- Tech Repair Services
- Service Plus (Vivian St) for Apple/HP/laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Empire Table Tennis Club (Petone)
- Language Classes
- Victoria University of Wellington Continuing Education (Te Reo Māori classes)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Te Awe Library (Brandon St), National Library of NZ (Molesworth St)
- Community Centers
- Thistle Hall Community Venue (Cuba St)
- Gaming Lounges
- Respawn Esports Centre (Manners St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (nearest SkyCity Casino is in Auckland), local pub 'pokies' exist
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $367,500 NZD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = $287,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,800 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $539,000 NZD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = $412,500 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $736,000 NZD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $544,000 NZD)
- Corporate Tax
- 28%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 33% (Resident Withholding Tax)
- Tax System
- Taxation on worldwide income for residents; tax residency starts after 183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (for income over $180,000 NZD)
- VAT
- 15% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive rules applied
- Property Tax
- Annual 'Rates' set by Wellington City Council based on property value
- Property Transaction Tax
- No Stamp Duty, but potential taxing of capital gains under 'Bright-line test'
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Transitional Resident status offers a 4-year tax exemption on most foreign-sourced income