Wellington vs Hobart: Cost, Visas & Safety
Living in Wellington vs Hobart: Wellington runs about $2,450/mo all-in vs $2,400/mo in Hobart — Hobart is cheaper. See visas, safety, internet, and…
Wellington and Hobart cost about the same to live in, Hobart scores higher for safety, and internet is comparable in both. Which one wins depends on your income, passport, and what you value most.
How they compare
- Cost of living: Hobart is about $50/mo cheaper — $2,400/mo all-in vs $2,450/mo in Wellington (one person).
- Rent: lower in Hobart ($1,300/mo vs $1,500/mo for a typical place).
- Safety: Hobart rates higher (84/100 for Wellington vs 92/100 for Hobart).
- Internet: both solid for remote work (82/100 vs 80/100).
- Climate: comparable year-round (58/100 vs 60/100).
- Visa: easier to move to Wellington — Wellington's process is rated Moderate, Hobart's Hard.
- Retirement/long-stay: Wellington offers the New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa (Retirement); Hobart has no comparable retirement visa.
- Expat community: larger and more established in Wellington (86/100 vs 75/100).
- Families: closely matched on family safety (88/100 vs 90/100).
- Local salaries: higher in Wellington (~$3,800/mo vs ~$3,200/mo average) — relevant if you'd work locally rather than remotely.
- Work-life balance: better rated in Hobart (82/100 vs 88/100).
- Sunshine: Hobart logs about 220 sunny days a year vs 165 in Wellington.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wellington or Hobart cheaper to live in?
Wellington costs about $2,450/month all-in for one person; Hobart costs about $2,400/month. That makes Hobart roughly $50/mo cheaper, though rent, food, and lifestyle choices shift the total.
How much cheaper is Hobart than Wellington?
About $50/month for a single person — $2,400/mo in Hobart vs $2,450/mo in Wellington, covering rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras.
Which is safer, Wellington or Hobart?
Hobart scores higher on Jonzy's safety index (84/100 for Wellington vs 92/100 for Hobart). Both are catalog averages — feelings of safety also vary by neighbourhood and time of day.
Which is better for remote work and digital nomads, Wellington or Hobart?
For connectivity, both are solid (82/100 vs 80/100). On climate, they're comparable (58/100 vs 60/100). Jonzy scores both against your income, passport, and priorities so you see which fits your setup.
Which is easier to get a visa for, Wellington or Hobart?
Wellington's visa process is rated Moderate (about 12 weeks); Hobart's is rated Hard (about 16 weeks). Your passport changes the answer — run a visa check for both in Jonzy.
Can I compare Wellington and Hobart for my situation?
Yes, open Jonzy, enter your income and passport, and get personalised Life Upgrade Scores for both cities. You can also share a side-by-side comparison link with a partner.