Composite profile
Overall score
84/100
Read Wellington as a compact, services-led capital where service quality and renewable electricity balance seismic and housing pressures.
Overall84/100
Affordability64/100
Air quality88/100
Energy88/100
New Zealand / Oceania
Wellington, New Zealand City Intelligence
Wellington anchors New Zealand's political and creative life on a compact harbour with strong public services, low-carbon electricity, and active seismic-adaptation work. Wellington is a oceania city of about 0.4M metro in New Zealand. On the composite city-intelligence score, Wellington sits comfortably above the indexed median (84/100).
- Last updated
- 2026-05-16
- Data year
- 2025
- Population
- 0.4M metro
Beehive (New Zealand)
Image credit: Image: Michal Klajban / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall city intelligence
Strong84/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Energy mix
Low-carbon
Hydropower and geothermal generation support a favorable baseline.
Services depth
High
Public services and creative industries shape opportunity.
Wellington data table
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 84/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 64/100 | Wellington is expensive for housing, with services costs in line with New Zealand peers. |
| Air Quality | 88/100 | Wellington performs well on air-quality benchmarks, with coastal winds supporting dispersion. |
| Energy | 88/100 | Wellington benefits from New Zealand's low-carbon electricity baseline with hydropower and geothermal providing most generation. |
| Safety | 90/100 | Wellington scores high on safety, with stable institutional response and steady public-safety perception. |
| Internet Speed | 84/100 | Wellington offers reliable fiber and mobile networks supporting digital services and remote work. |
| Climate Risk | 70/100 | Wellington carries elevated climate risk centered on seismic exposure, coastal storms, and stormwater pressure. |
| Resilience | 76/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Safety
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Safety
Overall safety80/100
Low crime83/100
Personal safety80/100
Night safety75/100
Road safety78/100
Wellington ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (80/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
Quality of Life
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Quality of Life
Quality of life83/100
Healthcare86/100
Education88/100
Green space77/100
Cleanliness90/100
Infrastructure94/100
Mobility66/100
Wellington has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.
Family Friendliness
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Family Friendliness
Family friendliness82/100
Education88/100
Green space77/100
Overall safety80/100
Wellington scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Digital nomad suitability79/100
Walkability67/100
Cycling66/100
Infrastructure94/100
Wellington is high for remote workers (79/100), based on connectivity, affordability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Retirement Suitability
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Retirement Suitability
Retirement suitability80/100
Healthcare86/100
Cleanliness90/100
Outdoor lifestyle46/100
Wellington is very high for retirement (80/100), appealing for healthcare access, affordability, a comfortable climate and a clean environment.
Emergency and public safety in Wellington
Local public safety guidance for Wellington, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Universal emergency | 11124/7 | 111 reaches police, fire, and ambulance dispatch across New Zealand. |
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Wellington, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the New Zealand emergency profile.
Public safety sources
Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.
- New Zealand Police: Dial 111 — Emergencies
Used as the primary attribution for New Zealand's 111 universal emergency number.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare and hospitals in Wellington
Healthcare context for Wellington, with national-level information from New Zealand where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Wellington, see the New Zealand healthcare profile.
Healthcare sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.
- Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand: Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand
Used as the primary attribution for New Zealand public-health and hospital information.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Transport and mobility in Wellington
Local mobility context for Wellington, with national-level context from New Zealand where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Wellington, see the New Zealand transport profile.
Transport sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Used as the primary attribution for New Zealand national land-transport context.
- Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
Used as the primary attribution for New Zealand aviation authority information.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Air quality dataset
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Wellington. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Air quality dataset for Wellington
Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025
Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location
Source-attributed values for Wellington will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Data provenance
Source attributionGlobal City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailable- Publisher
- Global City Intelligence
- Last verified
- 2026-05-16
The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Methodology and context
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
- Scoring methodology — how indicators across the platform are constructed.
- Data sources registry — the official sources cited by verified datasets.
- Open the Wellington air-quality module
- Browse the clean-air city collection
Quick answers
Quick, evidence-based answers about Wellington drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.
Quick answers about Wellington
Is Wellington worth visiting?
Yes — excellent quality of life (83/100), with nearby nature such as Remutaka Forest Park, Zealandia.
Is Wellington good for families?
Excellent (82/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Is Wellington affordable?
More affordable than average; about NZ$2,760/month for one person (estimate).
When is the best time to visit Wellington?
Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jan, coldest in Jul.
What are Wellington's main industries?
Mainly government, technology, research.
What is the climate in Wellington?
An oceanic climate, averaging about 16.6°C.
Does Wellington have universities?
Higher education is strong (76/100).
What is healthcare like in Wellington?
Healthcare access is strong (74/100).
Is Wellington good for retirement?
Retirement suitability is strong (71/100).
What nature is near Wellington?
Within ~170 km: Remutaka Forest Park, Zealandia.
Related comparisons
Pairs that share a city, comparison intent, or region — useful for users planning a wider relocation, remote-work, or business decision.
Wellington in city collections
Curated city collections that include Wellington. Each is a comparison-oriented shortlist, not an official ranking.
Best Cities for Clean Air: Air Quality-Oriented City Collection
Clean air — An air quality-oriented city collection. Designed for comparison through WHO and regional air-quality context — not a ranked claim of which city has the cleanest air.
Wellington intent guides
Practical intent-focused guides available for Wellington. Each guide is a comparison-oriented view, not an official ranking.
Wellington for Clean air
Wellington is a Pacific anchor with structured air-quality and climate-risk context.
Explore Wellington modules
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Cost of Living in Wellington
Wellington is expensive for housing, with services costs in line with New Zealand peers.
Air Quality in Wellington
Wellington performs well on air-quality benchmarks, with coastal winds supporting dispersion.
Energy in Wellington
Wellington benefits from New Zealand's low-carbon electricity baseline with hydropower and geothermal providing most generation.
Safety in Wellington
Wellington scores high on safety, with stable institutional response and steady public-safety perception.
Internet Speed in Wellington
Wellington offers reliable fiber and mobile networks supporting digital services and remote work.
Climate Risk in Wellington
Wellington carries elevated climate risk centered on seismic exposure, coastal storms, and stormwater pressure.
City rankings
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living in Wellington
Cost of living estimates for Wellington — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate in Wellington
Climate profile for Wellington — Oceanic climate, annual average 16.6°C, comfort score 79/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs in Wellington
Economy and jobs profile for Wellington — government center, economy score 81/100, key industries including government, technology, research. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Universities and education in Wellington
Education profile for Wellington — regional education center, education score 73/100, 4 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement in Wellington
Healthcare and retirement profile for Wellington — regional healthcare center, healthcare score 74/100, retirement score 71/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Arrival planning guide for Wellington
Practical arrival planning context for Wellington — links into transport, public-safety, healthcare, budgeting tools, and methodology. Not an official airport or travel instruction service.
Visual guide to Wellington
Source-attributed visual context for Wellington using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.
Summer 2026 travel planning guide for Wellington
Summer 2026 travel planning checklist for Wellington — links into arrival planning, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not a weather forecast, events calendar, hotel-price guide, or tourism ranking.
Weekend trip planning guide for Wellington
Weekend trip planning checklist for Wellington — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.
Nearby weekend places from Wellington
Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.
Estimate a monthly budget for Wellington
Estimate a monthly budget for Wellington using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Wellington
Plan a trip budget for Wellington using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Nearby cities from Wellington
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Wellington. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Same region · about 14 km from Wellington. Explore Lower Hutt's city intelligence profile.
Blenheim, New Zealand
Same region · about 74 km from Wellington. Explore Blenheim's city intelligence profile.
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Same region · about 124 km from Wellington. Explore Palmerston North's city intelligence profile.
Nelson, New Zealand
Same region · about 129 km from Wellington. Explore Nelson's city intelligence profile.
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Weekend trip · about 254 km from Wellington. Explore New Plymouth's city intelligence profile.
Napier, New Zealand
Same region · about 269 km from Wellington. Explore Napier's city intelligence profile.
Related collections
Regional discovery collections that include Wellington — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.
New Zealand Mountains
Mountain region · 9 places across 7 cities.
Weekend Escapes near Wellington
Weekend escapes · 16 places across 5 cities.
Themed collections
Theme-first discovery collections that include Wellington — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.
New Zealand Cycling Friendly Areas
Cycling Friendly Areas · 21 places across 12 cities.
New Zealand Hiking Areas
Hiking Areas · 15 places across 11 cities.
New Zealand Mountain Escapes
Mountain Escapes · 11 places across 9 cities.
New Zealand Nature Photography Spots
Nature Photography Spots · 24 places across 13 cities.
New Zealand Weekend Nature Retreats
Weekend Nature Retreats · 20 places across 11 cities.
Oceania Cycling Friendly Areas
Cycling Friendly Areas · 43 places across 77 cities.
Wellington FAQ
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Wellington, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Frequently asked questions about Wellington
Is Wellington worth visiting?
Wellington has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Remutaka Forest Park, Zealandia and Tararua Forest Park within weekend range.
What is it like to live in Wellington?
Wellington has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 83/100 for overall quality of life.
How much does it cost to live in Wellington?
A single resident of Wellington spends roughly NZ$2,760 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near NZ$1,470. Overall the city is more affordable than average for New Zealand. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
What should I know about moving to Wellington?
Plan for below-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Wellington is high for remote workers (79/100), based on connectivity, affordability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
What is the job market like in Wellington?
Wellington's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in technology, education and research and finance and professional services. Wellington has a government- and services-oriented economy with strengths in government, technology and research.
Is Wellington good for digital nomads and remote work?
Wellington offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 82/100.
What are the education options in Wellington?
Wellington is a regional education center with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Engineering, Computer Science and Medicine.
Is Wellington a good place to study?
Wellington offers a moderate student environment, supported by relatively affordable living, strong quality of life and good connectivity.
What is healthcare like in Wellington?
Wellington has a regional healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 74/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Is Wellington a good place to retire?
Wellington offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 71/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
What is the climate like in Wellington?
Wellington has an oceanic climate, averaging about 16.6°C annually with roughly 1100 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jan and the coldest Jul. The driest is typically Dec.
Is Wellington a safe place to live?
Wellington ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (80/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.
How easy is it to get around Wellington?
Wellington indexes a walkability score of 67 and a cycling score of 66 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
What nature and outdoor places are near Wellington?
Nature destinations within about 170 km of Wellington include Remutaka Forest Park, Zealandia and Tararua Forest Park. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.
Is Wellington good for families?
Wellington scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
What outdoor activities are there around Wellington?
Wellington rates 46/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 77/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Remutaka Forest Park, Zealandia and Tararua Forest Park supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.
Interpretation
Read Wellington as a compact, services-led capital where service quality and renewable electricity balance seismic and housing pressures. Its standout dimensions are safety (90/100) and air quality (88/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (64/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.
Country context is available on the New Zealand country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Wellington appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Sources
4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
- UN-Habitat: World Cities Report 2024
Used as a policy and methodology reference for urban exposure and resilience signals.
- NASA: NASA POWER
Used as an energy-resource and weather-normalization reference.
- IPCC: AR6 WGII Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure
Used to explain urban climate vulnerability and adaptation scoring logic.
- International Energy Agency: Empowering Urban Energy Transitions
Used to ground energy-readiness scoring in international transition guidance.