comparison intelligence
Bristol vs Wellington
Bristol has the stronger overall score, while Bristol has the lower monthly estimate.
Bristol wins overall
near identical$300/mo gap0.1 score gap
quick decision
Who wins where?
Bristol
7.1/10
$3,350/month · United Kingdom
MAYBEpros
- Thriving independent and creative culture
- Strong tech and aerospace sector
- Excellent food scene — St Nick's Market, Cargo, Wapping Wharf
cons
- Very hilly — exhausting on foot and bike
- Public transport is poor for a city its size
- Housing costs have risen sharply
Wellington
7.0/10
$3,650/month · New Zealand
MAYBEpros
- Compact, walkable city with excellent coffee and craft beer
- Creative industries — Weta Workshop, film, and tech sectors
- Stunning harbour setting surrounded by green hills
cons
- Extremely windy — Wellington is one of the windiest cities in the world
- Very remote — long flights to anywhere except Australia
- Small city — limited variety in dining and entertainment
cost breakdown
Where the money goes
Rent$1,475$1,605
Food$670$730
Transport$235$255
Coworking$335$365
Entertainment$400$440
Utilities$235$255
money / equivalent lifestyle
What your money buys
To keep roughly the same spending flexibility you get from $4,000 in Bristol, you would need about $4,350 in Wellington.
Based on relative monthly cost estimates in this guide.With $4,000/month
BristolLeaves about $650Estimated cost: $3,350
WellingtonLeaves about $350Estimated cost: $3,650
score breakdown
Category-by-category
Money
Cost of living2.82.6Bristol
Remote work
Internet4.24.2tied
Daily life
Walkability4.53.6Bristol
Food3.83.8tied
Comfort & safety
Safety3.84.5Wellington
Healthcare4.14.1tied
Weather3.83.8tied
Lifestyle
English friendly4.74.7tied
Nightlife3.53.5tied
what changes if you move?
Relocation impact
Moving from Bristol to Wellington gives you day-to-day safety for about $300 more per month, but trades off pedestrian convenience.
Monthly spending+$300
Annual spending+$3,600
Overall scoreAbout the same
SafetyBetter (+0.7)
WalkabilityWorse (-0.9)
Safety
3.8 → 4.5 · +0.7
Walkability
4.5 → 3.6 · -0.9
Moving from Wellington to Bristol gives you pedestrian convenience and saves about $300 per month, but trades off day-to-day safety.
Monthly spending-$300
Annual spending-$3,600
Overall scoreAbout the same
SafetyWorse (-0.7)
WalkabilityBetter (+0.9)
Walkability
3.6 → 4.5 · +0.9
Safety
4.5 → 3.8 · -0.7
Choose Bristol if...
- You want stronger budget room, saving about $300 per month versus Wellington.
- You want the stronger overall score without a major monthly cost penalty.
- You want the cleaner value pick: higher score and lower estimated cost.
- You want daily life to feel more pedestrian-friendly.
Choose Wellington if...
- Day-to-day safety is one of your top priorities.
- You care enough about day-to-day safety to accept weaker pedestrian convenience.
final verdict
So, which one makes more sense?
Bristol has the stronger overall score, while Bristol has the clearer budget advantage. Wellington is measurably stronger on day-to-day safety.