Casablancavs
WellingtonCasablanca vs Wellington: cost, size & quality of life compared
Trying to decide between Casablanca and Wellington? Here's the honest bottom line first — then the full, sourced breakdown on cost of living, salary, safety and quality of life.
Wellington comes out ahead overall — by a clear margin.
But the "winner" depends on what you care about. Here's who takes each dimension:
WellingtonCasablancaWellingtonWellingtonComposite scores
Overall: Wellington wins by 1.0 points
Population & size
Is Casablanca bigger than Wellington?
Casablanca is the bigger city: about 3.4M people versus Wellington's 420k — roughly 8.1× larger.
City-proper / metro population estimates. Size is one input — scroll on for cost of living, salary equivalence and quality-of-life scoring.
National income
Is Casablanca richer than Wellington?
The two sit on different measures, so we are not ranking them: Morocco is reported as income per capita (GNI, PPP) ($10,260), New Zealand as average annual wage ($62,437). A full-time wage and a whole-population income per head are not the same quantity.
Country-level figures — Casablanca is not Morocco and Wellington is not New Zealand, and both cities typically pay above their national average. Gross, before tax: see take-home pay by country for what lands in the account.
Distance
How far is Casablanca from Wellington?
Casablanca is about 19,130 km (11,890 mi) from Wellington in a straight line — roughly 23 h 15 m of nonstop flight time.
Great-circle distance, not a routed itinerary; flight estimate assumes ~850 km/h cruise plus 45 minutes of taxi, climb and descent.
Climate
Is Casablanca warmer than Wellington?
Casablanca is the warmer city: January highs average 17°C vs 21°C, and July 26°C vs 12°C. Casablanca gets noticeably more sun — about 820 more sunshine hours per year.
| Month | Casablanca | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| January (high / low) | 17° / 9°C | 21° / 14°C |
| July (high / low) | 26° / 19°C | 12° / 6°C |
Atlantic-moderated Mediterranean — mild everything. Summers stay in the mid-20s thanks to the ocean; winters are soft with modest rain.
Cool oceanic and famously windy — the Cook Strait funnels gales year-round. Mild summers, chilly damp winters; temperature extremes are rare.
Wellington edges Casablanca by 0.7 points, driven by its smaller geographic footprint and concentrated infrastructure rather than raw economic output or population density.
Wellington's score of 6.1 ranks in the global upper-middle tier, while Casablanca at 5.4 reflects a city managing rapid growth but facing density and service delivery challenges.
If you're prioritizing livability and institutional efficiency over scale, Wellington warrants serious consideration; if you need emerging-market upside and lower costs, Casablanca's trajectory might justify the tradeoffs.
Data signals
What separates Casablanca and Wellington
How decisive
Wellington comes out ahead by 1.0 composite points — a clear edge.
Biggest difference
The widest gap is healthcare, where Wellington leads by 3.1 points.
Where they match
They're most evenly matched on remote-work friendliness — within 0.3 points of each other.
Overall cost gap
Total monthly costs in Wellington run about 93% higher than in Casablanca.
Where budgets split most
Transport is the line item that diverges most: roughly 291% pricier in Wellington than Casablanca.
Size difference
Casablanca is the larger metro — about 8.1× the population of the other, which shapes commute times, housing supply and how "big-city" daily life feels.
Home internet
Wellington has the faster typical broadband (120 vs 50 Mbps median) — worth weighing if you work remotely or move large files.
Safety
Wellington scores higher on safety (68 vs 46 / 100) — a common deciding factor for families.
Score-by-score, side-by-side
Each axis is scored independently with disclosed weights and a calculation string.
The exact scores and winners:
| Axis | Casablanca | Wellington | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability | 8.3 | 6.4 | Casablanca +1.9 |
| Quality of life | 4.9 | 7.5 | Wellington +2.6 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 5.4 | 5.7 | Wellington +0.3 |
| Healthcare | 4.8 | 7.9 | Wellington +3.1 |
Each axis is a weighted aggregate of underlying indicators normalized to a 0–10 scale. Weights are explicit and disclosed per axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes — axes are not collapsed further because the underlying trade-offs (e.g. low cost vs poor air quality) are user-dependent.
Affordability
- Cost-of-living index (weight 60%)19
- Rent index (weight 40%)13
How this is calculated
Affordability = ((100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − rentIndex)/100 × 0.4) × 10. For Casablanca: ((100 − 19)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − 13)/100 × 0.4) × 10 = 8.3.
Casablanca sits well below the New York baseline on both cost-of-living and rent. Budgets stretch further here than in benchmark Tier-1 cities.
Quality of life
- Safety index (weight 40%)46
- Healthcare index (weight 35%)52
- Air quality index (weight 25%)48
How this is calculated
QoL = (safety/100 × 0.4 + healthcare/100 × 0.35 + airQuality/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Casablanca: (46/100 × 0.4 + 52/100 × 0.35 + 48/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 4.9.
Casablanca has a mixed quality profile. Safety: fair; healthcare: fair; air: fair. Weigh the weakest axis against your personal priorities.
Remote-work friendliness
- Internet (median Mbps) (weight 45%)50 Mbps
- Effective income tax (lower = better) (weight 30%)12.0%
- Cost-of-living (lower = better) (weight 25%)19
How this is calculated
RemoteWork = (min(Mbps/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − incomeTax) × 0.3 + (100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Casablanca: (min(50/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − 0.12) × 0.3 + (100 − 19)/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 5.4.
Casablanca works for remote work but isn't optimized for it: internet 50 Mbps, income tax 12%, cost index 19.
Healthcare
- Healthcare quality index (weight 70%)52
- Healthcare out-of-pocket / month (lower = better) (weight 30%)311
How this is calculated
Healthcare = (qualityIndex/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − OOP/500) × 0.3) × 10. For Casablanca: (52/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − 311/500) × 0.3) × 10 = 4.8.
Casablanca has trade-offs in healthcare: quality is fair, typical out-of-pocket cost is ~311 MAD/month. Cross-border insurance closes the gap.
Each axis is a weighted aggregate of underlying indicators normalized to a 0–10 scale. Weights are explicit and disclosed per axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes — axes are not collapsed further because the underlying trade-offs (e.g. low cost vs poor air quality) are user-dependent.
Affordability
- Cost-of-living index (weight 60%)40
- Rent index (weight 40%)30
How this is calculated
Affordability = ((100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − rentIndex)/100 × 0.4) × 10. For Wellington: ((100 − 40)/100 × 0.6 + (100 − 30)/100 × 0.4) × 10 = 6.4.
Wellington is mid-range on absolute cost. Affordability is reasonable but not its main advantage.
Quality of life
- Safety index (weight 40%)68
- Healthcare index (weight 35%)75
- Air quality index (weight 25%)88
How this is calculated
QoL = (safety/100 × 0.4 + healthcare/100 × 0.35 + airQuality/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Wellington: (68/100 × 0.4 + 75/100 × 0.35 + 88/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 7.5.
Wellington scores good on safety, good on healthcare and excellent on air. The composite quality-of-life signal is strong.
Remote-work friendliness
- Internet (median Mbps) (weight 45%)120 Mbps
- Effective income tax (lower = better) (weight 30%)21.1%
- Cost-of-living (lower = better) (weight 25%)40
How this is calculated
RemoteWork = (min(Mbps/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − incomeTax) × 0.3 + (100 − costIndex)/100 × 0.25) × 10. For Wellington: (min(120/300, 1) × 0.45 + (1 − 0.2105) × 0.3 + (100 − 40)/100 × 0.25) × 10 = 5.7.
Wellington works for remote work but isn't optimized for it: internet 120 Mbps, income tax 21%, cost index 40.
Healthcare
- Healthcare quality index (weight 70%)75
- Healthcare out-of-pocket / month (lower = better) (weight 30%)53
How this is calculated
Healthcare = (qualityIndex/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − OOP/500) × 0.3) × 10. For Wellington: (75/100 × 0.7 + max(0, 1 − 53/500) × 0.3) × 10 = 7.9.
Wellington combines good system quality with a manageable out-of-pocket cost (~53 NZD/month). Travel insurance still recommended for non-residents.
Monthly cost delta: Casablanca vs Wellington
Normalized to MAD at 1 NZD = 5.3995 MAD.
| Category | Casablanca | Wellington | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| housing | MAD 5,856 | NZ$2,169 | +100% |
| food | MAD 1,945 | NZ$610 | +69% |
| transport | MAD 250 | NZ$181 | +291% |
| utilities | MAD 484 | NZ$350 | +290% |
| leisure | MAD 2,333 | NZ$631 | +46% |
| healthcare | MAD 311 | NZ$53 | -8% |
Where each city's money goes
Two cities can have the same monthly total but very different shapes — one might burn 50% on housing while the other splits more evenly. The composition matters as much as the headline.
The biggest shape difference is leisure: Casablanca spends 5.1 percentage points more of its budget on it (21% vs. 16%). If you're sensitive to that category, weight the per-axis scores accordingly.
Buying property
Apartment prices: Casablanca vs Wellington
Approximate asking prices in EUR per square meter (as of 2025-01), central vs mid-distance neighborhoods.
Buying in central Casablanca runs about 70% cheaper per square meter (€2,000/m² vs €6,700/m²).
Midpoints of public listing ranges — a scoping number for rent-vs-buy thinking, not a valuation. Renting comparisons live in the cost table above.
Getting around
Public transport: Casablanca vs Wellington
Monthly pass and casual-ride pricing in EUR (as of 2025-01) plus the modes each network runs.
Casatramway's four lines are the reliable spine (MAD 8 flat); the MAD 250 monthly covers tram-only. Grand taxis handle what the network doesn't.
Single ride: €0.74 · Modes: Tram, Bus
Metlink buses + four commuter rail lines with Snapper tap fares; the 1902 cable car is genuine commuter kit, not just a postcard.
Single ride: €2.78 · Modes: Bus, Commuter rail, Ferry, Cable car
Salary equivalence: Casablanca ↔ Wellington
What earning the same purchasing power costs in each city. Cost-adjusted using the local cost-of-living index (Casablanca = 19, Wellington = 40); currency-converted at 1 NZD = 5.3995 MAD. Tax differences are not modeled.
| Casablanca gross | Wellington equivalent |
|---|---|
| MAD 40,000 | NZ$15,596 |
| MAD 75,000 | NZ$29,243 |
| MAD 120,000 | NZ$46,788 |
| Wellington gross | Casablanca equivalent |
|---|---|
| NZ$40,000 | MAD 102,590 |
| NZ$75,000 | MAD 192,356 |
| NZ$120,000 | MAD 307,769 |
Equivalence here means same cost-of-living purchasing power, not same net take-home. Effective tax rates differ between countries; a salary equivalent on cost can still net more or less depending on the destination's tax regime. Use the calculator for tax-adjusted figures at a specific lifestyle tier.
Pros and cons
Why pick Casablanca
- Wins on affordability (+1.9 points vs Wellington).
Why pick Wellington
- Wins on quality of life (+2.6 points vs Casablanca).
- Wins on remote-work friendliness (+0.3 points vs Casablanca).
- Wins on healthcare (+3.1 points vs Casablanca).
Casablanca trade-offs
- Trails Wellington on quality of life by 2.6 points.
- Trails Wellington on healthcare by 3.1 points.
Wellington trade-offs
- Trails Casablanca on affordability by 1.9 points.
Remote work logistics
Time zones and language: Casablanca vs Wellington
Casablanca (Africa/Casablanca) and Wellington (Pacific/Auckland) sit 11 hours apart in standard time. A 9-to-5 in one overlaps the other's for 8 hours a day. Note: Wellington observes daylight saving while Casablanca doesn't, so the gap shifts by an hour part of the year.
Official: Arabic, Amazigh · English: Limited · Local language: Recommended
Business runs in French; the street mixes Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and French. English is growing among younger professionals but French is the practical expat language.
Official: English, Māori · English: Native-equivalent · Local language: Not needed
English-native, government city. Māori is co-official and used ceremonially; English is universal.
Who should choose which
The composite winner doesn't always match what matters to you. These four reader profiles weigh the axes differently — find the closest fit.
Single, salaried remote worker, 25-40, optimizing for runway + bandwidth.
Axes scored: affordability, remoteWork
Couple with school-age children, prioritizing safety, healthcare, and air quality.
Axes scored: qualityOfLife, healthcare
Fixed income, healthcare-sensitive, prefers low cost and stable infrastructure.
Axes scored: healthcare, qualityOfLife, affordability
Salary stretch matters most. Cuts everything else if it lowers the burn rate.
Axes scored: affordability
Profiles use simple axis averaging — for a deeper read with your own weights, use the per-axis breakdown above.
Tools that work for either choice
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How this page is calculated
Data sources
- Mundevo per-city dataset. Cost basket, rent index, safety, healthcare, air quality and median internet for both cities. Reference date: 2026-06-10 (Casablanca) and 2026-06-10 (Wellington).
- FX rate. 1 NZD = 5.3995 MAD, used to normalize cost baskets.
- CityScoreCalculator. Four axes (Affordability, Quality of life, Remote work, Healthcare) computed with explicit weights and explanations. See per-axis calculation strings rendered on this page.
- ComparisonService. Per-category cost deltas (housing, food, transport, utilities, leisure, healthcare) normalized to the origin currency.
Update cadence
Data as of . Last reviewed .
Calculation
For each of the four axes we compute an independent 0–10 score using the formulas printed beside each axis. The composite is the unweighted mean of the four axes. The overall winner is the city with the higher composite, unless the margin is under 0.05 points — in which case Casablanca is shown first as a tiebreaker to keep results stable.
Limitations
- Climate is not scored — we don't yet hold a maintained climate dataset, so weather-driven preferences are not modeled.
- Tax differences between cities in the same country are not modeled (Spain and Germany don't have material regional differences for this dataset).
- Indices are population-level. Personal cost varies with neighborhood, employer benefits and family status.
- Quality-of-life axis weights (safety 0.4 / healthcare 0.35 / air 0.25) are editorial defaults — readers with strong preferences should re-weight manually.
Frequently asked questions
Casablanca vs Wellington: which is cheaper?
Casablanca is roughly 93% cheaper than Wellington on the monthly cost basket (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). Casablanca has cost index 19 vs Wellington at 40 (both with New York = 100).
Which city has better quality of life?
Casablanca scores 5.9/10 on the Mundevo composite versus Wellington at 6.9/10. The composite weights safety (40%), healthcare (35%) and air quality (25%). Wellington wins overall by 1.0 points.
Is Casablanca or Wellington better for remote work?
Casablanca has 50 Mbps median internet vs Wellington at 120 Mbps. The four-axis decision rubric on this page (affordability, quality of life, remote work, healthcare) gives a per-dimension breakdown rather than a single answer.
Is Casablanca bigger than Wellington?
Casablanca is larger — about 3.4M people versus Wellington's 420k, roughly 8.1× the size.
Is Casablanca safer than Wellington?
Wellington scores higher on safety — 68 vs 46 / 100 on the Mundevo safety index (crime and personal-security signals).
Should I move to Casablanca or Wellington?
It depends on what you weight. Wellington wins the overall Mundevo composite by 1.0 points, but Casablanca is cheaper, and the two split differently across affordability, quality of life, remote work and healthcare. Use the per-axis table and the reader-profile section above to match the verdict to your own priorities.