Cost of Living Comparison Between Arecibo and Masterton Cost of Living Comparison Between Arecibo and Masterton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Arecibo versus $863 in Masterton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,008 in Arecibo versus $1,491 in Masterton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,728 in Arecibo versus $2,120 in Masterton.

Living in Arecibo is roughly 49% more expensive than in Masterton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arecibo 7% lower, Masterton 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.90 $11.90

$9.76 NZ$16.78

21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 $85.4

$66.4 NZ$114

28.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 $8.41

$9.00 NZ$15.48

-6.56%

Cappuccino

$3.59 $3.59

$3.40 NZ$5.84

5.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.01 NZ$3.46

-8.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.21 NZ$2.07

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 $2.99

$4.13 NZ$7.10

-27.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.47 NZ$5.96

45.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.45 NZ$2.49

22.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.24 NZ$3.85

49.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.10 NZ$1.89

82.73%

Eggs

$4.49 $4.49

$6.49 NZ$11.17

-30.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 $12.66

$8.98 NZ$15.44

40.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.64 $9.64

$10.04 NZ$17.27

-3.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 $13.38

$15.96 NZ$27.44

-16.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.34 NZ$4.02

113.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.81 NZ$3.11

46.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.13 NZ$5.38

56.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.66 NZ$8.02

0.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.56 NZ$2.68

141.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.12 NZ$1.93

246.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.74 NZ$2.99

101.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.54 NZ$0.93

205.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 $11.86

$20.79 NZ$35.74

-42.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 $15.40

$11.68 NZ$20.09

31.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.98 NZ$1.68

217.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 $4.02

$1.20 NZ$2.06

235.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 NZ$4.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.29 $40.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.91 NZ$3.29

27.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.85 NZ$3.18

-19.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$34.91 NZ$60.0

20.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.81 NZ$3.12

-49.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.6K $40.6K

$23.7K NZ$40.7K

71.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.0K NZ$44.7K

7.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$321 $321

$57.9 NZ$99.5

453.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$30.83 NZ$53.0

126.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$55.1 NZ$94.7

20.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.60 NZ$76.7

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.59 NZ$14.76

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 $10.37

$9.97 NZ$17.14

4.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$828 $828

$1,100 NZ$1,892

-24.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K $12.3K

$13.7K NZ$23.6K

-10.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 $57.2

$58.4 NZ$100

-1.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 $61.5

$28.82 NZ$49.54

113.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$105 NZ$180

5.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$145 NZ$250

-22.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 NZ$1,811

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,190 $1,190

$2,481 NZ$4,265

-52.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

5.39

21.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arecibo: September 6, 2026

Last update for Masterton: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Masterton pays 108% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Arecibo vs $66.0 in Masterton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $302 per month, with Masterton cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arecibo vs Masterton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Masterton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 108% lower in Masterton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Arecibo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Arecibo versus $863 in Masterton – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Masterton gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Arecibo and Masterton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Masterton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Arecibo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.