Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Masterton Cost of Living Comparison Between Christchurch and Masterton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,142 per month in Christchurch vs $867 in Masterton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,121 per month in Christchurch vs $1,478 in Masterton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,101 per month in Christchurch vs $2,089 in Masterton, rent included.

Christchurch costs about 147% more than Masterton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Christchurch sits 57% above the global median, while Masterton is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.36 NZ$25.10

$9.94 NZ$17.38

44.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 NZ$122

$66.8 NZ$117

4.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 NZ$16.56

$8.59 NZ$15.01

10.24%

Cappuccino

$3.39 NZ$5.93

$3.30 NZ$5.77

2.73%

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

$2.32 NZ$4.06

$2.07 NZ$3.62

12.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 NZ$3.21

$1.18 NZ$2.06

55.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 NZ$11.88

$3.94 NZ$6.89

72.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 NZ$12.16

$3.53 NZ$6.18

97.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 NZ$3.11

$1.48 NZ$2.59

20.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 NZ$3.23

$2.25 NZ$3.93

-17.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 NZ$2.69

$1.07 NZ$1.87

43.93%

Eggs

$5.99 NZ$10.46

$6.32 NZ$11.04

-5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 NZ$13.83

$8.78 NZ$15.36

-9.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.82 NZ$17.16

$10.24 NZ$17.90

-4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 NZ$24.45

$15.78 NZ$27.59

-11.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 NZ$4.59

$2.36 NZ$4.12

11.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 NZ$4.43

$1.79 NZ$3.12

41.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 NZ$4.95

$3.16 NZ$5.53

-10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 NZ$6.97

$4.70 NZ$8.21

-15.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 NZ$2.71

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 NZ$2.52

$1.16 NZ$2.02

24.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 NZ$4.08

$1.78 NZ$3.11

30.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 NZ$2.38

$0.50 NZ$0.87

172.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.63 NZ$43.05

$19.84 NZ$34.69

24.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.42 NZ$14.71

$11.37 NZ$19.87

-25.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 NZ$6.29

$0.90 NZ$1.57

300.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 NZ$7.93

$1.19 NZ$2.08

280.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 NZ$2.98

$2.36 NZ$4.12

-27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 NZ$179

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 NZ$4.47

$1.87 NZ$3.26

36.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 NZ$2.93

$1.81 NZ$3.16

-7.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.95 NZ$50.6

$34.33 NZ$60.0

-15.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 NZ$3.48

$1.74 NZ$3.04

14.37%

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

$26.1K NZ$45.7K

$23.4K NZ$41.0K

11.57%

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

$25.1K NZ$43.9K

$25.5K NZ$44.5K

-1.34%

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

$160 NZ$279

$57.7 NZ$101

176.63%

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

$23.28 NZ$40.70

$31.00 NZ$54.2

-24.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.71 NZ$78.2

$54.6 NZ$95.4

-18.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.13 NZ$42.18

$43.22 NZ$75.6

-44.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.28 NZ$16.23

$8.33 NZ$14.56

11.40%

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 NZ$20.05

$9.70 NZ$16.96

18.25%

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

$687 NZ$1,201

$1,069 NZ$1,869

-35.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K NZ$38.6K

$13.3K NZ$23.3K

65.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 NZ$106

$57.0 NZ$99.6

6.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.82 NZ$69.6

$28.98 NZ$50.7

37.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 NZ$178

$104 NZ$183

-2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 NZ$221

$142 NZ$248

-11.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 NZ$2,188

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 NZ$1,720

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 NZ$2,813

$1,032 NZ$1,804

55.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,502 NZ$2,625

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,175 NZ$9,047

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,807 NZ$4,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,664 NZ$4,658

$2,429 NZ$4,247

9.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.91

5.39

9.65%

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

Last update for Christchurch: September 13, 2026

Last update for Masterton: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 10% higher in Christchurch, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Christchurch versus $67.0 in Masterton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $300 – making Masterton the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Christchurch vs Masterton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Christchurch costs about 147% more than Masterton, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,213 per month in Christchurch and $1,300 in Masterton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,142 in Christchurch and $867 in Masterton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $687 per month in Christchurch and $1,069 in Masterton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masterton, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Christchurch at $2,142. In Masterton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Christchurch it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Masterton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Masterton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Christchurch makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.