Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,511 in Masterton versus $1,437 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Masterton versus $2,353 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,381 in Masterton versus $3,269 in Beirut.

Living in Masterton is roughly 5% more expensive than Beirut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Masterton 13% above, Beirut 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.85 NZ$16.63

$10.76 LBP 963.0K

-8.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.9 NZ$153

$59.7 LBP 5.3M

52.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.20 NZ$15.54

$8.04 LBP 720.0K

14.43%

Cappuccino

$3.20 NZ$5.41

$3.27 LBP 292.4K

-2.14%

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

$2.13 NZ$3.59

$1.58 LBP 141.4K

34.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 NZ$2.78

$0.92 LBP 82.4K

79.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 NZ$6.29

$3.45 LBP 308.9K

7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 NZ$7.20

$5.06 LBP 453.3K

-15.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 NZ$2.50

$1.79 LBP 160.5K

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 NZ$2.74

$0.85 LBP 76.5K

90.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 NZ$1.96

$1.82 LBP 163.3K

-36.26%

Eggs

$6.29 NZ$10.63

$3.19 LBP 285.4K

97.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 NZ$11.91

$11.51 LBP 1.0M

-38.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 NZ$15.19

$9.60 LBP 859.6K

-6.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 NZ$20.98

$11.36 LBP 1.0M

9.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 NZ$3.11

$1.73 LBP 154.6K

6.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 NZ$3.18

$1.45 LBP 129.4K

29.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.51 NZ$4.24

$1.15 LBP 103.0K

118.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 NZ$5.76

$1.08 LBP 96.9K

215.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 NZ$2.44

$0.99 LBP 88.2K

45.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 NZ$1.97

$1.04 LBP 92.8K

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 NZ$3.13

$0.81 LBP 72.8K

128.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 NZ$1.53

$0.52 LBP 46.7K

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.45 NZ$34.52

$2.46 LBP 220.6K

731.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.94 NZ$20.16

$9.95 LBP 890.6K

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 NZ$3.80

$1.24 LBP 110.6K

81.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 NZ$4.53

$2.20 LBP 197.3K

21.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 NZ$4.01

$1.96 LBP 175.4K

20.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.2 NZ$107

$71.1 LBP 6.4M

-11.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 NZ$4.17

$4.94 LBP 442.2K

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 NZ$3.12

$1.28 LBP 114.5K

44.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.43 NZ$70.0

$19.91 LBP 1.8M

108.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 NZ$2.72

$0.90 LBP 80.9K

78.89%

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

$24.4K NZ$41.2K

$34.8K LBP 3.1B

-29.98%

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

$23.2K NZ$39.1K

$27.6K LBP 2.5B

-15.99%

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

$80.3 NZ$136

$218 LBP 19.5M

-63.08%

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

$32.14 NZ$54.3

$37.46 LBP 3.4M

-14.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.89 NZ$82.5

$37.30 LBP 3.3M

31.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.50 NZ$70.1

$68.4 LBP 6.1M

-39.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.87 NZ$14.98

$29.84 LBP 2.7M

-70.27%

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 NZ$13.80

$8.13 LBP 727.3K

0.62%

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

$407 NZ$687

$297 LBP 26.6M

36.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,895 NZ$8,264

$4,404 LBP 394.1M

11.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 NZ$116

$71.6 LBP 6.4M

-3.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.90 NZ$50.5

$44.80 LBP 4.0M

-33.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 NZ$177

$120 LBP 10.8M

-12.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 NZ$193

$95.5 LBP 8.6M

19.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 NZ$1,326

$809 LBP 72.4M

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 NZ$1,008

$370 LBP 33.1M

61.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 NZ$2,090

$2,023 LBP 181.0M

-38.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 NZ$1,854

$950 LBP 85.0M

15.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,685 LBP 329.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,978 LBP 177.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,518 NZ$4,252

$651 LBP 58.2M

287.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

11.16

-40.05%

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

Last update for Masterton: June 2, 2026

Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $785 in Masterton and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Masterton pays 287% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $91.0 in Masterton vs $60.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $236 per month, with Beirut 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

Masterton vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Masterton pays 287% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $785 in Masterton versus $809 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,511 per month in Masterton versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Beirut runs roughly 13% less than in Masterton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,437 in Beirut versus $1,511 in Masterton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Masterton. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Masterton and Beirut 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 Beirut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Masterton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.