Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $867 per month in Masterton vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,478 per month in Masterton vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,089 per month in Masterton vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Masterton is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Masterton and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Masterton 37% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.94 NZ$17.38

$2.08 ฿69.5

377.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.8 NZ$117

$19.61 ฿655

240.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 NZ$15.01

$5.67 ฿189

51.50%

Cappuccino

$3.30 NZ$5.77

$1.81 ฿60.3

82.32%

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

$2.07 NZ$3.62

$0.77 ฿25.65

168.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 NZ$2.06

$0.35 ฿11.53

237.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 NZ$6.89

$2.21 ฿73.9

78.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 NZ$6.18

$3.79 ฿127

-6.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 NZ$2.59

$2.05 ฿68.4

-27.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 NZ$3.93

$1.51 ฿50.6

49.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 NZ$1.87

$1.40 ฿46.69

-23.57%

Eggs

$6.32 NZ$11.04

$2.26 ฿75.4

179.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 NZ$15.36

$16.19 ฿540

-45.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 NZ$17.90

$2.90 ฿96.7

253.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.78 NZ$27.59

$9.42 ฿314

67.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 NZ$4.12

$2.68 ฿89.4

-11.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 NZ$3.12

$1.09 ฿36.37

64.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 NZ$5.53

$1.62 ฿54.0

95.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 NZ$8.21

$1.46 ฿48.74

221.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 NZ$2.71

$1.28 ฿42.65

21.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 NZ$2.02

$1.06 ฿35.31

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 NZ$3.11

$0.72 ฿23.94

147.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 NZ$0.87

$0.53 ฿17.56

-5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.84 NZ$34.69

$4.23 ฿141

369.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.37 NZ$19.87

$18.29 ฿611

-37.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 NZ$1.57

$1.63 ฿54.4

-44.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 NZ$2.08

$2.90 ฿96.8

-58.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 NZ$4.12

$0.88 ฿29.32

168.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 NZ$3.26

$1.17 ฿39.14

59.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 NZ$3.16

$0.58 ฿19.30

212.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.33 NZ$60.0

$2.39 ฿79.6

1336.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 NZ$3.04

$1.45 ฿48.41

20.00%

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

$23.4K NZ$41.0K

$21.0K ฿701.4K

11.49%

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

$25.5K NZ$44.5K

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-3.65%

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

$57.7 NZ$101

$63.7 ฿2,125

-9.30%

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

$31.00 NZ$54.2

$12.89 ฿430

140.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 NZ$95.4

$20.52 ฿685

166.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.22 NZ$75.6

$39.02 ฿1,302

10.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.33 NZ$14.56

$3.92 ฿131

112.50%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 NZ$16.96

$6.58 ฿220

47.42%

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

$1,069 NZ$1,869

$784 ฿26.2K

36.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K NZ$23.3K

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-9.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 NZ$99.6

$55.1 ฿1,840

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 NZ$50.7

$24.74 ฿826

17.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 NZ$183

$94.1 ฿3,142

10.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 NZ$248

$74.0 ฿2,469

92.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 NZ$1,804

$891 ฿29.8K

15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,429 NZ$4,247

$602 ฿20.1K

303.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.57

-3.23%

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

Last update for Masterton: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 304% higher in Masterton, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Masterton versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $241 – making Chiang Mai 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

Masterton vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Masterton, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Masterton and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Masterton and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masterton, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Masterton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masterton costs $867 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.