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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Masterton is about 60% cheaper than Christchurch, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.94 NZ$17.28

$14.36 NZ$24.96

-30.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.8 NZ$116

$69.5 NZ$121

-3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 NZ$14.93

$9.47 NZ$16.47

-9.29%

Cappuccino

$3.30 NZ$5.74

$3.39 NZ$5.89

-2.65%

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

$2.07 NZ$3.60

$2.32 NZ$4.04

-10.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 NZ$2.05

$1.84 NZ$3.19

-35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 NZ$6.85

$6.80 NZ$11.82

-42.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 NZ$6.14

$6.96 NZ$12.09

-49.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 NZ$2.58

$1.78 NZ$3.09

-16.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 NZ$3.91

$1.85 NZ$3.22

21.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 NZ$1.86

$1.54 NZ$2.67

-30.52%

Eggs

$6.32 NZ$10.98

$5.99 NZ$10.41

5.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 NZ$15.27

$7.91 NZ$13.76

11.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 NZ$17.80

$9.82 NZ$17.07

4.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.78 NZ$27.44

$13.98 NZ$24.31

12.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 NZ$4.10

$2.62 NZ$4.56

-9.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 NZ$3.11

$2.54 NZ$4.41

-29.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 NZ$5.50

$2.83 NZ$4.92

11.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 NZ$8.16

$3.99 NZ$6.93

17.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 NZ$2.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 NZ$2.01

$1.44 NZ$2.51

-19.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 NZ$3.09

$2.33 NZ$4.05

-23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 NZ$0.87

$1.36 NZ$2.37

-63.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.84 NZ$34.50

$24.63 NZ$42.82

-19.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.37 NZ$19.77

$8.42 NZ$14.63

35.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 NZ$1.56

$3.60 NZ$6.25

-75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 NZ$2.07

$4.53 NZ$7.88

-73.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 NZ$4.10

$1.71 NZ$2.97

38.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 NZ$178

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 NZ$3.25

$2.56 NZ$4.45

-26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 NZ$3.15

$1.68 NZ$2.92

7.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.33 NZ$59.7

$28.95 NZ$50.3

18.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 NZ$3.02

$1.99 NZ$3.46

-12.56%

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

$23.4K NZ$40.7K

$26.1K NZ$45.4K

-10.37%

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

$25.5K NZ$44.3K

$25.1K NZ$43.7K

1.35%

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

$57.7 NZ$100

$160 NZ$278

-63.85%

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

$31.00 NZ$53.9

$23.28 NZ$40.47

33.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 NZ$94.9

$44.71 NZ$77.7

22.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.22 NZ$75.1

$24.13 NZ$41.95

79.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.33 NZ$14.48

$9.28 NZ$16.14

-10.24%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 NZ$16.86

$11.47 NZ$19.94

-15.43%

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

$1,069 NZ$1,859

$687 NZ$1,194

55.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K NZ$23.1K

$22.1K NZ$38.4K

-39.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 NZ$99.1

$60.9 NZ$106

-6.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 NZ$50.4

$39.82 NZ$69.2

-27.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 NZ$182

$102 NZ$177

2.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 NZ$247

$126 NZ$219

12.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 NZ$2,176

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 NZ$1,710

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 NZ$1,795

$1,609 NZ$2,797

-35.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,502 NZ$2,611

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,175 NZ$8,997

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,807 NZ$4,881

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,429 NZ$4,224

$2,664 NZ$4,632

-8.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.91

-8.80%

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

Last update for Masterton: September 13, 2026

Last update for Christchurch: 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 $67.0 in Masterton versus $70.0 in Christchurch. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $318 – 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

Masterton vs Christchurch: 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 $1,300 per month in Masterton and $3,213 in Christchurch. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,069 per month in Masterton and $687 in Christchurch. 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.