Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Masterton: $841 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Masterton, New Zealand
Lisbon, Portugal
Masterton
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$841
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Masterton and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Masterton and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $841 in Masterton versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Masterton $841
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,446 in Masterton versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Masterton $1,446
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,051 in Masterton versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Masterton $2,051
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Masterton costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Masterton is 38% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.26 NZ$16.44
$16.65 €14.91
-44.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0 NZ$115
$61.7 €55.3
5.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.77 NZ$15.58
$11.36 €10.17
-22.80%
Cappuccino
$3.35 NZ$5.95
$2.97 €2.66
12.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 NZ$3.46
$2.29 €2.05
-14.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 NZ$1.97
$1.74 €1.56
-36.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.96 NZ$7.04
$3.40 €3.05
16.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 NZ$6.04
$3.31 €2.96
2.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 NZ$2.59
$1.16 €1.04
25.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 NZ$3.77
$1.91 €1.71
11.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 NZ$1.95
$1.51 €1.35
-27.15%
Eggs
$6.49 NZ$11.51
$4.02 €3.60
61.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.59 NZ$15.25
$12.94 €11.59
-33.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 NZ$17.65
$7.77 €6.96
27.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.03 NZ$26.69
$17.76 €15.91
-15.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 NZ$3.93
$2.30 €2.06
-3.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NZ$3.21
$1.73 €1.55
4.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 NZ$5.40
$1.86 €1.66
63.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 NZ$7.95
$2.59 €2.32
72.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 NZ$2.69
$1.82 €1.63
-17.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 NZ$1.94
$1.97 €1.76
-44.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 NZ$3.04
$1.47 €1.32
16.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 NZ$0.93
$0.72 €0.65
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.90 NZ$35.33
$6.58 €5.90
202.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.48 NZ$20.39
$5.61 €5.02
104.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 NZ$1.56
$1.36 €1.22
-35.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 NZ$2.17
$2.14 €1.91
-42.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 NZ$3.97
$2.33 €2.09
-4.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.68 €40.01
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 NZ$3.36
$3.85 €3.45
-50.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NZ$3.20
$1.07 €0.96
68.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.98 NZ$60.3
$16.46 €14.74
106.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 NZ$3.08
$2.20 €1.97
-21.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K NZ$40.6K
$34.2K €30.6K
-33.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K NZ$42.4K
$38.7K €34.7K
-38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 NZ$99.5
$161 €144
-65.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.91 NZ$53.1
$18.41 €16.49
62.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 NZ$94.8
$32.74 €29.32
63.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.36 NZ$75.2
$44.55 €39.90
-4.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.22 NZ$14.59
$19.10 €17.10
-56.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.47 NZ$16.81
$9.60 €8.60
-1.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,038 NZ$1,844
$668 €598
55.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K NZ$23.6K
$17.6K €15.8K
-24.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 NZ$101
$102 €91.4
-44.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.47 NZ$50.6
$44.46 €39.82
-35.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 NZ$186
$98.5 €88.2
6.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 NZ$250
$124 €111
13.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,608 €1,440
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,190 €1,066
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 NZ$1,809
$2,812 €2,519
-63.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,013 €1,803
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,839 €7,021
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,576 €4,098
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masterton
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,339 NZ$4,152
$1,575 €1,411
48.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
3.85
40.00%

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

Last update for Masterton: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Masterton
$293
Lisbon
$272 7% $21
Eating Out
Masterton
$179
Lisbon
$243 35.2% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Masterton
$149
Lisbon
$166 11.5% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masterton
$139
Lisbon
$212 52.4% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Masterton
$61
Lisbon
$64 4% $2.4
Getting Around
Masterton
$20 *
Lisbon
$63 219% $43
Accommodation & Living
Masterton
- *
Lisbon
$1.2K

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Masterton pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65 in Masterton vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇿 Masterton
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
08:38 8:38 AM
19:38 7:38 PM
13 h behind Masterton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,800
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to NZD – New Zealand Dollar Converter

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Masterton Lisbon 19,540 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Masterton
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Masterton and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $841 in Masterton and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Masterton is about 62% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Masterton or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Masterton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Masterton or Lisbon?
All in, you’ll spend $841 per month in Masterton versus $2,210 in Lisbon – Masterton is about 62% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $841 in Masterton versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Masterton but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Masterton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Masterton and Lisbon?
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.
Is Masterton or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Masterton and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Masterton vs other spots: cost of living compared

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