Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Masterton and Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,529 in Masterton versus $2,277 in Wellington.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,449 in Masterton versus $3,544 in Wellington.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,368 in Masterton versus $4,812 in Wellington.

Living in Masterton costs roughly 33% less than in Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Masterton 14% above, Wellington 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 NZ$17.21

$17.28 NZ$29.56

-41.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.1 NZ$158

$85.1 NZ$146

8.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 NZ$15.39

$9.91 NZ$16.95

-9.18%

Cappuccino

$3.23 NZ$5.53

$3.75 NZ$6.42

-13.87%

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

$2.13 NZ$3.64

$2.61 NZ$4.46

-18.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 NZ$2.84

$2.18 NZ$3.74

-23.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 NZ$6.12

$7.17 NZ$12.27

-50.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 NZ$7.07

$7.37 NZ$12.61

-43.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 NZ$2.56

$1.80 NZ$3.09

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 NZ$2.75

$2.02 NZ$3.46

-20.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 NZ$2.07

$1.91 NZ$3.27

-36.65%

Eggs

$6.12 NZ$10.47

$6.98 NZ$11.95

-12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 NZ$12.39

$7.95 NZ$13.60

-8.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.93 NZ$15.27

$11.26 NZ$19.27

-20.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.43 NZ$21.27

$12.87 NZ$22.02

-3.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 NZ$3.01

$3.05 NZ$5.21

-42.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 NZ$3.19

$2.36 NZ$4.03

-21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 NZ$4.21

$3.10 NZ$5.31

-20.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 NZ$5.86

$4.81 NZ$8.23

-28.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 NZ$2.40

$2.06 NZ$3.53

-32.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 NZ$2.07

$1.57 NZ$2.68

-22.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 NZ$3.03

$2.25 NZ$3.85

-21.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 NZ$1.52

$1.31 NZ$2.23

-32.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.72 NZ$35.45

$26.06 NZ$44.59

-20.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.76 NZ$18.42

$10.75 NZ$18.38

0.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 NZ$3.86

$3.65 NZ$6.25

-38.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 NZ$4.68

$3.28 NZ$5.62

-16.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 NZ$4.22

$2.69 NZ$4.61

-8.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.8 NZ$108

$106 NZ$181

-40.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 NZ$4.22

$2.76 NZ$4.72

-10.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 NZ$3.18

$1.84 NZ$3.15

1.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.59 NZ$71.2

$60.8 NZ$104

-31.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 NZ$2.79

$1.65 NZ$2.82

-1.21%

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

$24.5K NZ$41.9K

$33.3K NZ$57.0K

-26.45%

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

$22.9K NZ$39.2K

$25.5K NZ$43.7K

-10.15%

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

$81.2 NZ$139

$160 NZ$274

-49.25%

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

$32.37 NZ$55.4

$33.45 NZ$57.2

-3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.52 NZ$81.3

$51.5 NZ$88.1

-7.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.20 NZ$70.5

$35.81 NZ$61.3

15.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.82 NZ$15.10

$20.66 NZ$35.35

-57.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.32 NZ$14.23

$11.85 NZ$20.27

-29.79%

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

$397 NZ$679

$792 NZ$1,356

-49.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,782 NZ$8,181

$13.0K NZ$22.2K

-63.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 NZ$120

$73.0 NZ$125

-3.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 NZ$51.6

$53.8 NZ$92.0

-43.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 NZ$178

$119 NZ$203

-12.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 NZ$194

$142 NZ$243

-20.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 NZ$1,359

$1,303 NZ$2,229

-39.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 NZ$1,034

$1,094 NZ$1,872

-44.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 NZ$2,111

$2,101 NZ$3,594

-41.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 NZ$1,854

$1,902 NZ$3,255

-43.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,864 NZ$11.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,720 NZ$6,364

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,458 NZ$4,205

$2,800 NZ$4,790

-12.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.94

-3.60%

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

Last update for Masterton: July 12, 2026

Last update for Wellington: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Masterton and $1,303 in Wellington. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wellington pays 14% 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: $92.0 in Masterton vs $85.0 in Wellington. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $339, with Masterton cheaper for home cooking.

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 Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Masterton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Wellington. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $794 in Masterton versus $1,303 in Wellington. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Masterton – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $85.0 in Wellington. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,529 per month in Masterton versus $2,277 in Wellington – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,529 in Masterton versus $2,277 in Wellington, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Masterton but tight or insufficient in Wellington. The gap between the two cities makes Masterton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Masterton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wellington, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Masterton and Wellington 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 Masterton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Wellington. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.