🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Masterton versus $1,841 in Zagreb.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,478 in Masterton versus $2,690 in Zagreb.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,089 in Masterton versus $3,539 in Zagreb.
🌍Living in Masterton costs roughly 53% less than in Zagreb, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Masterton is 37% below, Zagreb is 35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94NZ$17.28
$13.87€12.02
-28.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8NZ$116
$60.0€52.0
11.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59NZ$14.93
$7.87€6.82
9.15%
Cappuccino
$3.30NZ$5.74
$2.55€2.21
29.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07NZ$3.60
$3.16€2.73
-34.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18NZ$2.05
$2.58€2.24
-54.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94NZ$6.85
$3.39€2.94
16.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53NZ$6.14
$4.74€4.10
-25.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48NZ$2.58
$1.31€1.14
12.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25NZ$3.91
$1.68€1.45
33.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07NZ$1.86
$3.15€2.73
-66.03%
Eggs
$6.32NZ$10.98
$4.15€3.60
52.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.78NZ$15.27
$16.23€14.06
-45.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24NZ$17.80
$12.41€10.75
-17.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.78NZ$27.44
$17.77€15.40
-11.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36NZ$4.10
$2.30€1.99
2.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79NZ$3.11
$1.85€1.60
-3.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.16NZ$5.50
$2.11€1.83
49.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70NZ$8.16
$2.78€2.41
69.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55NZ$2.69
$1.46€1.27
6.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16NZ$2.01
$1.12€0.97
3.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78NZ$3.09
$1.31€1.14
35.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50NZ$0.87
$1.33€1.15
-62.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.84NZ$34.50
$5.73€4.97
246.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.37NZ$19.77
$9.20€7.97
23.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90NZ$1.56
$1.63€1.42
-44.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19NZ$2.07
$2.40€2.08
-50.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36NZ$4.10
$0.62€0.54
280.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$56.6€49.06
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87NZ$3.25
$2.37€2.05
-21.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81NZ$3.15
$1.47€1.28
23.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.33NZ$59.7
$11.41€9.88
200.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74NZ$3.02
$1.88€1.63
-7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KNZ$40.7K
$27.4K€23.7K
-14.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KNZ$44.3K
$27.3K€23.7K
-6.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.7NZ$100
$215€186
-73.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.00NZ$53.9
$22.97€19.91
34.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6NZ$94.9
$45.40€39.34
20.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.22NZ$75.1
$54.8€47.52
-21.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.33NZ$14.48
$19.37€16.79
-57.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.70NZ$16.86
$9.39€8.14
3.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,069NZ$1,859
$541€469
97.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KNZ$23.1K
$10.8K€9,331
23.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0NZ$99.1
$110€95.2
-48.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98NZ$50.4
$46.00€39.87
-37.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104NZ$182
$100.0€86.6
4.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NZ$247
$112€96.7
27.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$889€771
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$684€593
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,032NZ$1,795
$1,437€1,246
-28.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048€909
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,191€4,499
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,555€3,081
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Masterton
Zagreb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,429NZ$4,224
$2,015€1,747
20.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.39
3.25
65.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Masterton: September 13, 2026
Last update for Zagreb: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Masterton pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Masterton vs $60.0 in Zagreb. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $327, 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 Zagreb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zagreb cheaper than Masterton?
Masterton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Masterton or Zagreb?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Masterton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Masterton and in Zagreb?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Zagreb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Masterton and in Zagreb?
All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Masterton versus $1,841 in Zagreb – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Masterton or in Zagreb?
At $867 in Masterton versus $1,841 in Zagreb, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Masterton but tight or insufficient in Zagreb. The gap between the two cities makes Masterton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Masterton or Zagreb more family-friendly?
For families, Masterton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zagreb, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Masterton or Zagreb?
Safety-wise, Masterton and Zagreb are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Masterton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.