Cost of Living Comparison Between Piscataway, NJ and Maseru Cost of Living Comparison Between Piscataway, NJ and Maseru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,100 in Piscataway, NJ versus $670 in Maseru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,469 in Piscataway, NJ versus $1,115 in Maseru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,838 in Piscataway, NJ versus $1,561 in Maseru.

Living in Piscataway, NJ is roughly 362% more expensive than in Maseru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Piscataway, NJ is 132% above, Maseru is 50% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.19 $15.19

$11.12 LSL 182

36.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$24.74 LSL 406

219.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$11.04 LSL 181

11.59%

Cappuccino

$4.39 $4.39

$1.80 LSL 29.47

143.89%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$1.27 LSL 20.90

98.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.80 LSL 13.07

86.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$1.99 LSL 32.62

206.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$2.21 LSL 36.23

265.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.99 LSL 16.16

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$0.76 LSL 12.47

397.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.20 LSL 36.09

48.64%

Eggs

$3.47 $3.47

$1.35 LSL 22.18

157.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$6.93 LSL 114

60.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.89 $9.89

$5.64 LSL 92.6

75.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.89 $13.89

$5.54 LSL 90.8

150.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.61 LSL 26.41

128.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.05 LSL 33.64

-28.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.47 LSL 40.58

35.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.21 LSL 36.30

100.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.42 LSL 23.36

42.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.47 LSL 24.12

46.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.32 LSL 21.61

50.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.85 LSL 13.90

81.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.84 $14.84

$4.89 LSL 80.3

203.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$7.08 LSL 116

113.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.01 LSL 16.62

156.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.37 LSL 22.54

113.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.71 LSL 11.60

185.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.38 $30.38

$27.72 LSL 455

9.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$0.64 LSL 10.49

362.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.63 LSL 10.30

253.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$10.12 LSL 166

310.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.14 LSL 18.77

-17.54%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$19.9K LSL 325.9K

25.11%

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

$19.7K $19.7K

$15.3K LSL 251.2K

28.50%

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

$159 $159

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

$56.0 $56.0

$13.53 LSL 222

313.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$31.63 LSL 519

109.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.75 $43.75

$21.63 LSL 355

102.27%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

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

$1,885 $1,885

$47.85 LSL 785

3838.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K $14.2K

$1,104 LSL 18.1K

1183.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.11 $40.11

$42.18 LSL 692

-4.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.09 $40.09

$38.98 LSL 639

2.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 $79.3

$97.7 LSL 1,602

-18.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 $96.3

$138 LSL 2,266

-30.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 $2,094

$143 LSL 2,338

1368.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 $2,022

$71.6 LSL 1,174

2725.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,357 $3,357

$402 LSL 6,586

735.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,257 $3,257

$159 LSL 2,603

1952.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$391 LSL 6,415

590.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,088 $2,088

$533 LSL 8,733

292.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,601 $4,601

$631 LSL 10.3K

629.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

8.5

-37.29%

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

Last update for Piscataway, NJ: July 11, 2026

Last update for Maseru: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,094 in Piscataway, NJ and $143 in Maseru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Piscataway, NJ pays 629% 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: $79.0 in Piscataway, NJ vs $25.00 in Maseru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $183 per month, with Maseru cheaper across the board.

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

Piscataway, NJ vs Maseru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Piscataway, NJ and Maseru differ by about 362% in total monthly costs ($3,100 vs $670 including rent). Maseru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 629% higher in Piscataway, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,094 in Piscataway, NJ versus $143 in Maseru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Maseru – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $79.0 in Piscataway, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,100 per month in Piscataway, NJ versus $670 in Maseru – a 362% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $670 in Maseru versus $3,100 in Piscataway, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maseru but tight or insufficient in Piscataway, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Maseru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Piscataway, NJ and Maseru 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 Maseru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 362% less than in Piscataway, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.