Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Masterton Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Masterton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,725 in Zagreb versus $1,485 in Masterton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,556 in Zagreb versus $2,448 in Masterton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,388 in Zagreb versus $3,411 in Masterton.

Living in Zagreb is roughly 16% more expensive than Masterton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb 29% above, Masterton 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80 €10.10
$9.82 NZ$16.79
20.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6 €59.6
$90.0 NZ$154
-22.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.44 €8.08
$9.28 NZ$15.86
1.72%
Cappuccino
$2.44 €2.08
$3.15 NZ$5.38
-22.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.56
$2.08 NZ$3.55
43.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.03
$1.66 NZ$2.83
42.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.73 €3.19
$3.71 NZ$6.34
0.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 €4.04
$4.31 NZ$7.38
9.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 €1.11
$1.49 NZ$2.54
-12.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.59
$1.69 NZ$2.88
10.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.28
$1.16 NZ$1.99
130.17%
Eggs
$3.74 €3.20
$6.00 NZ$10.26
-37.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.84 €9.28
$7.33 NZ$12.54
47.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 €8.23
$9.43 NZ$16.12
1.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.56 €10.75
$12.14 NZ$20.76
3.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$1.86 NZ$3.18
-0.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.86 NZ$3.18
-6.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.69
$2.56 NZ$4.38
-22.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 €2.55
$3.33 NZ$5.70
-10.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.45 NZ$2.48
-5.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.18 NZ$2.01
24.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 €1.07
$1.77 NZ$3.03
-29.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.12
$0.90 NZ$1.55
45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 €5.01
$20.04 NZ$34.26
-70.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 €6.91
$10.74 NZ$18.37
-24.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.57
$2.32 NZ$3.97
-20.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.94
$2.59 NZ$4.43
-12.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 €0.55
$2.36 NZ$4.03
-72.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.5 €49.19
$64.0 NZ$109
-10.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 €2.03
$2.37 NZ$4.06
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.88
$1.78 NZ$3.04
-42.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.46 €8.95
$40.81 NZ$69.8
-74.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 €1.51
$1.68 NZ$2.87
5.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.4K
$24.1K NZ$41.3K
42.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K €22.2K
$23.4K NZ$40.0K
11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 €178
$79.5 NZ$136
161.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.10 €17.21
$31.57 NZ$54.0
-36.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.57 €27.88
$48.75 NZ$83.4
-33.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.99 €42.79
$40.52 NZ$69.3
23.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.35 €12.28
$8.89 NZ$15.21
61.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.74
$8.13 NZ$13.89
11.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$503 €431
$397 NZ$678
26.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K €11.1K
$4,896 NZ$8,371
165.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €86.4
$70.2 NZ$120
43.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.78 €34.90
$30.07 NZ$51.4
35.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 €82.0
$104 NZ$178
-8.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €100
$113 NZ$194
3.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$863 €739
$785 NZ$1,342
9.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 €570
$612 NZ$1,046
8.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 €1,295
$1,269 NZ$2,169
19.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 €908
$1,072 NZ$1,833
-1.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,525 €4,730
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,446 €2,950
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,928 €1,651
$2,456 NZ$4,200
-21.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.72
6.69
-44.39%

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

Last update for Zagreb: April 27, 2026

Last update for Masterton: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $863 in Zagreb and $785 in Masterton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Masterton pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Zagreb vs $90.0 in Masterton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $276 per month, with Zagreb 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
Zagreb vs Masterton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masterton cheaper than Zagreb?
Masterton is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zagreb or Masterton?
On paper, Masterton earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Zagreb and Masterton?
Rent for a central apartment: $863 in Zagreb versus $785 in Masterton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Zagreb or Masterton?
Dining out is cheaper in Masterton – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $70.0 in Zagreb. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Zagreb vs Masterton?
All in, you'll spend $1,725 per month in Zagreb versus $1,485 in Masterton – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Zagreb or Masterton?
At $1,485 in Masterton versus $1,725 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 Zagreb or Masterton 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, Zagreb or Masterton?
Safety-wise, Zagreb and Masterton 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 16% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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