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: $1,684 in Zagreb versus $1,510 in Masterton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,538 in Zagreb versus $2,430 in Masterton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,393 in Zagreb versus $3,350 in Masterton.

Living in Zagreb is roughly 12% more expensive than in Masterton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb 27% above, Masterton 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.44 €9.98
$10.01 NZ$17.26
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 €60.3
$89.1 NZ$154
-22.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 €7.91
$8.82 NZ$15.20
2.83%
Cappuccino
$2.49 €2.17
$3.25 NZ$5.60
-23.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 €2.76
$2.07 NZ$3.56
53.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 €2.16
$1.57 NZ$2.70
57.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.76 €3.28
$3.60 NZ$6.20
4.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 €3.92
$4.10 NZ$7.06
9.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.12
$1.49 NZ$2.57
-13.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 €1.63
$1.62 NZ$2.79
15.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.64 €2.30
$1.17 NZ$2.01
125.64%
Eggs
$3.75 €3.27
$6.31 NZ$10.88
-40.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.91 €9.51
$7.27 NZ$12.53
50.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.52 €8.30
$9.21 NZ$15.87
3.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 €11.19
$12.60 NZ$21.71
1.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 €1.57
$1.78 NZ$3.07
1.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.86 NZ$3.21
-7.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.56 NZ$4.42
-23.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 €2.62
$3.42 NZ$5.90
-12.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 €1.21
$1.44 NZ$2.47
-3.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 €1.24
$1.21 NZ$2.08
17.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.10
$1.84 NZ$3.18
-31.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.11
$0.91 NZ$1.57
40.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 €5.13
$20.66 NZ$35.60
-71.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.03 €7.87
$10.99 NZ$18.93
-17.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 €1.62
$2.33 NZ$4.01
-20.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 €1.92
$2.62 NZ$4.52
-16.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 €0.51
$2.45 NZ$4.22
-76.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.1 €50.6
$65.2 NZ$112
-10.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 €2.00
$2.36 NZ$4.07
-2.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 €0.88
$1.78 NZ$3.06
-43.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.18 €8.88
$41.16 NZ$70.9
-75.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.63 NZ$2.81
5.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K €30.4K
$24.1K NZ$41.5K
44.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K €22.6K
$22.8K NZ$39.2K
13.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 €181
$80.0 NZ$138
159.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.68 €17.16
$32.22 NZ$55.5
-38.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.11 €27.99
$47.35 NZ$81.6
-32.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.55 €43.20
$39.93 NZ$68.8
24.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18 €12.36
$8.97 NZ$15.45
58.08%
Cinema Ticket
$8.93 €7.78
$8.24 NZ$14.20
8.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$504 €439
$397 NZ$684
27.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K €11.4K
$4,899 NZ$8,442
167.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.5 €85.9
$70.4 NZ$121
39.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.19 €35.04
$29.77 NZ$51.3
35.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 €83.0
$103 NZ$178
-7.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 €101
$116 NZ$199
0.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 €767
$793 NZ$1,367
10.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 €582
$597 NZ$1,028
11.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 €1,306
$1,244 NZ$2,143
20.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 €943
$1,100 NZ$1,895
-1.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,957 €4,321
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,250 €2,833
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,963 €1,712
$2,400 NZ$4,135
-18.18%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Masterton: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Zagreb and $793 in Masterton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Masterton pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Zagreb vs $89.0 in Masterton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $278 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zagreb or Masterton?
On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Masterton. 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: $880 in Zagreb versus $793 in Masterton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Zagreb or in Masterton?
Dining out is cheaper in Masterton – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $69.0 in Zagreb. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Zagreb and in Masterton?
All in, you'll spend $1,684 per month in Zagreb versus $1,510 in Masterton – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Zagreb or in Masterton?
At $1,510 in Masterton versus $1,684 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 12% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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