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: $1,841 in Zagreb versus $867 in Masterton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,690 in Zagreb versus $1,478 in Masterton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,539 in Zagreb versus $2,089 in Masterton.

Living in Zagreb is roughly 112% more expensive than in Masterton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zagreb is 35% above, Masterton is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87 €12.02
$9.94 NZ$17.28
39.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.0 €52.0
$66.8 NZ$116
-10.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 €6.82
$8.59 NZ$14.93
-8.38%
Cappuccino
$2.55 €2.21
$3.30 NZ$5.74
-22.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 €2.73
$2.07 NZ$3.60
52.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 €2.24
$1.18 NZ$2.05
118.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €2.94
$3.94 NZ$6.85
-13.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 €4.10
$3.53 NZ$6.14
34.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.14
$1.48 NZ$2.58
-11.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.45
$2.25 NZ$3.91
-25.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 €2.73
$1.07 NZ$1.86
194.39%
Eggs
$4.15 €3.60
$6.32 NZ$10.98
-34.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.23 €14.06
$8.78 NZ$15.27
84.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.41 €10.75
$10.24 NZ$17.80
21.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.77 €15.40
$15.78 NZ$27.44
12.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €1.99
$2.36 NZ$4.10
-2.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 €1.60
$1.79 NZ$3.11
3.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 €1.83
$3.16 NZ$5.50
-33.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 €2.41
$4.70 NZ$8.16
-40.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 €1.27
$1.55 NZ$2.69
-5.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €0.97
$1.16 NZ$2.01
-3.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.14
$1.78 NZ$3.09
-26.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$0.50 NZ$0.87
166.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73 €4.97
$19.84 NZ$34.50
-71.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.20 €7.97
$11.37 NZ$19.77
-19.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 €1.42
$0.90 NZ$1.56
81.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 €2.08
$1.19 NZ$2.07
101.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 €0.54
$2.36 NZ$4.10
-73.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.6 €49.06
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 €2.05
$1.87 NZ$3.25
26.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 €1.28
$1.81 NZ$3.15
-18.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.41 €9.88
$34.33 NZ$59.7
-66.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 €1.63
$1.74 NZ$3.02
8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K €23.7K
$23.4K NZ$40.7K
16.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K €23.7K
$25.5K NZ$44.3K
7.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 €186
$57.7 NZ$100
272.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.97 €19.91
$31.00 NZ$53.9
-25.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.40 €39.34
$54.6 NZ$94.9
-16.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.8 €47.52
$43.22 NZ$75.1
26.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.37 €16.79
$8.33 NZ$14.48
132.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.39 €8.14
$9.70 NZ$16.86
-3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$541 €469
$1,069 NZ$1,859
-49.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K €9,331
$13.3K NZ$23.1K
-19.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €95.2
$57.0 NZ$99.1
92.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.00 €39.87
$28.98 NZ$50.4
58.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €86.6
$104 NZ$182
-4.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €96.7
$142 NZ$247
-21.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 €771
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 €593
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,437 €1,246
$1,032 NZ$1,795
39.25%
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
Zagreb
Masterton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,015 €1,747
$2,429 NZ$4,224
-17.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
5.39
-39.70%

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

Last update for Zagreb: September 13, 2026

Last update for Masterton: 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: $60.0 in Zagreb vs $67.0 in Masterton. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $300, 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
Zagreb vs Masterton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masterton cheaper than Zagreb?
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: Zagreb or Masterton?
On paper, salaries run 21% 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.
How do food prices compare in Zagreb and in Masterton?
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 Zagreb and in Masterton?
All in, you'll spend $1,841 per month in Zagreb versus $867 in Masterton – 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 Zagreb or in Masterton?
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 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 112% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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