Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alameda, CA and Waltham, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Alameda, CA: $4,107 a month against $4,278 in Waltham, MA, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Waltham, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

200

Cost of Living Index in Alameda, CA
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Alameda, CA Living Index
205

Cost of Living Index in Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA Living Index

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Alameda, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,107

/mo nomad

Waltham, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,278

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alameda, CA and in Waltham, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alameda, CA and in Waltham, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,107 per month in Alameda, CA vs $4,278 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

Alameda, CA $4,107
Waltham, MA $4,278

A couple spends around $6,120 per month in Alameda, CA vs $6,563 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

Alameda, CA $6,120
Waltham, MA $6,563

A family of three spends $8,134 per month in Alameda, CA vs $8,848 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

Alameda, CA $8,134
Waltham, MA $8,848

Alameda, CA is about 4% cheaper than Waltham, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Alameda, CA and Waltham, MA sit above the global median – Alameda, CA by 202%, Waltham, MA by 214%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.92 $26.92

$24.85 $24.85

8.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$96.5 $96.5

4.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.94 $14.94

$12.02 $12.02

24.29%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.17 $5.17

11.99%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$2.95 $2.95

3.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.20 $2.20

19.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.08 $9.08

$5.04 $5.04

80.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.98 $9.98

$8.06 $8.06

23.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.04 $1.04

15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.92 $3.92

-8.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.37 $5.37

-7.26%

Eggs

$5.11 $5.11

$4.89 $4.89

4.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$11.07 $11.07

-0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$14.16 $14.16

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.36 $22.36

$17.36 $17.36

28.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$6.66 $6.66

-6.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.73 $1.73

58.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.48 $5.48

-19.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$5.65 $5.65

19.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$4.52 $4.52

-35.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.02 $4.02

-17.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.98 $2.98

-47.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.94 $2.94

-10.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.30 $13.30

-10.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.48 $14.48

$13.60 $13.60

6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.11 $2.11

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.12 $4.12

-13.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.4 $99.4

$58.8 $58.8

68.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.66 $2.66

54.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.72 $1.72

16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.11 $15.11

$28.47 $28.47

-46.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.05 $1.05

43.81%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$27.0K $27.0K

29.87%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.41%

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

$134 $134

$324 $324

-58.63%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$54.6 $54.6

-2.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$86.2 $86.2

-12.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$148 $148

$252 $252

-41.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.56 $31.56

Cinema Ticket

$17.06 $17.06

$14.65 $14.65

16.45%

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

$2,462 $2,462

$1,806 $1,806

36.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K $19.7K

$30.3K $30.3K

-34.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.07 $43.07

$56.9 $56.9

-24.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 $36.79

$37.57 $37.57

-2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.4 $81.4

$81.3 $81.3

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$98.8 $98.8

42.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,262 $2,262

$2,497 $2,497

-9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,522 $2,522

$2,525 $2,525

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,580 $4,580

$5,433 $5,433

-15.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,439 $4,439

$5,088 $5,088

-12.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,362 $7,362

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,445 $5,445

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,610 $6,610

$5,449 $5,449

21.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.64

-0.15%

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

Last update for Alameda, CA: October 27, 2026

Last update for Waltham, MA: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Alameda, CA

$2.5K 61.4%

Waltham, MA

$2.5K 59% 0.1% $3.1

Groceries & Markets

Alameda, CA

$461 11.2%

Waltham, MA

$455 10.6% 1.3% $6

Eating Out

Alameda, CA

$418 10.2%

Waltham, MA

$359 8.4% 14.1% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Alameda, CA

$263 6.4%

Waltham, MA

$464 10.9% 76.6% $202

Sport & Entertainment

Alameda, CA

$182 4.4%

Waltham, MA

$281 6.6% 54.3% $99

Clothing & Footwear

Alameda, CA

$136 3.3%

Waltham, MA

$124 2.9% 9.3% $13

Getting Around

Alameda, CA

$125 3.1%

Waltham, MA

$70 * 1.6% 44% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,262 in Alameda, CA versus $2,497 in Waltham, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Alameda, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Alameda, CA versus $96 in Waltham, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $455 – making Waltham, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Alameda, CA

🇺🇸 Waltham, MA

🕒 Local time

20:28 8:28 PM

23:28 11:28 PM

3 h ahead of Alameda, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

77,624

60,636

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Alameda, CA Waltham, MA 4,310 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Alameda, CA
Waltham, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Alameda, CA vs Waltham, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,107 in Alameda, CA, $4,278 in Waltham, MA – Alameda, CA comes out roughly 4% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,161 per month in Alameda, CA and $6,418 in Waltham, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,262 in Alameda, CA and $2,497 in Waltham, MA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,107 in Alameda, CA and $4,278 in Waltham, MA. That makes Alameda, CA about 4% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $2,462 per month in Alameda, CA and $1,806 in Waltham, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$5,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $4,107 in Alameda, CA and $4,278 in Waltham, MA, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alameda, CA costs $4,107 versus $4,278 in Waltham, MA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.