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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,045 per month in Alameda, CA vs $4,172 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,956 per month in Alameda, CA vs $6,499 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,867 per month in Alameda, CA vs $8,825 in Waltham, MA, rent included.

Alameda, CA is about 3% cheaper than Waltham, MA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Alameda, CA and Waltham, MA sit above the global median – Alameda, CA by 193%, Waltham, MA by 203%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.17 $22.17

$24.86 $24.86

-10.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.99 $14.99

$11.76 $11.76

27.47%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.31 $5.31

8.29%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.84 $2.84

4.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.45 $2.45

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.93 $8.93

$4.86 $4.86

83.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$7.91 $7.91

28.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.08 $1.08

14.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.00 $4.00

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.41 $5.41

-6.10%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$4.83 $4.83

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$11.25 $11.25

-0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$13.72 $13.72

12.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.30 $23.30

$17.85 $17.85

30.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$6.54 $6.54

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.73 $1.73

66.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$5.40 $5.40

-15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.24 $7.24

$5.44 $5.44

33.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.86 $3.86

-21.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$4.09 $4.09

-21.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.90 $2.90

-44.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.93 $2.93

-4.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 $12.14

$12.36 $12.36

-1.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.70 $13.70

9.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.10 $2.10

-18.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.06 $4.06

-9.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.94 $3.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.2 $91.2

$59.4 $59.4

53.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.62 $2.62

56.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.80 $1.80

13.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.03 $15.03

$27.68 $27.68

-45.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.02 $1.02

38.24%

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

$37.7K $37.7K

$37.1K $37.1K

1.59%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.62%

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

$135 $135

$313 $313

-56.75%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$54.8 $54.8

-2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.4 $78.4

$83.5 $83.5

-6.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$149 $149

$249 $249

-40.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.46 $31.46

Cinema Ticket

$16.75 $16.75

$14.59 $14.59

14.80%

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

$2,506 $2,506

$1,812 $1,812

38.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K $19.9K

$30.0K $30.0K

-33.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.69 $41.69

$57.4 $57.4

-27.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.80 $36.80

$38.05 $38.05

-3.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 $78.8

$79.5 $79.5

-0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$101 $101

39.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$2,504 $2,504

4.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,494 $2,494

$2,518 $2,518

-0.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,932 $5,932

$5,488 $5,488

8.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,050 $4,050

$4,906 $4,906

-17.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,074 $7,074

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,070 $5,070

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,557 $6,557

$5,148 $5,148

27.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

6.04

4.47%

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

Last update for Alameda, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Waltham, MA: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,619 in Alameda, CA versus $2,504 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 27% 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 $102 in Alameda, CA versus $95.0 in Waltham, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $474 vs $452 – making Waltham, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $4,045 in Alameda, CA, $4,172 in Waltham, MA – roughly 3% apart. Waltham, MA costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,068 per month in Alameda, CA and $6,258 in Waltham, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alameda, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,506 per month in Alameda, CA and $1,812 in Waltham, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Waltham, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,045 in Alameda, CA and $4,172 in Waltham, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Alameda, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4,045 in Alameda, CA to $4,172 in Waltham, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Alameda, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Waltham, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.