Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Boden Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Boden

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,033 in Amherst, MA versus $1,453 in Boden.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,694 in Amherst, MA versus $2,298 in Boden.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,355 in Amherst, MA versus $3,143 in Boden.

Living in Amherst, MA is roughly 109% more expensive than Boden, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 126% above, Boden 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.33 $20.33

$19.45 SEK 181

4.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 $70.1

$42.92 SEK 400

63.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$10.50 SEK 98.0

-10.76%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$2.13 SEK 19.85

153.99%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.71 SEK 15.95

78.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.07 SEK 19.29

18.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$5.16 SEK 48.11

54.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 $7.36

$7.53 SEK 70.2

-2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.38 SEK 12.89

-5.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.89 SEK 26.97

30.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.06 SEK 19.25

-1.46%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$2.67 SEK 24.93

70.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$5.31 SEK 49.56

162.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.20 SEK 57.9

-17.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$6.16 SEK 57.5

201.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.71 SEK 25.32

95.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.67 SEK 24.91

-43.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.65 SEK 24.77

36.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.55 SEK 42.45

8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.55 SEK 14.51

-34.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 SEK 9.52

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.28 SEK 11.97

93.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.56 SEK 23.90

-22.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 $10.42

$10.97 SEK 102

-5.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 $13.70

$10.46 SEK 97.6

30.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.97 SEK 37.09

-25.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.71 SEK 25.28

26.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.63 SEK 24.52

-26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.53 $27.53

$72.6 SEK 677

-62.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$5.19 SEK 48.46

-49.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 SEK 15.49

-17.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.87 $27.87

$61.1 SEK 570

-54.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$2.23 SEK 20.80

-60.54%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$26.7K SEK 249.2K

13.79%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.5K SEK 247.5K

-7.15%

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

$197 $197

$111 SEK 1,032

78.08%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$52.5 SEK 490

11.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$52.1 SEK 486

50.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 $119

$62.1 SEK 579

91.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.09 $7.09

$24.60 SEK 229

-71.18%

Cinema Ticket

$10.63 $10.63

$13.14 SEK 123

-19.10%

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

$2,753 $2,753

$79.0 SEK 737

3383.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$4,095 SEK 38.2K

583.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.18 $40.18

$131 SEK 1,227

-69.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.51 $44.51

$78.8 SEK 735

-43.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 $85.5

$98.5 SEK 919

-13.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$246 SEK 2,292

-40.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$959 SEK 8,946

90.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$261 SEK 2,435

513.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,823 $4,823

$734 SEK 6,846

557.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,473 $3,473

$519 SEK 4,844

568.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,019 $4,019

$3,875 SEK 36.2K

3.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,027 $4,027

$2,975 SEK 27.8K

35.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,837 $4,837

$4,027 SEK 37.6K

20.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

55.50%

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Boden: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,829 in Amherst, MA and $959 in Boden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Amherst, MA vs $43.00 in Boden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $279 per month, with Boden 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

Amherst, MA vs Boden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boden is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Amherst, MA pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,829 in Amherst, MA versus $959 in Boden. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,753 in Amherst, MA versus $79.0 in Boden. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Amherst, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,453 in Boden versus $3,033 in Amherst, MA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Boden but tight or insufficient in Amherst, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Boden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Amherst, MA and Boden are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Boden gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.