Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Davis, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Amherst, MA and Davis, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,020 in Amherst, MA versus $3,392 in Davis, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,359 in Amherst, MA versus $5,024 in Davis, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,699 in Amherst, MA versus $6,656 in Davis, CA.

Living in Amherst, MA costs roughly 11% less than in Davis, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 120% above, Davis, CA 147% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$22.66 $22.66

-13.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$99.3 $99.3

-25.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 $9.31

$12.85 $12.85

-27.55%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$5.09 $5.09

-6.48%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$3.58 $3.58

-25.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.27 $2.27

-12.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$7.87 $7.87

-25.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.38 $10.38

$8.13 $8.13

27.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.27 $1.27

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.79 $3.79

-15.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.19 $4.19

23.39%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$5.27 $5.27

-12.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.64 $16.64

$10.79 $10.79

54.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.14 $15.14

3.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$16.70 $16.70

12.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$5.05 $5.05

-6.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.53 $4.53

-27.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$4.66 $4.66

4.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.90 $2.90

7.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.91 $2.91

26.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.29 $2.29

-10.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.41 $10.41

$9.82 $9.82

6.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 $11.79

$15.94 $15.94

-26.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.09 $2.09

-4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.29 $3.29

3.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.52 $1.52

-15.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.36 $28.36

$38.71 $38.71

-26.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.31 $3.31

6.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.77 $1.77

-19.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.50 $30.50

$31.29 $31.29

-2.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.30 $1.30

-26.92%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$35.5K $35.5K

3.41%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.97%

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

$216 $216

$292 $292

-26.11%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$56.9 $56.9

2.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 $84.0

$77.6 $77.6

8.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 $118

$57.8 $57.8

104.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.90 $6.90

Cinema Ticket

$10.60 $10.60

$15.34 $15.34

-30.90%

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

$1,471 $1,471

$1,443 $1,443

1.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$21.5K $21.5K

-22.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.01 $45.01

$54.2 $54.2

-16.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.07 $39.07

$41.27 $41.27

-5.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 $90.4

$97.8 $97.8

-7.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$115 $115

-4.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 $1,837

$2,208 $2,208

-16.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 $1,649

$1,892 $1,892

-12.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,927 $3,927

$3,884 $3,884

1.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,661 $2,661

$3,311 $3,311

-19.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,115 $4,115

$2,772 $2,772

48.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,117 $4,117

$2,418 $2,418

70.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,796 $4,796

$4,949 $4,949

-3.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: September 1, 2026

Last update for Davis, CA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,837 in Amherst, MA and $2,208 in Davis, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Davis, CA pays 3% 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: $74.0 in Amherst, MA vs $99.0 in Davis, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $423, with Davis, CA 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

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

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Davis, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,837 in Amherst, MA versus $2,208 in Davis, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,471 in Amherst, MA versus $1,443 in Davis, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Davis, CA pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amherst, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Amherst, MA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Davis, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Amherst, MA and Davis, CA 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 Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Davis, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.