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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,006 in Amherst, MA versus $2,591 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,373 in Amherst, MA versus $3,901 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,739 in Amherst, MA versus $5,211 in Victoria.

Living in Amherst, MA is roughly 16% more expensive than in Victoria, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 120% above, Victoria 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$18.13 CA$25.36

9.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$71.3 CA$99.7

7.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 $9.48

$10.96 CA$15.33

-13.50%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$4.34 CA$6.07

8.29%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$2.33 CA$3.26

12.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.82 CA$2.55

8.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$5.93 CA$8.29

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.69 $10.69

$6.52 CA$9.11

63.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.92 CA$4.09

-65.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.22 CA$4.50

-0.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.24 CA$5.93

25.71%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$4.28 CA$5.99

6.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.58 $16.58

$28.09 CA$39.29

-40.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.78 $15.78

$12.52 CA$17.52

26.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.70 $18.70

$14.91 CA$20.85

25.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.13 CA$5.78

18.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.48 CA$2.07

-2.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.94 CA$5.51

-13.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.24 CA$5.93

8.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.46 CA$4.85

-5.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.91 CA$4.07

20.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$3.16 CA$4.42

-26.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 CA$3.54

-19.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.67 $10.67

$15.39 CA$21.53

-30.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

$18.07 CA$25.28

-34.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$4.02 CA$5.62

-48.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.52 CA$4.92

-2.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.13 CA$2.98

-39.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.88 $27.88

$61.2 CA$85.6

-54.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.71 CA$3.79

32.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.57 CA$2.20

-14.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.36 $30.36

$34.27 CA$47.93

-11.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.39 CA$1.94

-30.22%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$28.7K CA$40.2K

26.16%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$18.8K CA$26.3K

35.67%

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

$214 $214

$113 CA$158

90.13%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$45.84 CA$64.1

26.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.6 $84.6

$64.1 CA$89.6

31.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$41.75 CA$58.4

187.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.93 $6.93

$17.99 CA$25.17

-61.48%

Cinema Ticket

$10.30 $10.30

$10.94 CA$15.31

-5.85%

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

$1,516 $1,516

$930 CA$1,301

63.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K $16.9K

$23.2K CA$32.4K

-27.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.90 $44.90

$54.0 CA$75.5

-16.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.65 $39.65

$44.08 CA$61.7

-10.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 $91.0

$90.5 CA$127

0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$107 CA$149

2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 $1,806

$1,598 CA$2,235

13.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,638 $1,638

$1,331 CA$1,862

23.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,877 $3,877

$2,733 CA$3,823

41.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,343 CA$3,277

13.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,021 $4,021

$5,353 CA$7,488

-24.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,083 $4,083

$4,386 CA$6,136

-6.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,734 $4,734

$3,358 CA$4,697

40.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

4.32

41.20%

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Victoria: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,806 in Amherst, MA and $1,598 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 41% 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: $76.0 in Amherst, MA vs $71.0 in Victoria. Groceries flip the comparison at $428 vs $476, with Amherst, MA 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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% higher in Amherst, MA, 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: $1,806 in Amherst, MA versus $1,598 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,516 in Amherst, MA versus $930 in Victoria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Amherst, MA pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Victoria 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 Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.