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: $2,953 in Amherst, MA versus $2,660 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,675 in Amherst, MA versus $4,068 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,396 in Amherst, MA versus $5,477 in Victoria.

Living in Amherst, MA is roughly 11% more expensive than in Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 122% above, Victoria 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.32 $20.32

$18.61 CA$26.07

9.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.8 $68.8

$80.8 CA$113

-14.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 $9.37

$10.90 CA$15.27

-14.04%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$4.05 CA$5.68

28.89%

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

$3.04 $3.04

$2.33 CA$3.26

30.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.99 CA$2.79

22.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$5.28 CA$7.40

47.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$6.49 CA$9.09

17.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.98 CA$4.17

-57.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.23 CA$4.52

17.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$5.30 CA$7.43

-62.45%

Eggs

$4.61 $4.61

$4.51 CA$6.32

2.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 $13.56

$13.18 CA$18.46

2.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$14.83 CA$20.78

-66.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.00 $19.00

$15.34 CA$21.50

23.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$4.44 CA$6.22

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.60 CA$2.24

-8.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.53 CA$6.35

-22.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.87 CA$6.83

3.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$3.75 CA$5.26

-73.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$3.29 CA$4.61

-69.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.75 CA$3.85

-7.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.72 CA$3.81

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.47 $10.47

$15.74 CA$22.06

-33.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 $13.74

$17.42 CA$24.41

-21.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.76 CA$5.27

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.58 CA$6.41

-25.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.86 CA$2.61

6.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.90 $27.90

$63.8 CA$89.4

-56.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.69 CA$3.78

-5.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.34 CA$1.88

2.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.29 $28.29

$32.60 CA$45.69

-13.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.28 CA$1.80

-28.13%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$25.4K CA$35.6K

19.71%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$20.8K CA$29.2K

21.53%

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

$198 $198

$138 CA$193

43.81%

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

$56.7 $56.7

$54.3 CA$76.1

4.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$71.9 CA$101

8.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 $119

$44.75 CA$62.7

165.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.87 $6.87

$16.59 CA$23.24

-58.59%

Cinema Ticket

$10.74 $10.74

$11.77 CA$16.49

-8.75%

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

$2,823 $2,823

$628 CA$880

349.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.2K $27.2K

$14.3K CA$20.0K

90.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.74 $39.74

$58.2 CA$81.6

-31.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$43.74 CA$61.3

3.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 $83.4

$93.2 CA$131

-10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$108 CA$152

34.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 $1,849

$1,604 CA$2,247

15.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 $1,651

$1,400 CA$1,962

17.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,871 $4,871

$2,733 CA$3,830

78.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,480 $3,480

$2,380 CA$3,336

46.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,042 $4,042

$5,427 CA$7,605

-25.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,041 $4,041

$4,571 CA$6,406

-11.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,848 $4,848

$3,133 CA$4,390

54.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

6.38

-2.51%

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

Last update for Amherst, MA: July 27, 2026

Last update for Victoria: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Amherst, MA and $1,604 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 55% 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: $69.0 in Amherst, MA vs $81.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $460 per month, with Amherst, MA 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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 55% 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: $1,849 in Amherst, MA versus $1,604 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,823 in Amherst, MA versus $628 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 26% 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 11% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.