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: $2,941 in Amherst, MA versus $2,634 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,661 in Amherst, MA versus $4,037 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,380 in Amherst, MA versus $5,441 in Victoria.

Living in Amherst, MA is roughly 12% more expensive than Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Amherst, MA 119% above, Victoria 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$18.66 CA$26.06

8.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 $71.2

$81.5 CA$114

-12.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.28 $9.28

$11.07 CA$15.46

-16.17%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$3.96 CA$5.53

32.32%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.43 CA$3.39

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 CA$2.82

16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$5.12 CA$7.15

53.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$6.56 CA$9.15

16.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$3.06 CA$4.28

-57.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.12 CA$4.36

17.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$5.12 CA$7.15

-59.96%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$4.49 CA$6.27

2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 $13.77

$13.30 CA$18.58

3.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$14.71 CA$20.54

-65.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.85 $18.85

$15.46 CA$21.59

21.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$4.59 CA$6.41

15.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.64 CA$2.29

-10.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.37 CA$6.10

-18.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.88 CA$6.82

6.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.79 CA$5.30

-74.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.16 CA$4.41

-68.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.68 CA$3.74

-5.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.76 CA$3.85

-26.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.38 $10.38

$15.51 CA$21.66

-33.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.70 $13.70

$17.98 CA$25.11

-23.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.91 CA$5.46

-27.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.50 CA$6.29

-22.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.86 CA$2.60

9.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.45 $27.45

$61.8 CA$86.3

-55.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.70 CA$3.77

-1.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 CA$1.86

6.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.84 $27.84

$32.73 CA$45.70

-14.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.35 CA$1.89

-34.81%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

18.70%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$21.4K CA$29.9K

19.47%

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

$192 $192

$136 CA$191

40.62%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$53.8 CA$75.1

7.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.7 $76.7

$72.9 CA$102

5.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 $118

$43.59 CA$60.9

170.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.84 $6.84

$17.05 CA$23.81

-59.88%

Cinema Ticket

$10.70 $10.70

$11.63 CA$16.24

-8.00%

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

$2,753 $2,753

$621 CA$867

343.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K $27.9K

$14.1K CA$19.7K

97.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.23 $39.23

$57.1 CA$79.7

-31.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$44.87 CA$62.7

-1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$96.2 CA$134

-11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$109 CA$153

33.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 $1,808

$1,600 CA$2,234

13.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,655 $1,655

$1,357 CA$1,896

21.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,819 $4,819

$2,723 CA$3,803

76.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,531 $3,531

$2,389 CA$3,336

47.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,067 $4,067

$5,765 CA$8,050

-29.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,080 $4,080

$4,591 CA$6,411

-11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,842 $4,842

$3,035 CA$4,239

59.54%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Victoria: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,808 in Amherst, MA and $1,600 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 60% 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: $71.0 in Amherst, MA vs $81.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $461 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Amherst, MA pays 60% 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: $1,808 in Amherst, MA versus $1,600 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,753 in Amherst, MA versus $621 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 27% 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 12% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.