Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Somerville, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Berkeley, CA and Somerville, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,847 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $4,342 in Somerville, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,765 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $6,220 in Somerville, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,682 per month in Berkeley, CA vs $8,098 in Somerville, MA, rent included.

Berkeley, CA is about 11% cheaper than Somerville, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Berkeley, CA and Somerville, MA sit above the global median – Berkeley, CA by 188%, Somerville, MA by 225%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.30 $22.30

$24.65 $24.65

-9.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$98.2 $98.2

1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 $11.70

$13.62 $13.62

-14.10%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.92 $4.92

15.04%

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

$3.29 $3.29

$2.67 $2.67

23.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.18 $2.18

12.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 $8.23

$7.66 $7.66

7.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$8.90 $8.90

2.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.28 $1.28

19.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.19 $4.19

18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$2.99 $2.99

112.37%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.80 $4.80

-0.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.27 $21.27

$17.15 $17.15

24.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.20 $13.20

11.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.23 $23.23

$20.23 $20.23

14.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.83 $5.83

5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.17 $2.17

20.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.66 $5.66

-15.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.76 $6.76

3.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.38 $4.38

-20.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.23 $2.23

76.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.81 $2.81

-1.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.20 $2.20

30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.14 $12.14

$13.63 $13.63

-10.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.98 $14.98

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.18 $2.18

8.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.95 $1.95

66.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.25 $2.25

8.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.2 $88.2

$88.7 $88.7

-0.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.66 $2.66

33.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.72 $1.72

11.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$27.64 $27.64

7.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.89 $0.89

49.44%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$29.9K $29.9K

2.21%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.50%

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

$220 $220

$197 $197

11.88%

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

$48.86 $48.86

$72.4 $72.4

-32.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$78.6 $78.6

-13.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$102 $102

-31.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 $7.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.42 $15.42

$15.76 $15.76

-2.16%

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

$2,161 $2,161

$1,643 $1,643

31.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K $32.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

20.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$56.6 $56.6

19.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.24 $45.24

$40.16 $40.16

12.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$104 $104

-0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$147 $147

1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,278 $2,278

$2,888 $2,888

-21.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$2,678 $2,678

-14.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,633 $4,633

$4,546 $4,546

1.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,949 $3,949

$4,532 $4,532

-12.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,142 $8,142

$7,444 $7,444

9.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,157 $7,157

$5,662 $5,662

26.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,783 $6,783

$5,331 $5,331

27.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.47

0.62%

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

Last update for Berkeley, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Somerville, MA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,278 in Berkeley, CA versus $2,888 in Somerville, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Berkeley, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Berkeley, CA versus $98.0 in Somerville, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $526 vs $463 – making Somerville, MA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Berkeley, CA vs Somerville, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Somerville, MA is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,770 per month in Berkeley, CA and $6,514 in Somerville, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Berkeley, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Berkeley, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,161 per month in Berkeley, CA and $1,643 in Somerville, MA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,847 in Berkeley, CA and $4,342 in Somerville, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Berkeley, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Berkeley, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Somerville, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.