Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boden and Amherst, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Boden: $1,770 a month against $2,767 in Amherst, MA, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Boden, Sweden
Amherst, MA, United States
Boden
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,770
/mo nomad
Amherst, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,767
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Boden and in Amherst, MA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Boden and in Amherst, MA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,770 in Boden versus $2,767 in Amherst, MA.

  • Boden $1,770
  • Amherst, MA $2,767

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,754 in Boden versus $4,275 in Amherst, MA.

  • Boden $2,754
  • Amherst, MA $4,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,739 in Boden versus $5,783 in Amherst, MA.

  • Boden $3,739
  • Amherst, MA $5,783

Living in Boden costs roughly 36% less than in Amherst, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boden 30% above, Amherst, MA 103% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.64 SEK 186
$20.05 $20.05
-7.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 SEK 743
$70.8 $70.8
5.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.01 SEK 99.6
$8.90 $8.90
12.47%
Cappuccino
$4.35 SEK 43.27
$4.79 $4.79
-9.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 SEK 15.87
$2.69 $2.69
-40.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 SEK 22.05
$2.06 $2.06
7.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.22 SEK 71.9
$5.97 $5.97
20.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 SEK 64.7
$10.41 $10.41
-37.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 SEK 15.14
$1.06 $1.06
43.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 SEK 27.55
$3.21 $3.21
-13.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 SEK 33.75
$7.00 $7.00
-51.57%
Eggs
$4.04 SEK 40.24
$4.69 $4.69
-13.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.16 SEK 121
$16.50 $16.50
-26.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.15 SEK 121
$15.78 $15.78
-23.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.39 SEK 173
$18.29 $18.29
-4.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 29.77
$4.70 $4.70
-36.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 SEK 25.51
$1.45 $1.45
76.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 SEK 30.24
$3.25 $3.25
-6.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 SEK 41.95
$4.60 $4.60
-8.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 15.89
$3.27 $3.27
-51.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 SEK 16.24
$3.71 $3.71
-56.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 SEK 22.20
$2.30 $2.30
-3.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SEK 14.29
$2.02 $2.02
-28.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.29 SEK 102
$10.69 $10.69
-3.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.30 SEK 102
$12.14 $12.14
-15.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 SEK 19.75
$1.98 $1.98
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 SEK 21.95
$3.92 $3.92
-43.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 33.45
$1.29 $1.29
160.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.3 SEK 710
$28.34 $28.34
151.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 SEK 58.0
$3.56 $3.56
63.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 SEK 14.99
$1.42 $1.42
6.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.9 SEK 536
$29.78 $29.78
80.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 19.23
$0.99 $0.99
94.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K SEK 252.6K
$27.5K $27.5K
-7.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K SEK 324.1K
$26.4K $26.4K
23.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SEK 1,024
$213 $213
-51.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.25 SEK 251
$56.5 $56.5
-55.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.16 SEK 390
$87.9 $87.9
-55.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 SEK 575
$121 $121
-52.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12 SEK 200
$6.90 $6.90
191.59%
Cinema Ticket
$12.48 SEK 124
$10.65 $10.65
17.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 SEK 1,575
$1,466 $1,466
-89.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,245 SEK 52.2K
$17.2K $17.2K
-69.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.7 SEK 982
$45.22 $45.22
118.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.77 SEK 406
$40.24 $40.24
1.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 SEK 909
$91.6 $91.6
-0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 SEK 1,393
$110 $110
27.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 SEK 8,897
$1,821 $1,821
-50.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 SEK 6,015
$1,346 $1,346
-55.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 SEK 13.6K
$3,829 $3,829
-64.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 SEK 9,889
$2,708 $2,708
-63.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,214 SEK 41.9K
$3,969 $3,969
6.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,804 SEK 27.9K
$4,035 $4,035
-30.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boden
Amherst, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,822 SEK 38.0K
$4,660 $4,660
-17.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
6.1
-44.26%

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

Last update for Boden: October 27, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Boden
$604
Amherst, MA
$1.3K 123% $742
Groceries & Markets
Boden
$355
Amherst, MA
$434 22.3% $79
Eating Out
Boden
$296
Amherst, MA
$314 6.3% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boden
$167
Amherst, MA
$357 114% $190
Clothing & Footwear
Boden
$167
Amherst, MA
$129 22.7% $38
Getting Around
Boden
$98
Amherst, MA
$44 55% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Boden
$83
Amherst, MA
$143 72.4% $60

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $894 in Boden and $1,821 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 22% 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: $75 in Boden vs $71 in Amherst, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $355 vs $434, with Boden cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Boden
🇺🇸 Amherst, MA
🕒 Local time
17:19 5:19 PM
12:19 12:19 PM
5 h behind Boden
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,680
37,819
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 9.95 SEK (1 SEK = 0.1 USD). 1 EUR = 11.08 SEK (100 SEK = 9.03 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Boden Amherst, MA 5,970 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Boden
  • Amherst, MA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Boden vs Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boden cheaper than Amherst, MA?
Boden is cheaper overall, especially in utilities, groceries, and leisure. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Boden or Amherst, MA?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Boden. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Boden and Amherst, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $894 in Boden versus $1,821 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $158 in Boden versus $1,466 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Boden and in Amherst, MA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Amherst, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Boden or in Amherst, MA?
At $1,770 in Boden versus $2,767 in Amherst, MA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boden but tight or insufficient in Amherst, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Boden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Boden or in Amherst, MA?
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.
Which city is safer, Boden or Amherst, MA?
Safety-wise, Boden and Amherst, MA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Boden wins on affordability, Amherst, MA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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