Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Vacaville, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Vacaville, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,165 per month in Cambridge vs $3,668 in Vacaville, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,481 per month in Cambridge vs $4,816 in Vacaville, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,797 per month in Cambridge vs $5,965 in Vacaville, CA, rent included.

Cambridge is about 14% cheaper than Vacaville, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cambridge and Vacaville, CA sit above the global median – Cambridge by 137%, Vacaville, CA by 175%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.66 £20.57

$15.09 $15.09

83.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.6 £71.1

$44.39 $44.39

115.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.72 £7.97

$12.76 $12.76

-15.99%

Cappuccino

$4.93 £3.67

$5.74 $5.74

-14.11%

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

$2.80 £2.09

$3.25 $3.25

-13.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 £1.53

$2.56 $2.56

-19.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.30 £6.17

$6.95 $6.95

19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.24 £6.13

$6.80 $6.80

21.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 £1.40

$1.52 $1.52

24.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 £1.68

$5.21 $5.21

-56.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 £2.18

$6.62 $6.62

-55.59%

Eggs

$4.61 £3.43

$6.14 $6.14

-24.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.39 £9.21

$23.65 $23.65

-47.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.33 £7.68

$14.74 $14.74

-29.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.22 £13.55

$23.94 $23.94

-23.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 £2.47

$7.08 $7.08

-52.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 £1.46

$2.91 $2.91

-32.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 £2.68

$5.31 $5.31

-32.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 £2.73

$7.62 $7.62

-51.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 £1.40

$3.72 $3.72

-49.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 £1.54

$3.97 $3.97

-48.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 £0.99

$2.93 $2.93

-54.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 £1.15

$2.86 $2.86

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.01 £14.89

$14.05 $14.05

42.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 £8.15

$15.09 $15.09

-27.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 £2.60

$2.62 $2.62

33.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 £3.14

$3.21 $3.21

31.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 £1.98

$1.98 $1.98

34.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.0 £60.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 £4.93

$4.25 $4.25

55.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 £1.82

$1.87 $1.87

31.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$55.2 £41.09

$38.77 $38.77

42.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 £1.43

$1.18 $1.18

62.71%

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

$38.9K £28.9K

$35.6K $35.6K

9.31%

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

$43.9K £32.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

66.48%

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

$338 £251

$224 $224

50.91%

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

$15.78 £11.74

$64.6 $64.6

-75.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.86 £29.65

$68.5 $68.5

-41.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.1 £55.1

$71.4 $71.4

3.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 £11.09

Cinema Ticket

$16.20 £12.05

$17.12 $17.12

-5.37%

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

$2,277 £1,693

$1,278 $1,278

78.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K £17.4K

$37.4K $37.4K

-37.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 £65.1

$68.3 $68.3

27.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 £41.30

$46.34 $46.34

19.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 £63.7

$103 $103

-17.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 £92.2

$151 $151

-17.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 £1,412

$2,365 $2,365

-19.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 £1,205

$2,241 $2,241

-27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,522 £2,620

$3,157 $3,157

11.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,557 £1,902

$2,865 $2,865

-10.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,013 £6,704

$3,708 $3,708

143.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,024 £4,481

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,419 £3,287

$5,269 $5,269

-16.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

6.36

-12.89%

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

Last update for Cambridge: July 13, 2026

Last update for Vacaville, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,899 in Cambridge versus $2,365 in Vacaville, CA. 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 19% higher in Vacaville, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $96.0 in Cambridge versus $44.00 in Vacaville, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Cambridge vs $562 in Vacaville, CA – so Cambridge wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cambridge vs Vacaville, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vacaville, CA is pricier by about 16%, 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 $4,748 per month in Cambridge and $5,501 in Vacaville, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,165 in Cambridge and $3,668 in Vacaville, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,277 per month in Cambridge and $1,278 in Vacaville, CA. 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 $3,165 in Cambridge and $3,668 in Vacaville, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Cambridge – 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 Cambridge. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vacaville, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.