Cost of Living Comparison Between Davis, CA and Amherst, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Davis, CA and Amherst, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,202 in Davis, CA versus $2,936 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,659 in Davis, CA versus $4,730 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,116 in Davis, CA versus $6,524 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Davis, CA is roughly 9% more expensive than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Davis, CA 140% above, Amherst, MA 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.85 $14.85

$19.74 $19.74

-24.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 $65.9

$69.2 $69.2

-4.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 $11.87

$9.44 $9.44

25.74%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$5.37 $5.37

-9.31%

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

$3.41 $3.41

$3.07 $3.07

11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.41 $2.41

-4.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.13 $8.13

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.19 $8.19

$7.33 $7.33

11.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.32 $1.32

-7.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$3.59 $3.59

15.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.02 $2.02

72.28%

Eggs

$5.21 $5.21

$4.53 $4.53

15.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$13.67 $13.67

-8.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.68 $11.68

$5.07 $5.07

130.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.24 $25.24

$18.44 $18.44

36.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.56 $5.56

-14.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.52 $1.52

86.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.44 $3.44

76.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.03 $5.03

-5.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$0.98 $0.98

284.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$0.98 $0.98

268.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.57 $2.57

-3.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.94 $1.94

75.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 $9.99

$10.40 $10.40

-3.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$13.41 $13.41

17.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.95 $2.95

-37.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$3.46 $3.46

136.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.02 $2.02

-39.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 $27.67

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.67 $2.67

34.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.43 $1.43

11.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.64 $28.64

$28.48 $28.48

0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.94 $0.94

36.17%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

-8.20%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

-4.68%

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

$237 $237

$193 $193

22.41%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$57.4 $57.4

-8.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$78.2 $78.2

-8.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 $42.54

$121 $121

-64.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 $7.16

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 $11.93

$10.78 $10.78

10.67%

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

$1,470 $1,470

$2,844 $2,844

-48.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-12.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.35 $49.35

$39.55 $39.55

24.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.58 $38.58

$44.62 $44.62

-13.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 $96.5

$85.7 $85.7

12.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$145 $145

-6.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 $2,175

$1,799 $1,799

20.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$1,629 $1,629

13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,399 $3,399

$4,865 $4,865

-30.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,219 $3,219

$3,446 $3,446

-6.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,669 $2,669

$4,072 $4,072

-34.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,391 $2,391

$3,982 $3,982

-39.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,941 $4,941

$4,775 $4,775

3.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.22

2.25%

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

Last update for Davis, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,175 in Davis, CA and $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Davis, CA pays 3% 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: $66.0 in Davis, CA vs $69.0 in Amherst, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $475 vs $360, with Amherst, MA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Davis, CA vs Amherst, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amherst, MA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Davis, CA, 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: $2,175 in Davis, CA versus $1,799 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Davis, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,202 per month in Davis, CA versus $2,936 in Amherst, MA – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Amherst, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Amherst, MA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Davis, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Davis, CA 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.

Expats usually find Amherst, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Davis, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.