Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Margate Cost of Living Comparison Between Lowell, MA and Margate

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,658 per month in Lowell, MA vs $2,383 in Margate, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,230 per month in Lowell, MA vs $3,561 in Margate, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Lowell, MA vs $4,738 in Margate, rent included.

Lowell, MA costs about 12% more than Margate, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lowell, MA and Margate sit above the global median – Lowell, MA by 97%, Margate by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.12 $19.12

$16.61 £12.31

15.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$93.7 £69.4

-13.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 $8.88

$11.05 £8.18

-19.64%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$4.84 £3.58

-7.44%

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

$2.04 $2.04

$2.95 £2.18

-30.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.04 £1.51

-18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.98 £5.91

-25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$7.83 £5.80

-2.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.94 £1.44

-55.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.18 £1.61

-1.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.92 £2.17

6.85%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$4.79 £3.55

-18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 $10.64

$12.48 £9.25

-14.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$10.23 £7.58

-13.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$18.17 £13.47

15.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.09 £1.55

33.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.93 £1.43

-39.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$3.72 £2.75

57.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$3.68 £2.72

56.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.69 £0.51

131.88%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.11 £1.56

105.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.40 £1.04

117.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.54 £1.14

42.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$20.70 £15.34

-45.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$10.87 £8.05

37.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.44 £1.81

-27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$4.19 £3.11

-53.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.76 £2.78

-51.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 $55.0

$89.9 £66.6

-38.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$6.64 £4.92

-40.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.54 £1.88

-29.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.64 $28.64

$34.46 £25.54

-16.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.96 £1.45

-54.08%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$30.5K £22.6K

-1.45%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$44.8K £33.2K

-42.30%

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

$185 $185

$335 £248

-44.79%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$15.45 £11.45

240.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$29.69 £22.00

119.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.05 $40.05

$45.61 £33.80

-12.19%

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$11.07 £8.20

28.00%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$2,276 £1,686

-38.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$23.4K £17.4K

0.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$68.2 £50.5

-24.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.08 $33.08

$40.52 £30.02

-18.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 $65.0

$86.4 £64.0

-24.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.8 $68.8

$122 £90.7

-43.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$1,240 £919

31.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$994 £737

47.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,759 $3,759

$2,030 £1,505

85.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$1,672 £1,239

89.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,517 $3,517

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,931 $3,931

$2,335 £1,730

68.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.54

16.43%

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

Last update for Lowell, MA: April 11, 2026

Last update for Margate: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lowell, MA versus $1,240 in Margate. 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 68% higher in Lowell, MA, 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 $81 in Lowell, MA versus $94 in Margate. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Lowell, MA vs $343 in Margate – so Margate 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

Lowell, MA vs Margate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lowell, MA is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,987 per month in Lowell, MA and $3,575 in Margate. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 64% less in Margate. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,390 per month in Lowell, MA and $2,276 in Margate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Margate, where all-in costs run around $2,383, than in Lowell, MA at $2,658. In Margate it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lowell, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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