Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsfield, MA and Worcester, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsfield, MA and Worcester, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,634 in Pittsfield, MA versus $2,842 in Worcester, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,609 in Pittsfield, MA versus $4,058 in Worcester, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,584 in Pittsfield, MA versus $5,275 in Worcester, MA.

Living in Pittsfield, MA costs roughly 7% less than in Worcester, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pittsfield, MA 91% above, Worcester, MA 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 $18.13

$22.81 $22.81

-20.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.2 $96.2

$72.3 $72.3

33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.57 $13.57

$12.10 $12.10

12.15%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$5.13 $5.13

-5.07%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$2.34 $2.34

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.69 $1.69

57.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.85 $5.85

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.87 $6.87

14.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.24 $1.24

-13.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.54 $3.54

10.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.95 $4.95

9.90%

Eggs

$4.69 $4.69

$3.86 $3.86

21.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$19.35 $19.35

-42.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.10 $11.10

27.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.47 $17.47

$20.07 $20.07

-12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.74 $3.74

82.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.44 $1.44

19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$3.43 $3.43

98.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.86 $4.86

16.05%

Potato (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$2.86 $2.86

129.37%

Onion (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.31 $3.31

32.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.82 $1.82

68.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.29 $13.29

$13.11 $13.11

1.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 $13.75

$12.24 $12.24

12.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.76 $1.76

23.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.28 $3.28

24.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 $2.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.22 $36.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.01 $1.01

-6.93%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.50%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.90%

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

$274 $274

$194 $194

41.51%

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

$40.65 $40.65

$56.5 $56.5

-28.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.4 $84.4

$61.6 $61.6

36.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.65 $40.65

$29.12 $29.12

39.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.72 $29.72

Cinema Ticket

$14.60 $14.60

$16.50 $16.50

-11.52%

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

$1,803 $1,803

$1,724 $1,724

4.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.0K $30.0K

$43.7K $43.7K

-31.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$47.66 $47.66

18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.52 $38.52

$34.32 $34.32

12.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 $79.4

$89.5 $89.5

-11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 $98.5

$146 $146

-32.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$1,883 $1,883

-14.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 $1,242

$1,642 $1,642

-24.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,562 $4,562

$2,975 $2,975

53.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,455 $3,455

$2,462 $2,462

40.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,980 $2,980

$2,869 $2,869

3.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,020 $3,020

$2,853 $2,853

5.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,072 $4,072

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.05

-0.17%

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

Last update for Pittsfield, MA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Worcester, MA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Pittsfield, MA and $1,883 in Worcester, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $96.0 in Pittsfield, MA vs $72.0 in Worcester, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $403 per month, with Worcester, MA cheaper across the board.

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

Pittsfield, MA vs Worcester, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pittsfield, MA and Worcester, MA differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,634 vs $2,842 including rent). Pittsfield, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,952 in Pittsfield, MA and $4,263 in Worcester, MA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Pittsfield, MA versus $1,883 in Worcester, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Worcester, MA pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,634 per month in Pittsfield, MA versus $2,842 in Worcester, MA – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Pittsfield, MA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Pittsfield, MA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.