Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Amherst, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Amherst, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,591 in Victoria versus $3,006 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,901 in Victoria versus $4,373 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,211 in Victoria versus $5,739 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 14% less than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 89% above, Amherst, MA 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 CA$25.36

$19.78 $19.78

-8.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.3 CA$99.7

$76.3 $76.3

-6.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.33

$9.48 $9.48

15.61%

Cappuccino

$4.34 CA$6.07

$4.70 $4.70

-7.66%

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

$2.33 CA$3.26

$2.62 $2.62

-11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.55

$1.98 $1.98

-8.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.29

$5.94 $5.94

-0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 CA$9.11

$10.69 $10.69

-39.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.92 CA$4.09

$1.02 $1.02

186.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.50

$3.20 $3.20

0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.93

$5.33 $5.33

-20.45%

Eggs

$4.28 CA$5.99

$4.54 $4.54

-5.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.09 CA$39.29

$16.58 $16.58

69.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.52 CA$17.52

$15.78 $15.78

-20.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 CA$20.85

$18.70 $18.70

-20.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.78

$4.88 $4.88

-15.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 CA$2.07

$1.45 $1.45

2.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.51

$3.40 $3.40

15.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.93

$4.58 $4.58

-7.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 CA$4.85

$3.27 $3.27

5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 CA$4.07

$3.52 $3.52

-17.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 CA$4.42

$2.31 $2.31

36.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.54

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.39 CA$21.53

$10.67 $10.67

44.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.07 CA$25.28

$11.88 $11.88

52.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.62

$2.06 $2.06

95.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CA$4.92

$3.43 $3.43

2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 CA$2.98

$1.29 $1.29

65.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.2 CA$85.6

$27.88 $27.88

119.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$3.58 $3.58

-24.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 CA$2.20

$1.35 $1.35

16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.27 CA$47.93

$30.36 $30.36

12.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.94

$0.97 $0.97

43.30%

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

$28.7K CA$40.2K

$36.2K $36.2K

-20.73%

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

$18.8K CA$26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

-26.29%

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

$113 CA$158

$214 $214

-47.40%

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

$45.84 CA$64.1

$57.8 $57.8

-20.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 CA$89.6

$84.6 $84.6

-24.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.75 CA$58.4

$120 $120

-65.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.99 CA$25.17

$6.93 $6.93

159.60%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 CA$15.31

$10.30 $10.30

6.21%

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

$930 CA$1,301

$1,516 $1,516

-38.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K CA$32.4K

$16.9K $16.9K

37.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 CA$75.5

$44.90 $44.90

20.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 CA$61.7

$39.65 $39.65

11.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 CA$127

$91.0 $91.0

-0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$149

$110 $110

-2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 CA$2,235

$1,806 $1,806

-11.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 CA$1,862

$1,638 $1,638

-18.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,733 CA$3,823

$3,877 $3,877

-29.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 CA$3,277

$2,648 $2,648

-11.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,353 CA$7,488

$4,021 $4,021

33.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,386 CA$6,136

$4,083 $4,083

7.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,358 CA$4,697

$4,734 $4,734

-29.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.32

6.1

-29.18%

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

Last update for Victoria: September 14, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,598 in Victoria and $1,806 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 41% 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: $71.0 in Victoria vs $76.0 in Amherst, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $476 vs $428, 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

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

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Amherst, MA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,598 in Victoria versus $1,806 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $930 in Victoria versus $1,516 in Amherst, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Amherst, MA pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria 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.

Safety-wise, Victoria 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 Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.