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: $2,660 in Victoria versus $2,953 in Amherst, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,068 in Victoria versus $4,675 in Amherst, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,477 in Victoria versus $6,396 in Amherst, MA.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 10% less than in Amherst, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 100% above, Amherst, MA 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.61 CA$26.07

$20.32 $20.32

-8.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 CA$113

$68.8 $68.8

17.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.27

$9.37 $9.37

16.33%

Cappuccino

$4.05 CA$5.68

$5.22 $5.22

-22.41%

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

$2.33 CA$3.26

$3.04 $3.04

-23.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.79

$2.44 $2.44

-18.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.28 CA$7.40

$7.81 $7.81

-32.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.49 CA$9.09

$7.64 $7.64

-15.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 CA$4.17

$1.27 $1.27

134.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$3.78 $3.78

-14.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 CA$7.43

$1.99 $1.99

166.33%

Eggs

$4.51 CA$6.32

$4.61 $4.61

-2.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 CA$18.46

$13.56 $13.56

-2.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.83 CA$20.78

$5.04 $5.04

194.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.34 CA$21.50

$19.00 $19.00

-19.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.22

$5.55 $5.55

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.24

$1.46 $1.46

9.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 CA$6.35

$3.52 $3.52

28.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 CA$6.83

$5.04 $5.04

-3.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.26

$0.99 $0.99

278.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.61

$1.02 $1.02

222.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.55 $2.55

7.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 CA$3.81

$2.04 $2.04

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.74 CA$22.06

$10.47 $10.47

50.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 CA$24.41

$13.74 $13.74

26.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.76 CA$5.27

$2.82 $2.82

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 CA$6.41

$3.40 $3.40

34.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.86 CA$2.61

$1.98 $1.98

-6.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 CA$89.4

$27.90 $27.90

128.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 CA$3.78

$2.54 $2.54

5.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.37 $1.37

-2.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.60 CA$45.69

$28.29 $28.29

15.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$0.92 $0.92

39.13%

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

$25.4K CA$35.6K

$30.4K $30.4K

-16.46%

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

$20.8K CA$29.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

-17.71%

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

$138 CA$193

$198 $198

-30.46%

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

$54.3 CA$76.1

$56.7 $56.7

-4.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 CA$101

$78.0 $78.0

-7.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.75 CA$62.7

$119 $119

-62.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 CA$23.24

$6.87 $6.87

141.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.77 CA$16.49

$10.74 $10.74

9.59%

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

$628 CA$880

$2,823 $2,823

-77.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K CA$20.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

-47.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 CA$81.6

$39.74 $39.74

46.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.74 CA$61.3

$45.29 $45.29

-3.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 CA$131

$83.4 $83.4

11.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$152

$145 $145

-25.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 CA$2,247

$1,849 $1,849

-13.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 CA$1,962

$1,651 $1,651

-15.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,733 CA$3,830

$4,871 $4,871

-43.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 CA$3,336

$3,480 $3,480

-31.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,427 CA$7,605

$4,042 $4,042

34.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,571 CA$6,406

$4,041 $4,041

13.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,133 CA$4,390

$4,848 $4,848

-35.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.22

2.57%

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

Last update for Victoria: July 27, 2026

Last update for Amherst, MA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Victoria and $1,849 in Amherst, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Amherst, MA pays 55% 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: $81.0 in Victoria vs $69.0 in Amherst, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $364 per month, with Amherst, 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

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

Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 55% 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: $1,604 in Victoria versus $1,849 in Amherst, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $628 in Victoria versus $2,823 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 26% 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 11% less than in Amherst, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.