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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,946 in Worcester, MA versus $2,575 in Pittsfield, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,989 in Worcester, MA versus $4,390 in Pittsfield, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,032 in Worcester, MA versus $6,205 in Pittsfield, MA.

Living in Worcester, MA is roughly 14% more expensive than Pittsfield, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Worcester, MA 120% above, Pittsfield, MA 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.28 $17.28

$20.26 $20.26

-14.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$65.5 $65.5

-0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.81 $11.81

1.95%

Cappuccino

$4.06 $4.06

$4.00 $4.00

1.50%

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

$2.12 $2.12

$2.11 $2.11

0.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 $5.95

$6.04 $6.04

-1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.80 $6.80

1.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.35 $3.35

2.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$5.82 $5.82

-1.72%

Eggs

$3.63 $3.63

$3.80 $3.80

-4.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.38 $19.38

$18.77 $18.77

3.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$13.66 $13.66

0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.73 $19.73

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.70 $3.70

2.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.98 $3.98

-5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.14 $4.14

-2.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.18 $3.18

-1.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.44 $2.44

4.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.67 $1.67

-4.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.91 $12.91

$13.06 $13.06

-1.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

$14.85 $14.85

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.24 $3.24

4.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.02 $2.02

-1.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.98 $2.98

1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.19 $2.19

-4.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$28.65 $28.65

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.85 $0.85

8.24%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$34.5K $34.5K

-13.51%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$24.5K $24.5K

0.45%

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

$194 $194

$196 $196

-1.05%

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

$54.1 $54.1

$39.87 $39.87

35.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 $55.8

$66.6 $66.6

-16.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.79 $29.79

$40.54 $40.54

-26.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.65 $12.65

$15.03 $15.03

-15.83%

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

$1,753 $1,753

$1,718 $1,718

2.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K $30.1K

$30.2K $30.2K

-0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.21 $37.21

$47.75 $47.75

-22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.33 $33.33

$34.39 $34.39

-3.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 $85.8

$85.3 $85.3

0.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 $158

$161 $161

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,610 $1,610

16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$1,265 $1,265

36.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,797 $2,797

$3,431 $3,431

-18.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 $2,246

$3,481 $3,481

-35.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,864 $2,864

$2,959 $2,959

-3.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,787 $2,787

$2,962 $2,962

-5.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,069 $4,069

$2,235 $2,235

82.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

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

Last update for Worcester, MA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pittsfield, MA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Worcester, MA and $1,610 in Pittsfield, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Worcester, MA pays 82% 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: $65.0 in Worcester, MA vs $66.0 in Pittsfield, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $416 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

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

Worcester, MA and Pittsfield, MA differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,946 vs $2,575 including rent). Pittsfield, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Worcester, MA pays 82% more on average, 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: $1,882 in Worcester, MA versus $1,610 in Pittsfield, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Worcester, MA pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,946 per month in Worcester, MA versus $2,575 in Pittsfield, MA – a 14% 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 14% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.