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: $2,991 in Worcester, MA versus $2,524 in Pittsfield, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,001 in Worcester, MA versus $4,395 in Pittsfield, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,010 in Worcester, MA versus $6,265 in Pittsfield, MA.

Living in Worcester, MA is roughly 18% more expensive than in Pittsfield, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Worcester, MA 124% above, Pittsfield, MA 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.33 $17.33

$19.65 $19.65

-11.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$64.0 $64.0

3.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.13 $12.13

$11.92 $11.92

1.76%

Cappuccino

$4.03 $4.03

$4.15 $4.15

-2.89%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$2.18 $2.18

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.78 $1.78

-1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.12 $6.12

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.87 $6.87

4.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.93 $0.93

3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.33 $3.33

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.88 $5.88

-3.57%

Eggs

$3.62 $3.62

$3.61 $3.61

0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.85 $18.85

$19.20 $19.20

-1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$13.61 $13.61

-0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.42 $19.42

$19.11 $19.11

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.74 $3.74

2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.46 $1.46

-2.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.83 $3.83

3.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.05 $4.05

-3.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.29 $3.29

-0.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.48 $2.48

-1.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.87 $1.87

-0.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.64 $1.64

-1.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.97 $12.97

$12.86 $12.86

0.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 $11.79

$16.13 $16.13

-26.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.75 $1.75

1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.94 $1.94

1.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.92 $2.92

3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.23 $2.23

-7.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.96 $28.96

$28.72 $28.72

0.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$35.7K $35.7K

-17.18%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

-1.48%

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

$191 $191

$190 $190

0.76%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$39.82 $39.82

32.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 $54.7

$65.0 $65.0

-15.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.02 $30.02

$40.21 $40.21

-25.34%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$14.94 $14.94

-16.00%

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

$1,737 $1,737

$1,726 $1,726

0.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$29.9K $29.9K

2.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.27 $37.27

$48.44 $48.44

-23.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.54 $33.54

$33.84 $33.84

-0.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 $86.9

$86.6 $86.6

0.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$161 $161

-2.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 $1,847

$1,596 $1,596

15.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,768 $1,768

$1,285 $1,285

37.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$3,497 $3,497

-19.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 $2,320

$3,550 $3,550

-34.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,843 $2,843

$2,970 $2,970

-4.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,813 $2,813

$2,988 $2,988

-5.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,133 $4,133

$2,225 $2,225

85.79%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Pittsfield, MA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,847 in Worcester, MA and $1,596 in Pittsfield, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Worcester, MA pays 86% 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: $66.0 in Worcester, MA vs $64.0 in Pittsfield, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $406 vs $416, with Worcester, 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

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

Worcester, MA and Pittsfield, MA differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,991 vs $2,524 including rent). Pittsfield, MA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 86% higher in Worcester, MA, 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: $1,847 in Worcester, MA versus $1,596 in Pittsfield, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Worcester, MA pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,991 per month in Worcester, MA versus $2,524 in Pittsfield, MA – a 18% 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 18% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.