Cost of living comparison
Pennsylvania is 7.4% cheaper than Massachusetts.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.8% less in Pennsylvania
- Groceries
-
pay 6.6% less in Pennsylvania
- Transportation
-
pay 2.0% more in Pennsylvania
- Housing
-
pay 21.2% less in Pennsylvania
- Childcare
-
pay 5.2% more in Pennsylvania
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.7% less in Pennsylvania
- Clothing
-
pay 2.6% less in Pennsylvania
The cost of childcare and transportation in Pennsylvania are more expensive than in Massachusetts. Expenses including housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and clothing are lower in Pennsylvania.
If you lived in Pennsylvania instead of Massachusetts, you would:
pay 11.8% less for restaurants
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.19
|
$19.53
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.79
|
$9.30
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.62
|
$2.27
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
|
$1.76
|
|
pay 6.6% less for groceries
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.71
|
$3.25
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.31
|
$7.37
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
|
$4.35
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.50
|
$3.27
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.98
|
$5.36
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.53
|
$2.43
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.77
|
$0.72
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.15
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.69
|
$2.35
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
|
$1.41
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.45
|
|
pay 2.0% more for transportation
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$3.58
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$71.71
|
$66.58
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$33,785.54
|
$31,817.25
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.40
|
$20.67
|
|
pay 21.2% less for housing
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.08
|
$62.16
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,074.76
|
$1,357.77
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,940.55
|
$1,179.21
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.83
|
$136.88
|
|
pay 5.2% more for childcare
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,960.62
|
$1,481.93
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$26,428.57
|
$35,614.17
|
|
pay 16.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.63
|
$5.58
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.00
|
$5.03
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.10
|
$11.13
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$81.60
|
$34.60
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.20
|
$13.87
|
|
pay 2.6% less for clothing
|
Massachusetts
|
Pennsylvania
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.62
|
$53.27
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.05
|
$39.31
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.58
|
$83.69
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$116.52
|
$103.12
|
|
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