Cost of living comparison
Massachusetts is 4.8% more expensive than Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.2% more in Massachusetts
- Groceries
-
pay 6.7% more in Massachusetts
- Transportation
-
pay 0.1% more in Massachusetts
- Housing
-
pay 9.2% more in Massachusetts
- Childcare
-
pay 6.5% more in Massachusetts
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.6% more in Massachusetts
- Clothing
-
pay 5.7% less in Massachusetts
The cost of entertainment and sports, housing, groceries, childcare, restaurants, and transportation in Massachusetts are more expensive than in Virginia.
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of Virginia, you would:
pay 1.2% more for restaurants
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.49
|
$21.19
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.13
|
$10.79
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.48
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
|
$2.01
|
|
pay 6.7% more for groceries
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.44
|
$3.71
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.98
|
$7.31
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.79
|
$4.52
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.41
|
$4.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.54
|
$4.98
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.62
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$2.15
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
|
$2.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$1.71
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 0.1% more for transportation
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.36
|
$3.51
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.15
|
$71.71
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,788.87
|
$33,785.54
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.99
|
$17.40
|
|
pay 9.2% more for housing
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.48
|
$68.08
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,832.03
|
$2,074.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.84
|
$1,940.55
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.31
|
$139.83
|
|
pay 6.5% more for childcare
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,614.20
|
$1,960.62
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,849.72
|
$26,428.57
|
|
pay 15.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.17
|
$6.63
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.19
|
$5.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.03
|
$12.10
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$58.19
|
$81.60
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
|
$14.20
|
|
pay 5.7% less for clothing
|
Virginia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.05
|
$50.62
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.36
|
$41.05
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.16
|
$83.58
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.91
|
$116.52
|
|
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