Cost of living comparison

 Alaska, USA
compared to
 Massachusetts, USA
Massachusetts vs. Alaska Cost of Living Summary

Massachusetts is 17.4% more expensive than Alaska.

Restaurants
pay 8.9% less in Massachusetts
Groceries
pay 7.1% less in Massachusetts
Transportation
pay 11.4% more in Massachusetts
Housing
pay 7.2% more in Massachusetts
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more in Massachusetts
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.0% less in Massachusetts
Clothing
pay 8.1% less in Massachusetts

The cost of childcare, transportation, and housing in Massachusetts are more expensive than in Alaska. Expenses including restaurants, clothing, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Massachusetts. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts vs. Alaska Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Massachusetts instead of Alaska, you would:

pay 8.9% less for restaurants

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $26.50
 
$21.19
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$12.71
 
$10.79
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.60
 
$2.62
 

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pay 7.1% less for groceries

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Bread
1 loaf
$4.74
 
$3.71
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.90
 
$7.31
 
Milk (1 gallon) $4.55
 
$4.52
 

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pay 11.4% more for transportation

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.22
 
$3.51
 
Monthly public transit pass $51.67
 
$71.71
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $27,113.17
 
$33,785.54
 

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pay 7.2% more for housing

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$122.81
 
$68.08
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,483.44
 
$2,074.76
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,298.81
 
$1,940.55
 

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pay 2.3 times more for childcare

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $943.88
 
$1,960.62
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $10,350.00
 
$26,428.57
 

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pay 4.0% less for entertainment and sports

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.04
 
$6.63
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.94
 
$5.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.02
 
$12.10
 

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pay 8.1% less for clothing

 
Alaska
Massachusetts
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.68
 
$50.62
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$48.00
 
$41.05
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.93
 
$83.58
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: March 2025
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