Cost of living comparison
Massachusetts is 13.3% cheaper than District of Columbia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.2% less in Massachusetts
- Groceries
-
pay 4.4% less in Massachusetts
- Transportation
-
pay 10.2% less in Massachusetts
- Housing
-
pay 6.5% less in Massachusetts
- Childcare
-
pay 22.4% less in Massachusetts
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 12.9% less in Massachusetts
- Clothing
-
pay 26.6% less in Massachusetts
Expenses including clothing, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, transportation, and housing are lower in Massachusetts.
If you lived in Massachusetts instead of District of Columbia, you would:
pay 10.2% less for restaurants
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$21.19
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$10.79
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.78
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.22
|
$2.01
|
|
pay 4.4% less for groceries
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.34
|
$3.71
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.84
|
$7.31
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.14
|
$4.52
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.91
|
$4.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.73
|
$4.98
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.70
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
|
$0.77
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.46
|
$2.15
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.59
|
$2.69
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$1.71
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 10.2% less for transportation
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.66
|
$3.51
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$71.71
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,699.74
|
$33,785.54
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.88
|
$17.40
|
|
pay 6.5% less for housing
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.46
|
$68.08
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,582.95
|
$2,074.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,028.70
|
$1,940.55
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.65
|
$139.83
|
|
pay 22.4% less for childcare
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,273.25
|
$1,960.62
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,250.00
|
$26,428.57
|
|
pay 12.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$6.63
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.55
|
$5.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.75
|
$12.10
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$106.36
|
$81.60
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.18
|
$14.20
|
|
pay 26.6% less for clothing
|
District of Columbia
|
Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$74.13
|
$50.62
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.77
|
$41.05
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.47
|
$83.58
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$178.48
|
$116.52
|
|
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