Cost of living comparison
Virginia is 3.2% cheaper than Massachusetts.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.1% less in Virginia
- Groceries
-
pay 5.3% less in Virginia
- Transportation
-
pay 0.2% more in Virginia
- Housing
-
pay 7.1% less in Virginia
- Childcare
-
pay 4.2% less in Virginia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 11.4% less in Virginia
- Clothing
-
pay 6.2% more in Virginia
The cost of clothing and transportation in Virginia are more expensive than in Massachusetts. Expenses including entertainment and sports, housing, groceries, childcare, and restaurants are lower in Virginia.
If you lived in Virginia instead of Massachusetts, you would:
pay 1.1% less for restaurants
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.19
|
$20.49
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.79
|
$11.13
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.62
|
$2.48
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
|
$2.04
|
|
pay 5.3% less for groceries
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.71
|
$3.44
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.31
|
$6.98
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
|
$3.79
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.50
|
$3.41
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.98
|
$5.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.53
|
$2.62
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.77
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.15
|
$2.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.69
|
$2.41
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
|
$1.55
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.41
|
|
pay 0.2% more for transportation
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$3.36
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$71.71
|
$79.15
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$33,785.54
|
$32,788.87
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.40
|
$16.99
|
|
pay 7.1% less for housing
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.08
|
$69.48
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,074.76
|
$1,832.03
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,940.55
|
$1,500.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.83
|
$145.31
|
|
pay 4.2% less for childcare
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,960.62
|
$1,614.20
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$26,428.57
|
$28,849.72
|
|
pay 11.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.63
|
$6.17
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.00
|
$5.19
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.10
|
$9.03
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$81.60
|
$58.19
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.20
|
$14.24
|
|
pay 6.2% more for clothing
|
Massachusetts
|
Virginia
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.62
|
$53.05
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.05
|
$41.36
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.58
|
$92.16
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$116.52
|
$126.91
|
|
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