College is expensive, and after paying for each class, little money is left for other stuff; such as furniture, groceries, clothes, entertainment, rent, and utilities. I compared an average salary of $60,000 to the cost of living in Boston compared to Greenfield, and again in New York City and Baton Rouge, LA.

Cost of Living Comparison Between Greenfield, Massachusetts and Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston is 29% more expensive than Greenfield. Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference. Housing is 99% more expensive in Boston. *according to http://www.halfhill.com/inflation.html

An income in Boston, Mass. of $60,000 is comparable to a salary in New York, NY  of $70,059.   

Cost of living comparison between Boston, Massachusetts and New York (Queens), NY .

If you move from Boston, MA to New York (Queens), NY

Groceries will cost: 12%more

Housing will cost: 48%more

Utilities will cost: 4%more

Transportation will cost: 2%more

Healthcare will cost: 20%less

Cost of living comparison between Boston, Massachusetts and Baton Rouge, LA .

An income in Boston, Mass. of $60,000 is comparable to a salary in Baton Rouge, LA of $40,239.
 
If you move from Boston, MA to  Baton Rouge, LA

Groceries will cost: 18%less

Housing will cost: 49%less

Utilities will cost: 36%less

Transportation will cost: 14%less

Healthcare will cost: 28%less

Let’s say you rent an apartment while you are attending college. You want to furnish it, and of course you want to entertain and go out on the town with your friends. How much would all this cost you? Let’s see…even a bottle of Heinz Ketchup $2.99 these days. An average check after working twenty hour week at minimum wage is around $130 a week.

So the average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Northampton is $575-950 monthly for a one to two bedroom apartment. Rent is expensive. If you only make $130 a week times four is $520 a month. How do you afford to buy the necessities of everyday life such as gasoline, food, and other supplies? Gasoline prices are an average of $2.15 a gallon in Greenfield as of this week. An average college text book is over $60. Do not forget you also have to pay for loans, insurance, phone bills, and more.

Now let’s say you want to furnish your apartment according to a Chris Madden line at JCPenney: a Queen Bed is - $240.00; Nightstand is - $103.50; Chest is - $270.00. Expensive but there are solutions shopping for furniture, try a used furniture place, or a retail store such as Target or Wal-Mart. Oh and don’t forget the paint, curtains, rug, etc. Life demands lots of money, and the cost of living will only increase in time. So save your money and be frugal.