What is the cost of living in Arlington, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arlington has an overall cost of living index of 173, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Arlington has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Arlington ranks as #97 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Arlington ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Arlington, check out:
Arlington Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arlington is 108.
The Groceries index in Arlington is 117.
The Health index in Arlington is 319.
The Housing index in Arlington is 111.
The Transportation index in Arlington is 116.
The Utilities index in Arlington is 109.
| Living Expense | Arlington | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 173 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 319 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 114 | 100 |
Arlington Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arlington, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arlington is $1,081,431.
The Median Rent in Arlington is $2,082.
The Median Income in Arlington is $150,701.
The Home Value To Income in Arlington is 7.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arlington is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Arlington | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,081,431 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,082 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $150,701 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.2x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Arlington, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Arlington Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Arlington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Arlington Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Arlington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Arlington Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Arlington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Arlington Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Arlington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Arlington Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Arlington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Arlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cambridge, MA has a cost of living index of 204, 1.2x Arlington.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.2x Arlington.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.1x Arlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.2x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.2x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 1.1x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 0.9x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.3x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 0.9x |
| Woburn, MA | 41,939 | 153 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.2x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.4x |
