What is the cost of living in Belmont, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Belmont has an overall cost of living index of 203, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Belmont has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Belmont ranks as #104 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Belmont ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Belmont, check out:
Belmont Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Belmont. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Belmont is 106.
The Groceries index in Belmont is 116.
The Health index in Belmont is 416.
The Housing index in Belmont is 112.
The Transportation index in Belmont is 121.
The Utilities index in Belmont is 113.
| Living Expense | Belmont | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 203 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 416 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 114 | 100 |
Belmont 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
Belmont, 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 Belmont is $1,458,986.
The Median Rent in Belmont is $2,527.
The Median Income in Belmont is $183,137.
The Home Value To Income in Belmont is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Belmont is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Belmont | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,458,986 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,527 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $183,137 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Belmont, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Belmont Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Belmont | 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 Belmont Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Belmont | 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 Belmont Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Belmont | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Belmont Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Belmont | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Belmont Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Belmont | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Belmont SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Belmont
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Belmont. 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, 1.0x Belmont.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Belmont.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 0.9x Belmont.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.0x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.0x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 0.9x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 0.8x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.2x |
