What is the cost of living in Cambridge, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cambridge has an overall cost of living index of 204, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Cambridge has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Cambridge ranks as #106 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Cambridge ranks as the #7 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Cambridge, check out:
Cambridge Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cambridge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cambridge is 109.
The Groceries index in Cambridge is 125.
The Health index in Cambridge is 400.
The Housing index in Cambridge is 119.
The Transportation index in Cambridge is 123.
The Utilities index in Cambridge is 127.
| Living Expense | Cambridge | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 204 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 125 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 400 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 127 | 114 | 100 |
Cambridge 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
Cambridge, 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 Cambridge is $1,041,569.
The Median Rent in Cambridge is $2,787.
The Median Income in Cambridge is $130,748.
The Home Value To Income in Cambridge is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cambridge is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Cambridge | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,041,569 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,787 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $130,748 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Cambridge, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Cambridge Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Cambridge | 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 Cambridge Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Cambridge | 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 Cambridge Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cambridge Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cambridge Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Cambridge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cambridge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cambridge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Cambridge.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 0.9x Cambridge.
Malden, MA has a cost of living index of 150, 0.7x Cambridge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.0x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 0.9x |
| Malden, MA | 65,906 | 150 | 0.7x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Everett, MA | 50,045 | 146 | 0.7x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.8x |
| Chelsea, MA | 39,908 | 134 | 0.7x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.0x |
