What is the cost of living in Chelsea, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chelsea has an overall cost of living index of 134, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Chelsea has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Chelsea ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Chelsea ranks as the #68 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Chelsea, check out:
Chelsea Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chelsea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chelsea is 107.
The Groceries index in Chelsea is 113.
The Health index in Chelsea is 193.
The Housing index in Chelsea is 113.
The Transportation index in Chelsea is 115.
The Utilities index in Chelsea is 112.
| Living Expense | Chelsea | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 134 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 193 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 114 | 100 |
Chelsea 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
Chelsea, 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 Chelsea is $526,190.
The Median Rent in Chelsea is $1,956.
The Median Income in Chelsea is $72,179.
The Home Value To Income in Chelsea is 7.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chelsea is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Chelsea | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $526,190 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,956 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,179 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.3x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Chelsea, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Chelsea Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Chelsea | 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 Chelsea Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Chelsea | 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 Chelsea Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Chelsea | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chelsea Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Chelsea | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chelsea Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Chelsea | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Chelsea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chelsea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chelsea. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.3x Chelsea.
Cambridge, MA has a cost of living index of 204, 1.5x Chelsea.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.5x Chelsea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 666,442 | 171 | 1.3x |
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.5x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.5x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 1.4x |
| Malden, MA | 65,906 | 150 | 1.1x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.6x |
| Revere, MA | 60,012 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 1.2x |
| Everett, MA | 50,045 | 146 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.6x |
