What is the cost of living in Fall River, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fall River has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Fall River has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Fall River ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Fall River ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Fall River, check out:
Fall River Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fall River. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fall River is 107.
The Groceries index in Fall River is 121.
The Health index in Fall River is 126.
The Housing index in Fall River is 113.
The Transportation index in Fall River is 120.
The Utilities index in Fall River is 116.
| Living Expense | Fall River | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 114 | 100 |
Fall River 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
Fall River, 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 Fall River is $445,781.
The Median Rent in Fall River is $1,155.
The Median Income in Fall River is $56,673.
The Home Value To Income in Fall River is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fall River is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Fall River | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $445,781 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,155 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,673 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Fall River, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Fall River Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Fall River | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fall River Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Fall River | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fall River Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Fall River | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fall River Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Fall River | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fall River Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Fall River | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Fall River SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fall River
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fall River. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Providence, RI has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Fall River.
New Bedford, MA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Fall River.
Pawtucket, RI has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Fall River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 191,767 | 111 | 0.9x |
| New Bedford, MA | 100,998 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Pawtucket, RI | 75,893 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Taunton, MA | 60,433 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Attleboro, MA | 46,762 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Central Falls, RI | 22,701 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,298 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Tiverton, RI | 8,091 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Bliss Corner, MA | 5,405 | 126 | 1.0x |
