What is the cost of living in Lowell, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lowell has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Lowell has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Lowell ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Lowell ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Lowell, check out:
Lowell Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lowell. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lowell is 112.
The Groceries index in Lowell is 117.
The Health index in Lowell is 151.
The Housing index in Lowell is 117.
The Transportation index in Lowell is 120.
The Utilities index in Lowell is 117.
| Living Expense | Lowell | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 151 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 114 | 100 |
Lowell 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
Lowell, 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 Lowell is $480,318.
The Median Rent in Lowell is $1,625.
The Median Income in Lowell is $78,658.
The Home Value To Income in Lowell is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lowell is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Lowell | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $480,318 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,625 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $78,658 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lowell, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Lowell Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lowell | 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 Lowell Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lowell | 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 Lowell Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lowell | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lowell Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lowell | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lowell Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lowell | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Lowell SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lowell
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lowell. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Nashua, NH has a cost of living index of 117, 0.9x Lowell.
Lawrence, MA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Lowell.
Arlington, MA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.4x Lowell.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, NH | 91,294 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Lawrence, MA | 88,736 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.4x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.6x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,650 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.6x |
| Burlington, MA | 26,274 | 165 | 1.3x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 1.3x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.7x |
| Wilmington, MA | 23,336 | 156 | 1.2x |
