What is the cost of living in Malden, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Malden has an overall cost of living index of 150, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Malden has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Malden ranks as #75 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Malden ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Malden, check out:
Malden Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Malden. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Malden is 112.
The Groceries index in Malden is 113.
The Health index in Malden is 227.
The Housing index in Malden is 112.
The Transportation index in Malden is 117.
The Utilities index in Malden is 110.
| Living Expense | Malden | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 150 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 227 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 114 | 100 |
Malden 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
Malden, 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 Malden is $684,055.
The Median Rent in Malden is $2,204.
The Median Income in Malden is $100,606.
The Home Value To Income in Malden is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Malden is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Malden | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $684,055 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,204 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $100,606 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Malden, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Malden Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Malden | 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 Malden Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Malden | 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 Malden Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Malden | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Malden Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Malden | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Malden Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Malden | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Malden SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Malden
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Malden. 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, 1.4x Malden.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.4x Malden.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.2x Malden.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.4x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.4x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 1.2x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.5x |
| Revere, MA | 60,012 | 138 | 0.9x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 1.1x |
| Everett, MA | 50,045 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Chelsea, MA | 39,908 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.4x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.4x |
