What is the cost of living in Melrose, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Melrose has an overall cost of living index of 167, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Melrose has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Melrose ranks as #91 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Melrose ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Melrose, check out:
Melrose Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Melrose. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Melrose is 112.
The Groceries index in Melrose is 114.
The Health index in Melrose is 288.
The Housing index in Melrose is 116.
The Transportation index in Melrose is 120.
The Utilities index in Melrose is 111.
| Living Expense | Melrose | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 167 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 288 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 114 | 100 |
Melrose 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
Melrose, 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 Melrose is $908,130.
The Median Rent in Melrose is $1,970.
The Median Income in Melrose is $133,953.
The Home Value To Income in Melrose is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Melrose is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Melrose | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $908,130 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,970 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $133,953 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Melrose, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Melrose Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Melrose | 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 Melrose Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Melrose | 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 Melrose Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Melrose | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Melrose Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Melrose | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Melrose Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Melrose | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Melrose SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Melrose
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Melrose. 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, 1.2x Melrose.
Somerville, MA has a cost of living index of 186, 1.1x Melrose.
Malden, MA has a cost of living index of 150, 0.9x Melrose.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.2x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 1.1x |
| Malden, MA | 65,906 | 150 | 0.9x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.3x |
| Revere, MA | 60,012 | 138 | 0.8x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Everett, MA | 50,045 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Chelsea, MA | 39,908 | 134 | 0.8x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.3x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.2x |
