What is the cost of living in New Bedford, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Bedford has an overall cost of living index of 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, New Bedford has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in New Bedford ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies New Bedford ranks as the #97 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in New Bedford, check out:
New Bedford Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Bedford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Bedford is 111.
The Groceries index in New Bedford is 119.
The Health index in New Bedford is 116.
The Housing index in New Bedford is 121.
The Transportation index in New Bedford is 122.
The Utilities index in New Bedford is 114.
| Living Expense | New Bedford | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 116 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 114 | 100 |
New Bedford 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
New Bedford, 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 New Bedford is $434,261.
The Median Rent in New Bedford is $1,137.
The Median Income in New Bedford is $56,981.
The Home Value To Income in New Bedford is 7.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Bedford is 0.24x.
| Statistic | New Bedford | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $434,261 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,137 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,981 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.6x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
New Bedford, MA Costs By Category
Detailed New Bedford Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | 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 New Bedford Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | 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 New Bedford Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Bedford Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Bedford Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | New Bedford | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
New Bedford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Bedford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Bedford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fall River, MA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x New Bedford.
Taunton, MA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.1x New Bedford.
Somerset, MA has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x New Bedford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River, MA | 94,082 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Taunton, MA | 60,433 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,298 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Middleborough Center, MA | 8,155 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Tiverton, RI | 8,091 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Bliss Corner, MA | 5,405 | 126 | 1.1x |
