Salem, MA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Salem, MA Summary
Cost of living in Salem research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Salem is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Massachusetts, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Salem is 137, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Salem is 1.4x higher than the national average.
Salem ranks as the #49 cheapest in Massachusetts out of 112.
Salem ranks as the #5,293 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Salem is $607,354.
The median income in Salem is $85,137.
Table Of Contents
Salem's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Salem, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Salem has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Massachusetts's index of 134.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #49 most affordable out of the 112 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
In Massachusetts
In America
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 124.
The Groceries index in Salem is 104.
The Health index in Salem is 114.
The Housing index in Salem is 185.
The Transportation index in Salem is 118.
The Utilities index in Salem is 135.
| Living Expense | Salem | Massachusetts | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 134 | 100 | |
| Services | 124 | 121 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 104 | 106 | 100 | |
| Health | 114 | 112 | 100 | |
| Housing | 185 | 164 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 118 | 120 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 135 | 136 | 100 | |
Salem, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Salem is $607,354.
The Median Rent in Salem is $1,800.
The Median Income in Salem is $85,137.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Salem | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $607,354 | $649,115 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,800 | $1,687 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $85,137 | $101,341 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 6.4x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Salem, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Salem | 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 Salem Groceries Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Salem | 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 Salem Health Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Salem | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Salem Transportation Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Salem | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Salem Utilities Costs Vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Salem | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Salem SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynn, MA has a cost of living index of 137, 1.0x Salem.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 208, 1.5x Salem.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.6x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn, MA | 100,905 | 137 | 1.0x |
| Newton, MA | 88,504 | 208 | 1.5x |
| Brookline, MA | 62,822 | 221 | 1.6x |
| Revere, MA | 59,933 | 141 | 1.0x |
| Peabody, MA | 54,180 | 146 | 1.1x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,015 | 179 | 1.3x |
| Beverly, MA | 42,408 | 149 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,085 | 211 | 1.5x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,488 | 166 | 1.2x |
| Saugus, MA | 28,599 | 140 | 1.0x |
