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 135, 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 130.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 108.
The Groceries index in Salem is 114.
The Health index in Salem is 186.
The Housing index in Salem is 115.
The Transportation index in Salem is 113.
The Utilities index in Salem is 115.
| Living Expense | Salem | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 135 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 186 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Salem 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Salem is $606,558.
The Median Rent in Salem is $1,836.
The Median Income in Salem is $85,153.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Salem | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $606,558 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,836 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,153 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 136, 1.0x Salem.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 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 | 101,709 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.5x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.6x |
| Revere, MA | 60,012 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Peabody, MA | 54,695 | 142 | 1.1x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.3x |
| Beverly, MA | 42,665 | 148 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.5x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,650 | 167 | 1.2x |
| Saugus, MA | 28,773 | 140 | 1.0x |
