What is the cost of living in Waltham, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waltham has an overall cost of living index of 163, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Waltham has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Waltham ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Waltham ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Waltham, check out:
Waltham Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waltham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waltham is 108.
The Groceries index in Waltham is 114.
The Health index in Waltham is 278.
The Housing index in Waltham is 114.
The Transportation index in Waltham is 121.
The Utilities index in Waltham is 113.
| Living Expense | Waltham | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 163 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 278 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 114 | 100 |
Waltham 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
Waltham, 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 Waltham is $826,437.
The Median Rent in Waltham is $2,268.
The Median Income in Waltham is $120,216.
The Home Value To Income in Waltham is 6.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waltham is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Waltham | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $826,437 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,268 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $120,216 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.9x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Waltham, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Waltham Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Waltham | 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 Waltham Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Waltham | 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 Waltham Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Waltham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waltham Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Waltham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waltham Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Waltham | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Waltham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waltham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waltham. 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, 1.3x Waltham.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.3x Waltham.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.4x Waltham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.3x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.3x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.3x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.5x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.2x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Winchester, MA | 23,406 | 210 | 1.3x |
